The Receptionist Rants: Part I

Now, in my intro post, I threw in a line about how some parts of my job frustrate me to no end. One of those things is people who feel the need to argue with me. Now, I didn't go to vet school. Hell, I never even went to college, but I still know what the hell I'm doing. If I tell you that I thing you need to bring Fido elsewhere to be examined, please take my advice. I really only have Fidos best ineterest at heart. Example:

*ring* Me:Good afternoon, Dr So & So's office.
Client: Hi there...I need to make an appointment for my precious bag of fur. I think she has some sort of an infection.
Me: Ok, why is it that you think precious has an infection?
Client: Well, the skin on her nose is kind of greenish-looking. And it smells kind of bad.
Me: How long has this been going on? *closes eyes and waits for it*
Client: A couple of weeks or so, I guess. I've been cleaning it with peroxide, but it just seems to be getting worse, not better.
Me: *sighing internally* Well, Dr X is out of the office for the remainder of the week.
Client: *interrupting* Oh, that's ok, it's been this long, what's a few more days?
Me: Well, given that Precious' nose is kind of green and smells, I really freel it would be in her best ineterest to be seen sooner than that. Here, take this number down, it's our referral service. They will see you much sooner than we can.
Client: Oh, I'd much rather wait. Why don't I just schedule something with you for next week?
Me: Um, I really feel it's in Precious' best interests not to wait until then. She really needs to be on oral antibiotics, and I think that the sooner she can be started on that, the better.
Client: Well, I'll call them, and see what they have available, but I'd still like to schedule something with you. You know, just in case.
Me: *knowing that 'just in case' means 'I'm not going to even bother trying' Ok, that's fine.

And sure enough, the people came in the following week, with the dog, who had a massive infection on its nose. And sure enough, the dog needed to be on antibiotics. I asked the owner, jokingly of course, if she had been unable to get an appointment...Her response: 'Oh, I tried, but they didn't have anything open.' Which I know is a crock, because they are a pseudo-emergency facility, well-staffed with Drs, techs and residents. And, my boss did tell her that she should have gotten the dog seen sooner than it was.

The lesson here: The receptionist usually knows what she's talking about. Listen and don't argue.