|
| |
A Typical Afternoon in the life of a Doctor's Receptionist
12.20pm. Arrived to begin afternoon shift. The morning girls
are tidying the waiting room, sorting magazines, positioning chairs,
checking numbers and doctors' names on boards before passing on any
messages or information relevant to the afternoon surgery. This can
cover patient requests, telephone queries, messages from other
professionals and any home visits booked for the day.
12.30pm. Check all samples for collection by hospital are
collected and put in the correct specimen bags, haematology,
microbiology or histology, Photocopy hospital referrals, sort and
send to relevant departments.
12.45pm. Hospital courier arrives to collect samples and
deliver internal mail. Open, sort and process results. Prepare for
scanning.
1.00-1.30pm. Check/tidy doctors' rooms before afternoon
surgery replenishing stocks of sample bottles, bed rolls, syringes
etc. from the stock cupboard, making a mental note to order more
stock before the weekend.
1.45pm. Patient arrives without appointment requesting to be
seen urgently, cannot wait until 5.30pm. Situation complicated by
the fact he is very elderly and requires the use of a wheelchair.
Doctor informed and agrees to see patient within ten minutes. Call
nurse to help manoeuvre patient from car into wheelchair and into
consulting room.
2.00pm. Patients begin arriving for afternoon surgery so one
of the team needs to be at front reception to receive and direct
patients on arrival. The waiting room is busy as we have three
doctors, a nurse and a counsellor in surgery.
2.30pm. Phone calls are steady, patients requesting results,
making appointments, messages for doctors. A couple have been from
the hospital and others from outside agencies asking for admin. All
calls for dispensary come through us.
3.00pm. Check patients' results on computer via Workflow and
GPP Links and action where necessary by phoning or writing letter.
Doctor queries hospital letter, need to find the original upstairs
in admin. Finally have to ring hospital in London.
3.35pm. Log application for Blue Badge and prepare invoice.
Smears checked on computer, logged and put in box for hospital.
4.00pm. Explain procedure for registering as a new patient.
Forms, questionnaire and sample bottle given for their new patient
check.
4.15pm. Check message and visit book is up to date and faxed
results are available for doctors to check.
4.30pm. Sort and clear filing.
4.45pm. Phlebotomist from Hillingdon Hospital starting next
week. Admin. show us how to print off new blood forms, Spent some
time transferring information from old style forms to new ones.
5.30pm. Patients begin arriving for the sit
and wait urgents only surgery. Check in as they arrive and explain
they will be seen as soon as the scheduled appointments have
finished.
6.00pm. Print off appointment listings for the following day.
Tidy back reception area, wash dishes and clear away. Check messages
for doctors have been actioned and phone calls made. Check windows
are closed and locked and consulting rooms are ready for the next
day. Tidy waiting room, check water dispenser, close windows and
blinds, close fire doors. Close down computers and switch phones
across to Out of Hours service.
6.30pm. Check everyone is out of building before setting alarm
and locking premises and gates.
READ PREVIOUS 'DAYS IN THE LIFE OF...'
Read 'A Day in the life of a
GP at Hughenden Valley/Chequers Drive' »»
|
