Requested specific assistants?

[noppi]

Gosh, I am getting tired of some of the assistants at my ortho's office. I can understand the simple mistakes sometimes of forgetting to clip wires. But I have had to gone in almost every time after each appt. How annoying. But my last appt was really irritating. I had an adjustment and then I had to go in the next day because she forgot to clip my wires (granted that I forgot to remind her...but shouldn't she know to remember?). I don't think she did the power chain correctly. My teeth hurt so she skipped two loops on one of my extractions, but then it got too short so she had to get another power chain and clip it to connect my two molars. It was fine until it popped off. Then I was like oh noooo when I went in to get it fixed and they gave me HER.

I explained what happened and then I was like oh yeah I noticed it's not symmetrical. (two loops at extraction area, vs one loop at the other extraction side). Then she was like "It's your teeth" I was thinking, what's that supposed to mean? So I said yeah, but shouldn't it be symmetrical? And she continued, it's your teeth I can do whatever you want. If you want it symmetrical we can do that. And im like...NO....but doesn't it NEED to be symmetrical for equal tension? Gosh.....how stupid!!!!! GRRR!!!

I really want to request a specific assistant. But I don't want to seem rude about it or anything like that. This particular one just doesn't seem very competent to me. She took so long to take out my wire ties and ligs. What should I do?

[IndyBraceFace]

I don't think it's rude to request a specfic assistant at all! It's your teeth and if a particular person makes you feel more at ease and you have confidence in them, you shouldn't have to suffer through seeing someone else. If I were you, I would call them and let them know which assistant you want to be scheduled with from now on. Believe me, you're not the first person who has done so and you're not being a bad patient. In addition, it sends a message to the ortho (their boss) about who deserves a raise and who might need to be reconsidered.

[noppi]

Thanks for the responses.

I have my appt next week. Should I call and ask who the assistant will be? I don't know the girl's name, but I know the good ones. How do you think I can ask without sounding like such a picky person? Just a simple, "Can you schedule me with so and so instead?" Bah I'm not very confrontational. I know this isn't really confrontation, but you know what I mean. Like what if they ask me why? I don't really want to go outright and say why - (She takes friggin long and doesn't seem competent)

[IndyBraceFace]

The way my ortho's office works is that you sit in the waiting room and whichever assistant is free first, you're with them. I simply let other patients go in front of me until an assistant I like is free. That makes it easier on the front office.

If your ortho's office actually schedules you with an assistant, I would call ahead of time and ask with whom you're scheduled. Do you know of an assistant that you like? If so, I would ask them that they schedule you with that assistant from now on. Just tell them that you feel really at ease with that assistant and that you have grown to trust her/him. If they press you further about about experiences with other assistants, feel free to either tell them you prefer to keep that private or ask to speak to the ortho. If you're not sure with whom you'd like to be scheduled, ask them for a suggestion. Tell them that you want someone that is good with adult patients, explains what they're doing and/or whatever else you like in an assistant.

I guarantee you're not the first person that has done this. As long as you're willing to work your schedule around the assistant you like, there shouldn't be any problems.

[CLAmom]

There is one of these types of people in my orthos office, too and I just cringe when she works on me. She seems to have an enormous chip on her shoulder and the simplest question from me seems to just piss her off so much. She's rude and she's rough with my mouth. What I plan to do is if I see I am scheduled with her at my next adjustment, I will stop by the front desk on the way out and specifically ask NOT to be placed with her again. I'm sure they will understand as I have seen this assistant being surly with her coworkers. I don't know if this helps you or not but know this, you are the customer and you are spending a lot of money. You DO NOT deserve to be treated poorly. Hang in there!

[Dmourning]

There is nothing at all wrong with asking for a specific assistant. In my opinion, there is nothing rude about requesting a particular person. If anything, it may reflect well on them that someone is requesting them personally. As for being treated poorly by certain assistants...

Personally, I went through about 4 different assistants at my ortho before I found one that wouldnt hack my mouth up or be too rough. I asked for her every time I scheduled my next appointment and now they just have a little note in their computer that I only want this particular assistant.