I was the only person seated in the waiting room of an internal medicine specialty clinic for blood pressure issues. The day before the appointment I had completed the online registration, including demographics, past medical history, medications, allergies, etc.
Upon arrival I was directed, as I am at the airport, to check in at a kiosk. However, instead of a person nearby to assist me to complete the process like at the airport, I then needed to go to the front desk, where the receptionist confirmed, again, the correct spelling of my name, my date of birth, insurance information, and queried about recent international travel. I was advised to sit in an adjacent room and wait.
After a few minutes, my name was called, incorrectly pronounced, but I didn’t see anyone. I stood up and walked to look around a nearby pillar. There was a person who I realized had called my name. I said, “it’s Jampel,” as I am used to letting people know how to correctly pronounce my last name, and I received a blank stare. Who was this person? Was she a medical assistant? There was no visible name tag. I asked her for her name. She told me — let’s call her Sandy — and then said, “I’m going to do your intake.”
