Most dreaded phrase your doctor says

Sorry, the doctor is running about 90 minutes late. Just have a seat.

To which my reply would be:

a) My billable rate is $100 an hour. Where should I send my bill for $150 for wasting my time?

OR

b) How long have your phones been completely out? Otherwise, you would have certainly called me to let me know of the delay.

OR

c) Can you please give me the forms needed to transfer my records? I don't intend to ever be back if this is how you treat your patients.

I have done option "a", and was seen in 10 min.

I fired the doctor when I called day of appointment and asked how late she was running today. I was told 90 minutes but I HAD TO BE ON TIME! I can't support someone who doesn't care about my time. She was also arrogant in other ways, like not letting me see my labs until she had read them. I don't need that kind of stress added to my heath conditions.

I have done option "a", and was seen in 10 min.

I tried that, my bill was ignored.

I think that I posted somewhere that an entire waiting room was filled with patients who were kept for appointments, only to be told by the doctors, plural, that the hospital computers had crashed, and so no lab results were available, which was the point of the appointments. Not physicals. Not could you look at this. Lab results. And, of course, the receptionist knew this as well.

Re: lab work, refills, etc. here, it's all on my hospital app. I see the results before the appointment, before the doctor possibly.

Re: firing, there was a study done with results out on the subject of the reasons that doctors fire patients, such as non payment, no shows.

Roll onto your stomach/left side.

I think that I posted somewhere that an entire waiting room was filled with patients who were kept for appointments, only to be told by the doctors, plural, that the hospital computers had crashed, and so no lab results were available, which was the point of the appointments. Not physicals. Not could you look at this. Lab results. And, of course, the receptionist knew this as well.

Re: lab work, refills, etc. here, it's all on my hospital app. I see the results before the appointment, before the doctor possibly.

Re: firing, there was a study done with results out on the subject of the reasons that doctors fire patients, such as non payment, no shows.

I got fired by a group practice for requiring that only my chosen doctor provide any treatment except for emergencies. I guess I pissed of someone's huge ego.

I got fired by a group practice

Fired...as in you were a patient and they refused to see you anymore? That's ridiculous.

Fired...as in you were a patient and they refused to see you anymore? That's ridiculous.

Exactly. They call it a discharge. They'll service your essential needs for a limited time to allow you to find a new doctor.

Exactly. They call it a discharge. They'll service your essential needs for a limited time to allow you to find a new doctor.

It sounds like you're better off elsewhere. They might have done you a favor.

It sounds like you're better off elsewhere. They might have done you a favor.

I was VERY happy with MY doctor - who was part time at this practice. He provided a great mix of traditional and alternative methods and treatments.

The incident that precipitated the discharge was a lab result that included low potassium (my normal). My doctor understood my physiology. One of the other doctors read the labs and panicked. She initiated an urgent phone call to me and called in a prescription for an Rx potassium supplement. When I talked with my doctor, he asked what I wanted to do. I said that I'd increase dietary potassium and we'd recheck in a few weeks. We were on the same page. When I demanded that only my doctor access my records absent an emergency and only he prescribe routine treatment, they responded with the discharge.

I was VERY happy with MY doctor - who was part time at this practice.

I see. Then the practice basically killed off a good relationship you had with your doctor. Too bad really since it's often difficult to find a doctor that you really have a connection with.

I see. Then the practice basically killed off a good relationship you had with your doctor. Too bad really since it's often difficult to find a doctor that you really have a connection with.

Yes, and his main job was at a hospital too far away to be doable.

"Looks like another ear infection" Nothing I hated more then ear drops when I was younger.

"I am no more able to help you!"

Here is your bill.

Here is your bill.

...except in Canada. And in other countries, too. (Sorry for rubbing it in.)

@PervertedOrthographer Uh hmm. You're not sorry, LOL. Yeah, seriously though it's unfortunate and to be honest, sad health care is what it is in the US.

Other than the obvious of my doctor giving me bad news or any form of a health scare (nobody wants that, to any degree, for any reason), I have a few phrases that strike a moment of fear, terror, and dread. I can just feel my stomach drop, my heart skip a beat, head starts spinning. It's like I'm frozen in time and moving in slow motion. Sometimes these phrases are strung together in one long sentence, sometimes they are delivered separately. Each one driving home a very distinct set of emotions. While I'm in the exam room I just hate hearing these things. However, after the exam is over, they are the moments I love the most!

Just stand in front of me. I need to do a hernia exam. I'm going to examine your prostate. Just lower your pants and underwear. Just raise your gown. Just lean over the table. Just take everything off, put the gown open to the back. Almost done, just one more thing.

"OK" or possibly "Alright". Has anybody else noticed that the instructions for the most embarrassing parts of a physical are often given by the doctor starting with "ok"? "Ok, I need (to do a hernia exam/ you to bend over/ you to scoot to the end of the table/ you to relax your legs a bit/ you to lower your pants and underwear/ you to raise (or lower) your gown/ a little bit of pressure/ just relax..."

One particular phrase that I've only heard once but really scared the crap out of me was, "Oops." I was lying on my back, nothing on below my waist, getting a vasectomy. Doctor standing over me on my right, nurse standing over me on my left. Suddenly the nurse says, "Oops." WHAT?!? That's not something you want to hear when you're in that vulnerable of a position! Her name tag fell off her shirt (it was pinned on) and actually fell right on my scrotum. Hmm, I wonder if she thought of my balls every morning when she pinned on her name tag after that...???

Not a phrase, but seeing my doctor's number come up on the call display the day after having tests or bloodwork paralyzes me with fear.

@Caresabouthealth said

Uh hmm. You're not sorry, LOL. Yeah, seriously though it's unfortunate and to be honest, sad health care is what it is in the US.

You really think so?

Try having a real medical problem in some other country and see if you still feel that way.

"Just hang out in here, I'll send the nurse in to draw some blood."

" I know this is an uncomfortable procedure, but it won't last long!", usually said with a kind smile.

I want you to see this other doctor.

Since I can't find out if Medicare will pay for it until AFTER creating another bill, that creates a lot of stress between us. I'm still paying off my wife's medical bills from 3 years ago and I'm not about to incur any more like those. We were told Medicare would pay for her therapy after having her broken wrist repaired ---- it didn't. They also brought in another doctor during the surgery who didn't take Medicare. This was unknown to us until much later when his bill came in the mail. So I don't give a damn what they want me to do, it ain't gonna happen until those bills are paid. Those bastards in Washington have been forcefully taking my money for over 50 years saying it was to pay for health insurance when I'm old. I forgot to ask how old? If the leave me short when I'm 79 I figure they'll do after I reach 100 too.