DEAR ABBY: I am a medical receptionist with a university medical group. It is common for people to approach my counter and "hover" next to the person I am helping, listening to the information I'm being given without any regard to it being private. When I ask them to stand back, they usually get upset with me.
I'm tired of people acting like it's me who's being rude. I could get in trouble by not speaking up because private medical information is supposed to be protected. Would you please inform your readers that standing and listening to people while they are being checked in for a medical appointment is not OK, and if they are asked to step away to not take it personally? -- TIRED OF ASKING
DEAR TIRED: I'll inform them, but I have another suggestion to offer: Discuss this problem with your office manager and ask if it would be prudent to post a sign asking patients not to stand within three feet of the reception desk when waiting to sign in. That way the onus won't be on you, everyone's privacy will be protected and no one will be offended.
Whip out a super soaker 6000 and if they don't back up, blast them.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
How about getting some colored tape to create a sort of barrier on the floor? If someone steps over the line, you just say, please wait behind the line until I am finished with this client.
All my doctor offices have big signs up informing people of the privacy rules and that they are not to approach the desk if there is another patient there.
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Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
They need to just set up a barrier. People are stupid and they dont' know where to stand or whatever. Get one of those rope things like you wait in line at the bank or whatever.
All my doctor offices have big signs up informing people of the privacy rules and that they are not to approach the desk if there is another patient there.
I was noticing the last time at the doctor's office that I could hear everything that was being said in the exam rooms on either side of mine.
When I took the boys to the doctor, same thing.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
When we went into register DH for his gallbladder surgery there was no sign or anything. People started lining up extremely close to one another. DH got in line but stood about three feet from the person in front of him for privacy. Two people cut in front of us and got registered before us. I was aggravated but DH said not to make a big deal of it.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou