I had a rheumatologist appointment today and got to the office about 5 minutes early. I signed in and waited for them to call me and when they did, I got a receptionist whose rudeness quotient was second only to the former nurse of my doctor in Montana.

Receptionist: You’re not on the schedule. I don’t have you scheduled for a follow-up appointment at all. You’ll have to re-schedule because Dr. Rheumy is double-booked and I *HIGHLY* doubt he’ll want to see you today.
Me: This is interesting because I scheduled the appointment with you when I was in here three weeks ago.
Receptionist: Do you have an appointment card?
Me: *pulls the card from my wallet* Why yes, I do have one.
Receptionist: *sullenly* Well, I still doubt he’ll want to see you today. You’ll probably have to re-schedule but I’ll go check.

I went and sat down, mentally trying to figure out how I was going to re-schedule if they wanted me tomorrow because I’d have to find someone to watch Daniel. I’d been sitting there for about 5 minutes when I heard my name called.

Nurse: Jennifer K-M?

I went back with her and told her that I was surprised given the exchange with the receptionist. The nurse’s reply: “Somebody screwed up and they’re seeing you because you had the card that proved that you *DID* have the appointment.”

After seeing Dr. Rheumy, I went out to make a follow-up appointment and got Evil Receptionist again. She scheduled me and told me to hold on to the card because “if something gets screwed up, he’ll work you in if you have the card.” I smiled politely and left.

OK… this is the same office staff that has cut me off when they’ve put me on hold, lost my faxed lab work TWICE, and now this. I think I would have been fired within three days if I’d done this when I worked as a receptionist. Seriously, these people are so awful and incompetent that it’s quite amazing.