Leave them wanting more

Yesterday, I went in for bloodwork and a followup appointment at my doctor. I turned off my phone as is appropriate at the doctor’s office. The nurse called me back, made me weigh and took all my vital signs and drew blood. A lot of blood. That’s my excuse–well, part of my excuse.

She then said, “Okay, I’ll see you next time,” and walked out the door, closing it behind her. I was a little confused. I had thought that I would talk to the doctor that day, but I’m used to just doing tests and leaving too., so I walked out and drove to my friend’s shop to visit with her for awhile. Of course, I forgot to turn my phone back on.

After several minutes I took my phone out to show her a picture and saw that the doc’s office had called 4 times. Before I could call them back my son called and said, “Your doctor called me and asked me why you would leave their office. They said you checked in and then left without seeing the doctor.” I told him what had happened and wondered why they were forgetting all those samples I left them.

I called them back. They said, “No, you were supposed to see the doctor today, but you left before she could get there. Did you have an emergency or something?” I explained.

So I drove back to their office and talked with the nurse practitioner who just went over my meds and sodium levels, etc. Everything was normal. Why all the fuss? After the nice man at the checkout desk gave me an appointment for mid-May, he said, “I saw you leave and thought you must be a family member of a patient.” Then, quieter, he said, “I tell her all the time that if she doesn’t start saying something other than ‘I’ll see you next time’ we’re going to have patients walking out.”

I told him, “Yes. I swear I thought I was done. I’ll try to remember next time that she does that.” And I didn’t say it, but I’ll probably leave my phone on.

When I went back to visit my friend, I showed her the photo of the dress I made for an Indian wedding. She referred the lady to me whose child is getting married.

This project was an adventure. That’s all I’m saying about that, but it turned out just fine.