Opticians please!! How do you,,,,,??

Question

Politley handel a patient who comes in for an exam or dispense and won't get off the cell phone? Most people will get of the phone when we call them back to see the doctor or dispense thier glasses but lately we've had some patients who won't get off the phone even when they are with the doctor!!!! All I want to do is take the phone and throw it against the wall! I 've asked my staff to ask them politley to wait until after the exam or dispense to talk on their phone but they have met with rude comments. I've also asked them to help another patient waiting for services if someone is on the phone and that has also caused some problems. Any sugestions would be greatly appreciated!! 8< )

Answer 1

I feel signs are good.  Other docs use them.   Of course that does not always work.  I agree that you should see the next patient.  Rudeness can not and should not be rewarded.   If they get mad so be it.  They may leave but you would rather loose them than the other people that are having to put up with the ignorant ones.  But when you do anything to rude people always do it with a smile.  They hate that and if they usually do not react as badly as this makes them look stupid.

Answer 2

I have signs in my office prohibiting the use of them, but most people seem to ignore it or don&#039;t bother reading it.  When they answer it, if they don&#039;t say, &quot; I have to get off, I&#039;m at the doctor&#039;s &quot; right away, I simply walk away.  I see another patient or go back to my office and work on a chart that&#039;s waiting for me there.  Most get the message.  I can&#039;t believe they have the gall to answer in the first place while in an exam (or dispense).  I never do that.  My phone will tell me who it was later, and if it doesn&#039;t and the caller didn&#039;t leave a message, it wasn&#039;t that important to begin with.  Sheesh!  I feel your pain.

Answer 3

Easy!

Simply tell them that you just got a emergency call and you

will have to leave the office to attend this person!

Tell them to reschedule when it is more convenient for them.

Then have your receptionist call for the next patient to another exam room or dispensing area and proceed with your work load!

If they cannot figure it out that your patients come first then they need to find another source for their needs.

Answer 4

Put up some signs that clearly say cell phones are prohibited in the office. Especially around the reception area where they will likely see it checking in.

You can ask politely to please stop using their phones if they do and then if they refuse, be prepared to take in the next waiting patient. If they complain, tell them unfortunately they lost there turn in line as you are following a schedule and it is unfair to keep others waiting additionally. If they don&#039;t like it, and don&#039;t want to wait, tell them they will have to reschedule. You are trying to do a job and if they don&#039;t have any common sense then I guess it&#039;s up to us to show them some.

Answer 5

We had the same problem until about a month ago. I put up signs that say &quot;No Cell Phones in the Office&quot; and it has helped. People don&#039;t walk in talking on the phone and expecting to be helped at the same time. Most people are either off or getting off the phone as they enter the office, which is an improvement. Try using the signs first and see if it helps... it won&#039;t be perfect because there will still be people who refuse, but you might be able to significantly reduce the number of obnoxious people to the point that it doesn&#039;t affect day-to-day business too much. The way I see it, if the signs are clearly visible and someone still wants to be on the phone, that person is already rude. So at that point, it makes no difference if they get mad at you for asking them to abide by the sign.