There are not many things invented in this world that can bring such ranges of emotion, from adoration to rage, as the cell phone. Personally, I find it a minor convenience, and a major headache at my job. I have a cell phone, and like my Palm pilot, it is usually OFF and at the bottom of my purse someplace. I use it only slightly more than my Palm, and even then, only when we travel. I have a minimal plan with shared minutes with Mr Chick and we have never come close to using them all up. I don’t know how to text, read mail or contact the International Space Center from my phone. AND, if I hadn’t dumped it in the toilet one day, I’d probably still have my original phone from 6 years ago.
What I am saying here is this: I have it for my convenience, not everybody elses. I simply believe that I am not obligated to be reachable by phone 24-7. Apparently not everybody shares this view and herein lies the problem! I ask you–what is it about this 4 ounce piece of electronic hardware that makes otherwise decent individuals into a complete idiots when it comes to common courtesy?
I was taking information from a patient at the drop off window. She asked me a question about some health issue and I was in the middle of answering it when her phone rang. She raised her finger to me (!?! What the he**?) and proceeded to answer the phone. What ticked me off was not the mere answering the call, it was the fact that she TOOK the call to its completion that irritated me so. I am not the servant to be shooed away at the whim of the mistress. I walked away. I looked at my tech with the best “Can you believe this?” look I could muster up and she just shrugged her shoulders.
If it was an isolated incident I could let it go, but it seems more and more commonplace to have a patients with cell phones glued to their ear when they come to pick up a prescription. We even have a sign at the counter telling people to hang up before they approach. Do they hang up? Some do, but others regard it as a sign that applies to everybody but them.
One Type A guy in an expensive business suit was yakking it up when he approached the counter to pick up a new rx. It required counseling and I told him (very nicely) that I would talk to him when he was off his phone. He snapped his phone shut and I went over the directions for his prescription etc. As I was finishing it up he piped up and asked, “So, it is YOUR personal policy to have me hang up my phone? I pointed to the sign and said “No, actually its the COMPANY’S policy. For your safety I must have your complete attention when I tell you about this medication you are about to put into your body and its potential violation HIPAA to have your caller listening in on this conversation.” He grabbed his sack and flipped open his phone as he walked away.
And when ya think it can’t get any worse, somebody invents the Bluetooth head set, so you can appear to the world that you are talking to yourself! This may be a marvelous invention for the person who must talk on his phone while driving, walking, shopping, and peeing, but I am oh-so-close to ripping one right off of somebody’s head the next time he/she is taking a call while at my counter. At least with a cell phone, a person looks like they are on the phone. Now I have people who look like they stepped out of Star Trek. Is he or isn’t he on the phone? Beam me up Scotty, all the intelligent life on this planet is gone.
A friend of mine is a receptionist at a Dr’s office. He practices alone so he writes the rules at his office. I’d like to run his pharmacy should he ever have one. Their policy is written on the wall. Turn off the phone before you enter the office. If your phone rings while you are seeing the Dr, your appointment is immediately over and you (not your insurance)will be charged for a full office visit. Way to go, Doc!
Because I don’t sign my own paychecks, I can’t lay down the law like I’d prefer. Too many people have learned to play the R card….. Rude. All somebody has to do is say the R word and management comes unglued and starts throwing gift cards and apologies around like it was confetti. Truth doesn’t matter, and the customer knows it. All he has to do is say that I was rude and it becomes fact.
If Pharmacy Chick was queen of the world, I’d pitch the nicely written sign at my window and replace it with my own sign. ” Don’t even THINK of using a cell phone here- We will confiscate and put it in a bucket of water”
heh heh heh..
Tags: cell phones, customers, ranting | |