Calling for an appointment

Two weeks have passed since I last saw my pulmonologist. I usually schedule my next appointment immediately after I see my pulmonologist. However, when I saw my doctor, she told me I needed to go to the emergency department for medical care. So, I left the clinic without scheduling my next appointment.

I decided I should call the medical center to schedule an appointment. My pulmonologist has a busy schedule; her next available appointment is often 10-12 weeks out. At my last appointment, I was not given a timeframe to follow-up, but usually I am told to make another appointment in 2-3 months.

When the receptionist answers the phone, I ask to schedule an appointment to see my pulmonologist.

Receptionist: You just saw the doctor two weeks ago. Why do you need to make another appointment? I am not sure the doctor wants to see you back so soon.

Me: I need to make a follow-up appointment. I am not sure when my pulmonologist next wants to see me, but I know her schedule books up quickly. She usually wants to see me in 2-3 months.

Receptionist: I should contact your doctor’s nurse and find out when you should next have your appointment.

Me: When is the doctor’s next appointment?

Receptionist: Her next appointment is 10 weeks from now. So, you would be seeing the doctor three months after your last appointment.

Me: Great! Let’s make the appointment. That’s probably when my physician wants to see me.

Receptionist: Well, I’ll make the appointment, but I am going to message your doctor’s nurse to make sure you are to be seen so soon.

I thank the receptionist and hang up the phone. I abruptly start laughing. I am confused by the conversation. I am not sure when the receptionist wanted me to call to make a follow-up appointment. Scheduling appointments three months apart seems like an acceptable amount of time between doctor visits. It is not as if I can call anytime, and magically there will be an appointment waiting just for me. I also did not tell the receptionist that I had been in the hospital, and the reason for the appointment was to follow-up after my hospitalization.

(I know some of you might be wondering why I did not pull this ace out of my hat to perhaps expedite getting an appointment. From past experience, I have told the appointment receptionist this, and suddenly it is as if the world is going to end if I do not get an immediate appointment. The receptionist often goes to great lengths to get me in to see my pulmonologist in the next few weeks. At the moment, I do not need such an urgent follow-up. I am seeing my infectious disease doctor and am giving him time to attempt to get me on antibiotics and hopefully kick this pseudomonas infection to the moon. If things can’t be sorted out in the next 10 weeks, then perhaps my pulmonologist can help at my next appointment.)

For what it is worth, I think I will always schedule my follow-up appointment while at the clinic. Even if I am really sick and am on my way to the emergency department, I will take a few minutes to get everything set up for my next doctor’s visit.