That statement was uttered by the medical receptionist in my primary care physician's office. In my primary care physician's office, there are two workers. One might be a medical assistant of some type, (and the old thread "medical assistant in the office" is very important); she says that she is. The other is not. She is a receptionist. Said receptionist has told me, "The doctors do not know how to help you." What does she know that I do not. This sounds like a terminal pronouncement.
It is hard not to carry the blame for this because the receptionist is given full sanction by the physician to discuss matters in depth with patients. I well know that her level of education is minimal. I also know that she thinks she "knows" me, as that's the way things are around here. So, why have I ever engaged with her on important matters? Illness. Fear. Frustration. Knowing that she does, in fact, hold tremendous power: to get records sent expediently, to coordinate care, to get me an appointment sooner than later.
She's read all my records. She has interpreted lab test results. All sanctioned. But this latest really cracks it. Should I, or any patient, assume that this hopeless attitude on the part of all physicians involved in care, is true? (I'm sure that I can). So, then why would I want to continue to be a patient in any part of this system, which is extensive, where all records are shared through electronic transmission, and where (all) the physicians don't know how to help me? I don't.
It's quite bad enough that medical assistants here do, in fact, come in with zero training, are referred to as "nurses," believe they function as two and four-year R.N.s, and, are missing the key component that makes the difference between good care and bad care, and that's the lack of self-questioning. When any health care system supports empowering receptionists, (a tremendously important job - key first-contact and exacting skill sets), to act as nurses per se, that's a big problem.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
The PCP is fully aware that the receptionist is functioning as a medical practitioner.
If the doctor knows this then I would run like wild to a different PCP. Any doctor who lets a receptionist or MA take control is not one that would have me as a patient.
Standardethics
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The PCP is fully aware that the receptionist is functioning as a medical practitioner.