Prepare for a Doctor's Visit

This text is to help prepare a Brazilian who has come to the U. S. as an immigrant, and who needs to go to the Dr. for whatever reason.

The text is completely fictitious, but is the actual way that events may occur at the reception counter in a health Clinic. This large area on the 4th floor, handles the appointment affairs and patients of six different doctors and is manned by five receptionists, who each has a computer in front of her. Patient records are in manilla folders behind them, ready to pull out and make available to the nurse who calls the patient into the office, as other patients finish with their appointments and leave.

An Appointment with the Dr. written by Helen to prepare Brazilians for an American Doctor's Visit

At the reception desk.Receptionist-Good morning!Woman-Hi! I have an 8:30 appointment set up today with Dr. Smith.Receptionist- Your name? W- Mary Ellen Coury R-Birthdate? W-2/15/73 R-Address? W-2415 South aven Rd. R-Is that in Greenview, here? W-Yes. R-Zip Code? W-79802. R-Ph. number? W-789-2304 R-Are you married? W-No. R-Whom could we contact in case of an emergency? W-You could contact my mother. She would be easily available. R-Her name, please? W-Elaine Coury R-Ph. number? W-725-0616

Filling out the forms continued...

R-Your health provider, please? W-Health National R-May I see your insurance card? W-(gives it to her and the receptionist copies some information from it into the computer) R-Allright, you may be seated and a nurse will call you in. W-Thank you! (She goes to the waiting area and picks up a Reader’s Digest. She finds a variety of interesting articles and jokes to read, until the nurse calls her into the Dr’s office 45 minutes later. Her name is called, she gets up and enters the door that the nurse indicates for her to enter in the inner offices).

General Information

The ground level of a building is usually known as the first floor. The next floor up, is the second floor, etc. In special instances, when a new medical complex is constructed, the main entrance might be below the ground, or up a ramp, in which case they label the floor numbers as they wish, and according to the outlay of the building. There are large parking lots in different areas outside the complex, for convenience, or multi-floor ramps for parking. Everything is well labeled and it is usually fairly simple to find one’s way around to get to the Doctor’s office. A reception desk in the main hallway as you enter, is manned by a person who gives information about where to go.

Things are usually handled in a very fast and efficient manner at the reception desk. The time for waiting can vary from one minute to three hours, depending on the load of patients that the Dr. has on any given day, and whether or not he has an emergency patient to fit in to the regular schedule. Most doctors see many, many patients a day, so they don’t have much time to spend with each patient. There is little or no time for niceties. The consultation can be very cut and dried. If you need plenty of time to be with the Dr., you need to ask for a complete physical, or your annual physical. Otherwise, the nurse will ask you why you are coming to see him at this time.