Fuck work. My boss wants to switch my schedule again because the other front desk guy is starting school soon. That's fine BUT he doesn't start for another 2 1/2 weeks, yet she still wants me to cover his closing shift starting this week. That totally screws up with my study schedule cuz that means So to have the same amount of study time for my OAT I have to force myself to wake up 8 am to study, which is a lot harder than having to wake up at 8 am for work. I just don't get why I can't start the closing shift in 2 1/2 weeks. The doctor didn't give me any good reason besides, "well we just want to change everybody's schedule now." It sounds so contradictory to what my boss tells me every week, "Christine you need to have a consistent schedule to study your ass off for the OATs. Its the most important test you have to take and not something you want to take more than once." There's no way I can have a consistant schedule if she keeps fucking with it.

In 5 years, I know if I start my own practice it will be ridiculously organized and consistant and NOT like the practice I work at right now. I'm not gonna piss patients off and change my opening hours and days every month. I'm gonna pay a little extra and hire book-keepers and medical insurance billers (those ppl who get trained and educated to do medical billing at Bryman, Heald College, etc). I'm not gonna hire car salespeople and stoners who come in with hickies the size of my fist with absolutely NO experience working with patients or insurance. I'll use a computer system that keeps track of medical records, insurance billing, contacts and glasses on order. Then when patients call, they don't get pissed off that no one can find their glasses or prescription. Then if there's some patient records that I have to take home for further study, I'll put the list that I took home on the computer system. Cuz it hella pisses off staff and patients when docs take charts without anyone knowing. Then staff furiously look for those charts and they can't help patients when they call and patients get even more pissed that no one can help them.

And when patients come in for their appointments, I'll have 1 employee fully responsible for pre-testing procedures for 30 minutes, then I'll do my part for another 30 minutes, so patients don't have to wait long to have the tests and exams done. And if patients are 30 minutes late, I'll make it a policy (that they're fully aware of) that they must schedule another appointment, otherwise I'd have to make other patients wake longer (every other optometry office in Davis does this, just not the one I work at). You don't know how many ppl get pissed off when docs run late, 20 minutes - 1 hr pisses EVERYBODY off, staff and patients. Maby if I make it efficient with good customer service then maby dozens of patients won't request to leave for another doctor every month.

Next, I'll make a policy where staff always collects payments from patients right after receiving treatment, or have them pay in installments, otherwise EVERY SINGLE patient will have a balance of $600+ and I wouldn't receive a dime of it (which is whats going on in my office right now, and the docs just don't get why they're not getting paid). You can't be too nice and let everyone rack up a huge balance. Doctors are supposed to be nice, but you shouldn't be an idiot and let ppl take advantage of you. And I'll make sure patients are fully aware of all policies so nobody is surprised to find out the cost of their exam or glasses or anything.

I don't think many pre-health students in college realize this, but health care is a business, whether its medicine, dentistry, optometry or whatever. And as much as you love healing ppl, your patients are customers too. They will leave you if they don't like your service (mostly if they wait too long). Many will try to bargain deals or refuse to pay. And like any other business, if they refuse to pay then you should refuse to serve them! My orthodontist didn't give me braces for free! So why the hell should an optometrist give glasses, contacts, or exams for free?! If you can't pay it all at once, then pay by small installments cuz nothing is freakin free. If you're a doctor, don't blame the staff if you're not getting paid cuz its the doctor's resposiblity to set up an efficient, flowing system that works for everybody. Collect your damn insurance! Set up installment plans for poorer patients. Do something except blame the staff for skimpy profits. Unfortunately, I think some docs (the ones at my place for example) get so caught up in helping patients that they don't realize how much their business sucks. They keep frustrating over how many patients leave and how much money they're LOSING over equipment and staff costs. Just cuz you get a degee and credentials to practice, doesn't guarantee you big bucks.