yesterday, was my only day off, i go back tonight...so i really should be sleeping but i'm too wired and a little pissed off...hence i need to just write it down here. the jackhammer was in full force yesterday so i was only able to sleep for 4 hours tops... got up and had to return library material because the fines are ridiculous. i mean, sure, i pay my fines, am more than happy to pay a library (i love libraries and they are so underfunded). so, off i go for the 20 block walk. it was hot and humid. i get to the library, put my returns in the box and head to the holds shelf to pick up my new book. i also pick out some music cds and movie dvds. i dig for my card and can't find it! nowhere in sight. i end up having to hide my items on a shelf and walk back home to see if i had left it on my computer desk. when i get home, it isn't there either so i called the library to see if they found it in the return box, they promptly reply, "no, and a replacement will be $2", which just makes me laugh. so, i end up taking the bus back to the library. i find my items, get in line and get a new card. pay for it on their automatic machine where i can pay with my debit card. i go to check out my items on the new self-check machine and find that there are 2 items it won't let me scan. i know the drill (these items are on hold). i go to the circulation desk and let the reference librarian know that i'm unable to scan the two items. she quickly replies that those items are on hold and asks me if i would like to place a hold on them. so, after a 40 block walk, a bus ride that cost me $2.25 and a new card that cost me $2, i say NO, i would like to check them out. and the dance begins....these items are on hold, would you like to place a hold on them, no, i wan't to check them out...blah, blah, blah.
yes. i felt like a bitch. but everytime i go to the library, this always happens... i get an item off the shelf an it inevitably ends up on hold and i end up not being able to check it out. now, i've placed items on hold at times, the 2 months time i allow before they cancel the hold elapses... i'm currently number 20+ out of 30+ people waiting for 2 books... don't think i'll get them. so, how is it that whenever i pick something off the shelf that should be available for checkout, how come it comes up on hold?
it took three times to finally check out The Yankee Years because everytime i found it on the shelf, it was on hold. why the fuck does this book end up on the shelf in the first place?
so, hence my absolute bitchy stubborness at checking those two items out. i don't give a shit if they are on hold. let another branch fill the request. when i worked at a public library in philly, we would NEVER tell someone that they couldn't have an item if they found it on the shelf and it was on hold. they find it, they can have it. END OF STORY. because taking away a book or movie or music cd etc. is bad press for the library. it leaves a bad taste in the mouths of patrons (library = negative experience) especially when they wait on a long line to check the item out!
ps. add another 20 blocks for the walk home
~~~
today, i tried making an appt with a referral specialty doctor. however, my referring PCP didn't list contact info so, i tried googling the doctor myself. the info i found on the net turned out to be incorrect, so i call my PCP's office and proceed to get transferred at least 5 times by folk who don't even let me finish my question! all in all it turned into a 30 min ordeal, with the referral office finally picking up after about 30 rings (yes, i turn to the annoying side when i'm pissed). the lady picks up and i have to cut her off so that i can finish asking my question... she proceeds to give me the same incorrect info i found on the net. after i inform her that info is incorrect all communication breaks down.
enter franny the bitch (leftover from the crappy library experience and tired/pissed off at the loud mexican music playing neighbors who think such behavior is okay at 2AM!)
i proceed to tell this referral bullshit lady that a patient shouldn't have to look up the referral doctor info and that information generated on referrals should be complete and correct. that i work at a hospital also, work overnight hours and scheduling appts can be very difficult with a schedule that changes every week. i don't have time for this type of nonsense. what does she do?
she puts me on hold for yelling at her. great. i hold. curse under my breath. she gets back on the phone after about 5 minutes. i demand that she leave a message for my PCP to get back to me with:
1. correct contact info for the doc she wants me to see
2. another doc if that one is not available.
again, this idiot puts me on hold stating that she will locate my PCP and have her speak to me. after 2 minutes, i hang up.
i call my ob/gyn and i immediately get the nurse, who knows this specialist and gives me a number and website. the call lasted 4 minutes tops.
so, i call, leave a message (because the new thing is to leave all YOUR info for them to contact YOU to make an appt) and so, i wait for the call.
who do i get a call from? the PCP idiot who finally found the right info for the specialist THEY referred me to. i cut her off, tell her i found the correct info from the wonderfully efficient and non-call transferring nurse. that i already called to make an appt AND that i will be shopping for another PCP because i don't have time for bullshit, for getting transferred to every bumfuck dept and for 30 minute calls that get me nowhere. i let her know that if the hospital i work at ran the busines this way, we'd be out of business.
it's one thing to be busy. quiet another to make a patient find info on her own when it should have been done by the doctor's office.
i work my ass off to help clients. i can be up to my ears pulled IV catheters and/or IV lines, bloody animals, treatments etc. etc. but if a client calls, i get my ass to the phone. if a client wants to visit, i MAKE SURE that particular patient's treatments are done and they are clean & comfortable. i don't turf them somewhere else. if i can't get to the phone, i call them back (usually within 30 minutes) or facilitate something with administration. that's how i work.
sometimes, i really think some of these businesses SHOULD fold. they suck at customer service.
ah well, joy joy, the jackhammer has commenced working. so, it's earplugs and very loud music (hope it pisses off the fucken idiots in the next building) i will send a complaint to that building's landlord, just to make my bitchiness complete.
ciao!