A Few Tips...

After a somewhat ruff week with patients I decided to give my blog readers some do's and don't about getting on the good side of your dental office's scheduling coordinator.

1. When leaving a message don't talk for ten minutes about why you need to cancel the appointment and what day and time would work for you to reschedule. Just say this is so and so and I have an appointment on this day and time that I need to reschedule. When I call you back you can discuss the details with me. Also, don't speed through your phone number, I don't want to have to listen to your ten minute long message four times just to get all the digits in your phone number.

2. When I ask you if there is a day or time that works best for you don't in turn ask me what do you have available then when I offer you the next available say, "oh, I can't do that day." That's why I asked you what day would work for you to start with.

3. When I call you two days before your appointment because I did research and learned that your insurance had changed with out even talking to you and you say that you will bring in the information at your appointment, don't get mad when I tell you we don't accept that insurance. That's why I went out of my way to call you way in advance. It's your fault you didn't tell me then.

4. When you are asking me questions about your insurance, since that's my job to understand your insurance, don't tell me I'm wrong. I just got off the phone with your insurance company and that is what they told me. I'm sorry that you don't understand your insurance plan or don't like it but don't get mad at me for it.

5. Remember that I am not your BFF. I don't need to know every detail of your life. When you need to cancel an appointment last minute because you are sick just tell me so. I don't need to hear how you have spent the entire night on the toilet with explosive diarrhea, or you have the worst period of your life and can't get out of bed. I also don't need to hear about how you finally broke down and gave your husband that BJ he's been asking for.

6. NEVER EVER EVER reach over and take a pen or pencil out of my pencil cup, or step behind the front counter. This is my personal space and please do not invade it.

7. When I am trying to schedule you an appointment or go over insurance information with you and the Dr. or office manager walks by don't interrupt me to just chat with them about your life. I am a busy women and there are two people standing behind you that need help. I can't just sit there and listen to you two talk about your trip to Maui nor do I want to. I will move on and help someone else.

8. Last of all remember that I am the gate keeper. I am the one you have to get through to get the appointment time you want or in last minute. If you are nice to me I will remember that when you call in pain or your insurance is ending and you need in right away. I will also remember that you were a total brat and make you wait two weeks to get in.

Oh Beautiful Freeway

For the past few months they have been repaving the span of I5 from Lynnwood to Everett. I've been very impatient during this process cussing and yelling every time I stopped on the freeway when the made everyone merge into one lane or my car lurched on and off the bumpy cut up road.

Last Friday I was driving home around midnight and I was struck by the beauty of the new freeway. The road was dark black and all the new lane markings bright white. The turtles were lit up from my headlights and shined bright. I almost felt like I was driving on a plane's runway.

I would just like to apologize to all the construction workers that I have cursed at the last few months. Thank you for making my drive home a little more pleasant with the quiet and pretty road. Now if the construction workers on Broadway could just hurry up and finish already, I'll be a really happy girl.

Jury Duty

I got my first ever jury duty summons yesterday. I'm kind of sad to have to try to get out of it. My employer would be lost with out me for a week (his words not mine) and I can't afford to only get paid $10 a day for a week. It's too bad they didn't request me for the week my office is closed anyways. I think it would be interesting to serve on a jury. I also truly believe that being able to have a trial by jury is one of the most important rights this country offers and if everyone always found ways out of it then we wouldn't have that right.

Funny Stuff

Me: We could see you Tuesday, the 24th at 11:30

Patient: Tuesday, the 24th. What day is that?

Me: Tuesday, the 24th.

Patient: yes, but what day is that?

Me: The day of the week is Tuesday. The date is the 24th.

Patient: oh, so it's a Tuesday?

Me: Yes, Tuesday the 24th is a Tuesday.

I'm So Over This Buying A House Thing

So we found out Thursday night that the house was appraised at about $15,000 less than we offered on it which means we can't get approved for a loan for the full amount. Now we have to go back and renegotiate the price with the builder and there is a chance the whole thing could fall through. So lame! Supposedly we should know more about what's going on by Tuesday.

The house is supposed to be done in a few weeks but given all the hullabaloo it looks like we won't be closing until well into October now (if the whole thing doesn't fall through that is). Oh the drama of it all. I'm so over it and can't wait to not be in limbo anymore whatever the outcome may be.

Eat, Pray, Love

I just read in People magazine that they are filming Eat, Pray, Love. I'm not really sure how I feel about this. Especially with Julia Roberts as the main character. This book is in my top five favorites and I don't really think Julia Roberts is right for this role. I also think that there is no way the movie could touch me as much as the book did. I know I'll probably end up seeing so I hope it doesn't ruin the book for me.

House Pictures

I haven't posted any pictures of the house lately so here are a few. Right now they think we should close by September 30th. These pictures are pretty old. The outside has siding on it now and all the "stuff" is in the walls. They start sheet rocking on Tuesday.