You know, I think certain professions draw out certain personalities...and it takes all kinds.

No one has the right to be rude to a patient. Period. When I encounter rude providers of any type...I say, "You must be having a tough day" and now and then they soften up.

On automation in general, it is awful...you try to talk to a human, and you can't. It stinks, in general. It is depersonalizing.

As much as the technology of communication has assisted us, it will also plague us, with phone calls, emails, junk mail, and just plain sensory overload...I am glad I am as old as I am, as I think it is too much....I don't know how people make it thru the day when 100 emails greet them every morning...how do they get their job done, when their job is not to read emails.

How ironic that what connects us, allows us to search thousands of data bases, also disconnects us in the arena of what is most important, personal human communication. There are pros and cons of everything I guess.

I have trouble remembering appointments, and also keepeing up with a calendar. So about a month ago I decided to keep a calendar on my computer, since I am on it at least twice a day, and I always know where it is. This is working pretty well for me.

We haven't [as far i know] got to the automation calls for doctors appointments yet, only my dentists secretory rings up the day prior to an appointment to make sure i are coming or haven't forgot, which i appreciate and is all pleasant.

But every were else is the Automation process drives me crazy, Banks, Social security, electicity,gas, phone providers and the list goes on, firstly a recorded message answers, than there is a number of choices, press a key, that key runs on to give you another lot choices, press something there and that leeds onto another, eventually you may get the service you want, then they say that" your call is important to us, we appolagize for any delay" then you get some soothing music then a minute later a repeat of " your call is important to us, an operator will be with you shortly " this can go on for ages, then if your lucky and don't get disconnected you may get someone to talk to, so it normally works out to be a 20 minute phone call.
Do you guys in the US get this too ?

There here to dr.'s, hospital and so on usually call around 6,push these,
whatever. But i have that brainfog and even with a lot of calendars
I'm kinda glad they call. But if there going to do that why do we have
to wait so long for those appointment cards. Such is our world. Sue

I learned a simple trick to get to speak to a real person.

Every time I call (and this especially pertains to Verizon), but it can apply to the gas company, the electric company, the cable, or satellite company, ANYONE!!!!, when the robot lady on the other end, says "for billing, press one, to order a movie, press two, blah blah, press 3, well, I just about had it once and I yelled the word "operator" into the phone.... that did it.

So anytime you need to speak to a real live human, just say the word operator, and there will be a time when you have to say it 4 to 5 times. Like when I called up Empire Blue Cross, I kept saying "operator" and a little robot voice said "I didn't quite get that, please repeat it". I just said "operator"...and now I know that if I call up any company and want to speak to someone, I just say "operator", slowly, and distinctly. Might take one or two times, but it beats hearing "press one for billing, press 2 for account services, press 3 to order a pay per view'..blah, blah, blah!!!!!

This is especially annoying for older people who don't like talking to robots on the phone.

lol

Melody

That's so funny,can't wait to try it. I did get a ring ring today human
voice,i dropped the phone,i'm yelling wait pleaseeee. She ddidn't 6 got the
auto one. Oh shoot!! Sue

by my own plan just to push "Zero" for every single option and do a few more zeros for good luck...Well I didn't work for me..with a NY/NJ testing lab and my own DC area insurance...same plan..but somehow it wasn't 'registered' in NY? DUH? It was for a 3-4 K bill regarding a cancer biopsy...sooo I spent the required 4-6 hours on phone calls on hold to get done what had to get done...meaning computer systems actually 'talking to' each other... I had to get an ACTUAL functional PERSON first...that took the longest? = j

Can I 'accent' the actual-functional-person part?

I thought as much the same over there too, but good one Mel, i will try that one out next time, nice and slowly sounds like the way to go.
Once i do get to speak to a real person, i never give them a hard time because i know its not their fault at all, their working the hardest they possibly can, probably doing the work of 4 or 5 people its just their money hungry bosses, that don't want to give people a job, its all about $$$$ the world revolves around it.

Brian

Someone told me to press 1 three times and a operator will answer in no time, i don't know if it works i always forget to try it.
might be something in it, i really don't know yet.

I've pressed 11111, 0000, 33333.....nothing works. Its always a call at dinnertime, too. Aside from that, the message repeats itself and you can't hang up. I've tried, waited 15-20 secs and picked up the phone..the danged message is still going on, and on, and on.....!!!
Aside from that, my messages say my name and date & time and ........with 'your health provider'!
Not even the name of my doc. It just says 'with your health provider at Johns Hopkins medicine' (there must be 2 dozen locations, at least, in Balto.) I have about 4 or 5 docs in the system.
(PCP, neuro, dermatology, orthopedic surgeon, PT/OT, etc)
Its a good thing I keep multiple calendars at work & home. I would forget which doc on which date and at which location.