I don't know about you, but when I have to sit in the doctor's waiting room, I either want some peace so I can read the book I brought with me, or I want something entertaining to show up on the TV (and NO, I don't mean Fox News OR a soap opera!)....
Then I was contacted by a Pam Stephan, our About.com guide to breast cancer, who described the following experience and asked me if I had ever heard of such a thing -- and I had not. So I'm sharing it with you to see what you think.
Think the Sham Wow guy, the Oxyclean guy, Kevin Trudeau and Wonder Hangers all rolled into one.
Pam reported a TV infomercial for juice products running on the too-loud TV in her doctor's waiting room. She wanted to turn down the volume because it was so loud -- but taped on the TV was a sign that said not to touch the TV, and a second sign that suggested that anyone interested in purchasing those products should ask the doctor about them.
Oh puh-leeeze!
Not only is this an assault on waiting patients, it's an insult to other doctors who try to run professional offices and take good care of their patients.
It might not surprise you that there were a number of other unsatisfactory issues from Pam's appointment.... like.... she waited in the exam room for over an hour -- and finally left because she clearly was not getting the help she needed. In fact, the entire ordeal was, to an empowered patient, unacceptable.
Have you ever had to sit through a 30 minute juice commercial in your doctor's office before? As a captive audience, you can't turn it off.... The very fact that this doctor would insist on leaving his patients in the waiting room to watch it, at a volume they could not ignore, is an indication that he has no interest in good outcomes for his patients. He's too focused on his own needs.
Should you ever run into a similar insult? Get legs. Walk out -- and find yourself another doctor.
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Oh, pul-eeze, indeed! I’ve never had that bad of an experience, but in my dentist’s office they have a TV monitor that presents information about the different options you can probably buy from her. But she is a smarter marketer than the fellow you mentioned because this TV program is low key, fairly interesting to watch and makes you want to have prettier teeth.
Anne
If there is a tv blasting in my doctor’s office and people seem disinterested I ask if they mind if I unplug it. Most are greatful.
It’s funny when the new people come in and turn it on without asking if they are imposing on the rest of us – and it does not work.
I think it is so rude for anyone to impose their noise on others. People have no manners these days. It’s in some respects a bully culture.
Amen!!!
I can’t stand it when the news is on with that stupid sign that says don’t change this channel.
So insensitive. For God’s sake, if I’m in the waiting room either I’m the patient or someone I care about is – we don’t need that racket to get better.
Honestly, I just don’t get how this happens – and also how it seems to be the norm, not the exception.
I think it is an unacceptable use of power for any doctor to impose commercials on his/her patients. Also, I resent any television or sound piped into the waiting room. There are many studies that prove that noise affects health negatively. I can testify that it increases my blood pressure. TVs, if they are desired by the office, should have a subtitle feed as is the method in airports. I used to enjoy the peace of the waiting room as a time I could read. I’ve asked that TVs be turned down, or off, & been told by receptionists & doctors that it is up to me to block the sound. I recently had a conversation with a visiting German couple & they were astonished that doctors’ offices would have TVs loudly playing in doctors’ waiting rooms. I really think this is a problem in the United States. It’s one more loud, & irritating social pattern that makes me wish I lived somewhere else.