My grandfather lost his voice to cancer. (He’s cancer-free though!) He writes everything on a notepad to communicate.
Today, he thanked me profusely for treating him normally. He said I didn’t interrupt, or talk *at* him instead of *to* him, or get frustrated with him, and I was amazing for that.
I am so sad and so angry that he finds this remarkable. The next time he goes for a checkup, I’m going with to make sure the doctor respects his communication.

About 8 months ago, I went into the recently built urgent care in my area for an infection. It was a Saturday, and my regular doctors office was closed until Monday. My symptoms persisted no matter what OTC drugs I used, and I was in tears from the pain. I went in, was prescribed something for the pain and an antibiotic, and I was out in about 2 hours. After I paid my bills for the visit, I began receiving junk mail from the clinic, ads for services, programs they offer, etc. I let it go, and eventually the junk mail stopped. One evening, I am on vacation and I recieve a voicemail from one of thier receptionists- we’ll call her “D.” The message states that they need to get in touch with me to update my patient file. I decide I will call back after the weekend, when I am at home. The next evening, about 6:30 pm, I recieved another voicemail from D.)

D: *in a clearly agitated tone* [MY FIRST NAME]. [MY LAST NAME]! This is [D] calling from [Urgent Care Clinic], again. I need you to call us back immediately. We need to update your address and patient information. We need to verify your birthdate as [my birthday], that you are still residing at [my address], and that your insurance is still [my insurance]. You are not cooperating, young lady. Call me back at [extention], or we will be taking appropriate repercussions.

(I am shocked that she has given out my persinal information on a voicemail recording, seeing as how my voicemail does not reveal anything other than my phone number, not even my name. I am also rubbed the wrong way at the tone, referring to me as “young lady” seeing as how I am married, pregnant, and in my 20’s. Even my mother does not scold me with this tone. I call the clinic’s front desk the following Monday, and ask to speak to a supervisor.)

Me: Hello, this is [my name.] I recieved a couple of voice mails from one of your receptionists about updating my file. The last time I visited your office was more than 7 months ago. All of my information is correct, and I do not have a problem with this request, however, I do have a complaint with the message I last recieved. I do not appreciate being scolded as a mother would scold her child- by a woman that I have never met- and seeing as how my voicemail does not confirm my identity, I do not appreciate my personal information being revealed. If your office had had the wrong phone number, any stranger then could have my personal information, birthday, address, and medical insurance. Could this not contribute to potential stolen identity? Furthermore, I do not relish being referred to as “young lady”, and having your office call in the middle of dinner two days in a row while on vacation.

Supervisor: Thank you for letting me know, and I do agree that certain information should not be left on a voicemail. I do apologize, and I will have a word with our staff about HIPPA standards, and appropriate phone courtesy.

Me: Thank you. I don’t mean to sound like a malcontent. But I do appreciate your hearing me out.

Supervisor: Have a good day. *click*

(I hang up, thinking that this will be the last of it. 8 pm a couple of days later, I recieved a call, from the extention matching, guess who? I let it go to voicemail to record the message.]

D: [My name]! This is [D] calling from [Urgent Care Clinic]. We still need to update your information. Give me a call back at [extention].

(I then continued to recieve calls almost every workday evening for the next 3 weeks or so. I called the front desk at the clinic and confirmed my details -again- and asked them to have [D] stop calling me. This did not stop the barrage of voice mails, and I ended up irritated enough that I blocked [D]’s extention. The next evening, I recieved another call from her, from the front desk extention. I ended up calling and speaking to another supervisor and threatened to report thier office for harrassment. I have not had them call back in the last two weeks, so I hope it’s over. However, I still have almost 2 dozen voice mails in my inbox, just in case I do need to make a report. I will not be back to this office. I will drive the extra 15 miles to the ER.)

Im waiting at the pharmacy counter for my medicine while the clerk is on the phone about 20 feet away with an irate caller. I can only hear one side of the conversation though I can hear the customer through the phone. Based on what I can hear the lady has picked up and paid for her Medicine and has found a medication that she claims isn’t hers.
Clerk: yes ma’am I understand but it was in your file so you must have asked for it with a prescription.
Pause
Clerk: no ma’am we don’t prescribe anything, your doctor does. We are a Pharmacy, not a doctor’s office.
Pause
Clerk: no ma’am, your doctor is the only one who can prescribe you a new medication, we can’t…
Pause
Clerk: Well he must have felt you needed this medication. Maybe youshould contact him…
Pause:
Clerk: Ok, ma’am you can just bring it back…
Pause
Clerk: yes
Pause
Clerk: Yes, just bring it back in and…
Long pause
Clerk: Ok, well I’m not the one who served you so i don’t know…
Pause:
Look, I don’t know ma’am. I apologize but mistakes happen. We are all human here. Now you can bring it back and we will…
Pause
Clerk: ok ma’am, I apologize. Have a good day.
She finally hangs up and takes a deep breath before coming to serve me.
Clerk: hi, I’m so sorry. How can I help you?
Me: I’m juat here to pick ip my meds. You know, I could hear her yelling at you through the phone from here. What a crazy bitch.
Clerk: haha, yeah she was pretty loud. What was your name?
I got my pills, paid and walked a few feet away to pick up some snacks. As I did, the pharmacist came out front and asked what the call was about. She gave him a run down of the issue and ended with:
Clerk: what I don’t understand is, she picked it up 3 months ago! What has she been doing all this time?!

I am waiting in line for someone to take my order.

Another customer is checking out the pastry case.

Customer: Mmh, what are these?

Barista: Donuts, muffins and mini strudels.

Customer: You should put up tags so people can tell what they are. Why aren’t the prices listed? You should list the prices, it’s the law!

Barista: Well, we’ve only just opened, they haven’t arrived yet. We’ll get around to it eventually.

Customer: Fuck eventually. *storms off*

(There was a sign listing prices and pictures of the available pastries right above the counter, by the way)

This is my mom’s story. She works as a doctor’s assistant for an OBGYN – aka a doctor for pregnant ladies/ladies health in general. She has a number of weird stories but this one is a favorite.

A woman is having difficulty with her estrogen patches. This is a small patch you peel and stick to your skin. Like a nictotin patch or a Band-Aid. She is also a school nurse which she has repeatedly told my mom trying to convince my mom that the patch is defective. Since they are on the phone my mom tells her to come into the office today without an appointment and she will see her specially.

Lady: Pulls backing off the patch. Throws away the patch and tries to stick the backing onto her skin. See it doesn’t stick!

My mom is maintaining a straight face while dying of laughter inside.

Mom: Takes a new patch removes the backing and sticks the patch to the woman’s arm. Here, this should work better.

Lady: Oh! Well they should include instructions.

And she’s a school nurse! I’d hate to see her put on a Band-Aid and this out the bandage.