https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 02 Aug 2026 00:00:15 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/efficiency-and-politeness-at-the-pediatricians-office#post-2129088 Wed, 01 Apr 2015 08:51:21 +0000 blackbird 2129088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Yeah that's different...people be friendly in the midwest :) It would be really unusual and surprising for someone to treat me like that here, and I wouldn't tolerate it because nobody does that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/efficiency-and-politeness-at-the-pediatricians-office#post-2129082 Wed, 01 Apr 2015 08:44:15 +0000 Anagram 2129082@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: I've kind of just accepted it, because I feel like it's super, super regional. Like, in the south cashiers at the grocery store, retail people, front desk people are about 95% super sweet---you get a lot of "How are you today?"s and "have a nice day!"s and general small talk.</p> <p>Now that I live in the NYC suburbs of NJ (it's more of a small city than a suburb), all of the afore-mentioned people just suck. Cashiers are silent (which is fine w me) or downright rude (shouting across to other cashiers about what they did last night, rolling eyes, generally acting like you are imposing by buying groceries), same with front desk people everywhere, same with every "service industry" type position. I don't even know if I would classify the front desk people as rude, they just aren't helpful at all. I'll ask very politely if I can make the next appointment and they'll just kind of shortly reply, "The schedule for next month isn't even up yet. Call back later if you want an appointment". Ummm...okay.</p> <p>I'm basically used to it now after 3 years, but when we first moved here it was a very stark contrast. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/efficiency-and-politeness-at-the-pediatricians-office#post-2129038 Wed, 01 Apr 2015 08:19:26 +0000 blackbird 2129038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, they are super nice at our ped's office! Always giving E stickers and pandering to the kids....I would complain to an office manager if they were jerks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/efficiency-and-politeness-at-the-pediatricians-office#post-2128927 Wed, 01 Apr 2015 04:47:07 +0000 honeybear 2128927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, the front desk staff at our healthcare providers are all polite and efficient, and many of them are stellar at their jobs, which I think includes treating patients/customers respectfully and helpfully. I've seen a few dragons guarding the gates in other places, and that's usually my cue to leave that practice. It tends to correlate highly with other things I find intolerable in a medical office. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/efficiency-and-politeness-at-the-pediatricians-office#post-2128916 Wed, 01 Apr 2015 02:57:40 +0000 lamariniere 2128916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is very different here compared to anything I've ever experienced in the US. The ped's office is just two rooms, the waiting room and the examination room. The receptionist is really just there to answer the phone and schedule appointments. The doctor comes to get each patient and does everything (no nurse). He has an assistant in the exam room with him who types onto the computer and prints out bills and goes to get vaxes out of the fridge and things like that. I definitely prefer the system here, and our ped's office is extremely pleasant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/efficiency-and-politeness-at-the-pediatricians-office#post-2128914 Wed, 01 Apr 2015 02:36:07 +0000 Mrs. Coral 2128914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ours peds office is great, but our allergist's front desk is horribly unprofessional and rude. Mostly just in general in front of the waiting room. Their biller has been extremely rude to me also. </p> <p>I run into this a lot, like the office staff think they are SO much smarter than the patients. It really makes me appreciate the friendly, helpful staff I encounter! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/efficiency-and-politeness-at-the-pediatricians-office#post-2128897 Wed, 01 Apr 2015 00:34:39 +0000 anonysquire 2128897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our front desk is awful too!! When I called once last year and they asked my daughters birthday and I told them, they started arguing with me that it hadn't been that date yet? Like really? And they've also told me wrong appointment times, mixed up weights and said some really rude comments about me having 2 babies so close. Really I don't know why I'm still going there except that our doctor ALWAYS takes my concerns seriously. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/efficiency-and-politeness-at-the-pediatricians-office#post-2128835 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 21:17:49 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2128835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The ped my LO went to for her first year was not my favorite. I hated the building, the waiting room had no toys, the front desk staff was rude, the nurses were also rude/seemed miserable. We loved her actual doctor though. We recently switched practices and are much much happier </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/efficiency-and-politeness-at-the-pediatricians-office#post-2128824 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 21:03:56 +0000 Anagram 2128824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: yup, we go to the same place everyone else goes. I really like their late night and weekend hours, and the new maxwell place location is so much better in terms of front desk service. They actually sent an email to the moms group saying we heard your concerns and have addressed them. I thought that was ballsy and a good step.</p> <p>Plus, I've always had my fave doctors, so that helps. Same situation with my OB (also the one everyone goes to). I like the doctors but don't love the front desk although they've never been ride to me personally... I've heard complaints from my friends though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/efficiency-and-politeness-at-the-pediatricians-office#post-2128724 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 19:27:29 +0000 ElbieKay 2128724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Do you go to a ped in town? I go to a practice in the city just south of ours, and one reason was that the front desk seemed incompetent when I interviewed the practice that everyone seems to use here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/efficiency-and-politeness-at-the-pediatricians-office#post-2128713 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 19:14:46 +0000 Peasinapod 2128713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was actually taken aback by the abruptness of the front office staff at my lo's Dr office. While in new mom sleep deprived haze I handed them her health card and said her name and time of appointment. The response was an angry 'which Dr?' I'm sorry I wasn't aware that was the first peice of info you needed! No need to be so snippy. :meh: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/efficiency-and-politeness-at-the-pediatricians-office#post-2128691 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 18:34:26 +0000 turquoisemama 2128691@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: Why not say something to the doctor?</p> <p>We go to a big hospital for all of our appointments, so far every one has been great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/efficiency-and-politeness-at-the-pediatricians-office#post-2128689 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 18:31:48 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 2128689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup! On the front desk staff is pretty incredible. They've taken the time to get to know me, and greet us by name when we come in in even for walk in appointments - so it feels like the genuinely care! Everyone is kind and patient, and really great with communication. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/efficiency-and-politeness-at-the-pediatricians-office#post-2128684 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 18:28:22 +0000 Maysprout 2128684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This was the way it was at my OBs. I never said anything but they would openly gossip about people in a way you could overhear in the waiting room and gave lots of eye rolls bc people weren't psychic and didn't know their protocol for how they wanted the line to form and how to give their info efficiently. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/efficiency-and-politeness-at-the-pediatricians-office#post-2128659 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 18:10:16 +0000 Anagram 2128659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So we have this exact same issue (I really think it's regional, because I never EVER had this problem in Texas in my whole life)....but don't feel bad letting your doctor know. Of course, I say that but I'm not good at that kind of thing....but some people are.</p> <p>Anyway, if you yelp both my OB and my Ped, it's full of complaint about the front desk staff--good news is, the doctors were made aware of it (I assume they know enough to read reviews online?) and some changes have been made. I still wouldn't call the front desk "friendly" but they aren't rude any more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/efficiency-and-politeness-at-the-pediatricians-office#post-2128637 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 17:54:25 +0000 birdofafeather 2128637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>if i really like the ped, i would let them know about the desk staff! support staff makes a huge difference and i've stuck around doctors that i was meh about because i loved the support staff! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/efficiency-and-politeness-at-the-pediatricians-office#post-2128589 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 17:11:37 +0000 hotchildinthecity 2128589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We tried a pediatrician in our neighborhood and switched because the front desk made a rude/borderline racist comment. My husband nearly lost his shit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/efficiency-and-politeness-at-the-pediatricians-office#post-2128584 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 17:07:32 +0000 mrbee 2128584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our pediatrician is great! The front desk is pretty awful though. They ignore all the patients when they arrive, and then are rude when collecting info/money for the copays! Stuff like eye rolls, rude comments, etc. At first I figured it was a fluke, but it's happened dozens of times now! </p> <p>It's always tricky when you're happy with a doctor but dislike the front desk. I think we'll stick it out until we switch the kids to a family doctor, which shouldn't be too long from now. The location is just too convenient, and we like our pediatrician!</p> <p>Is the front desk at your pediatrician polite and efficient? </p>