Carlton Bruce E MD

Please note: The doctors here are nice and professional. Facility is clean. Unfortunately, the people who answer the phones and set appointments are disgustingly dumb.
I called after work yesterday (4:40PM, Wednesday) and asked about setting an appointment for my yearly physical. While I dread the inevitable PAP smear, I’d totally deal with a little bit of discomfort to make sure my lady-​parts are working like they should.
I had visited their clinic last year, had my physical and the year mark was coming up so I thought I’d set the appointment early before my children’s summer activities kicked into gear.
I spoke with an older lady on the phone, asked to set an appointment for my yearly physical and asked what times were available, preferrably as soon as she can get me in. She told me the soonest appointment she can set for my physical was Thursday at 8:30am. I asked if there was anything else closer to the end of the business day and unfortunately, no there isn’t.
Great. I asked if there was anything available closer to the lunch hour and she said Friday at 11:30am. She asked me if I wanted to set the physical for that date/​time but I told her I needed to check with my job first to make sure I had some time off for it. I told her I’d call back tomorrow to set the appointment, asked for her direct line and she told me anyone would be able to set the appointment for me.
I called back today (Thursday), after getting the thumbs up from work to set the appointment. I get this snide receptionist who says there isn’t an opening on Friday at 11:30am. I tell her about my situation, how I spoke with some older lady yesterday and she gave me available appointments for the physical, etc. She scoffs and says «sorry no, there aren’t any physicals available at that time». OK! So.
Long story short, we had a circular conversation about what I was told when I called in yesterday and how it wasn’t her problem that I was told that since SHE didn’t tell me that information herself.
She asked me who I spoke to and I told her I never got the lady’s name because I didn’t think I’d have to defend myself and the information I was given the following day.
The best part? I asked her to find out who I spoke with so she said she’d ask around. She put me on hold for a few minutes, came back on the line and said «sorry you misunderstood the information that was given to you». Excuse me?
She goes on to say that the lady I spoke to said there was an «opening» for Friday at 11:30am but it wasn’t an opening for a PHYSICAL…
So let me get this straight, I ask to set an appointment for a physical, I am given the dates and times for supposed available appointments for a physical and the following day I’m told that the date/​time given was an «opening», but not an «opening» for a physical?
What good would that appointment be to me? I mean, seriously. A little common sense here. I’m pretty sure people who call to set an appointment for a physical expect to be given available appointment times for… A PHYSICAL!
I am VERY disappointed with the way the situation turned out. It doesn’t take rocket science to see how ridiculous this whole scenario was. Given the lack of knowledge and common sense, she could have at least offered to work with me to set another appointment or at the VERY least own up to THEIR mistake instead of pointing the finger at me and saying «I misunderstood».
Like I said, the doctors here are nice enough, but they should really consider re-​training or re-​hiring some competent and friendly people at the front desk. These are the faces and personalities who deal with the doctors’ patients day-​in and day-​out.
It’s poor practice to have a horrible conversation with a patient then try to interject with a «well you NEED to be seen anyway so you’ll NEED to set an appointment for your physical.»
While I may «need» to be seen by a doctor for my yearly check-​up, I certainly do not «NEED» to do that with your clinic.