Went to Sloan this afternoon as scheduled, arriving at 4:50 for the appointment with Dr. Zelenetz. I’d called and was told they were running a little late, so come in at 5:00 rather then 4:45.
Had bloodwork and my vital signs were taken – all done by 5:15. At 5:45 the receptionist said "it would be at least an hour" so why not go downstairs and get some food. Which we did.
At 7:15 we started talking to the new receptionist and she said it would be "at least another hour."
So at 7:30, with no end of waiting in sight, we made the decision to leave and re-schedule.
Can’t blame the doctor, or the receptionist – but – terrible communications. It also turns out that his office had scheduled me for rituxin therapy in the city at 11:45 this morning. And that was never communicated to me. And of course all my out-patient therapies are done at the Sleepy Hollow facility.
The scheduling team is to blame – the receptionist told me the scheduler is no longer in the hospital employ.
So tomorrow bright and early I will be calling Dr. Zelenetz’ nurse to try and get this straightened out. But it’s going to be very tough to see him in the next week or two as his office hours are reduced.
A big screw-up, and further proof that even with a great facility like Sloan Kettering, you have to be your own advocate. But I knew that already Tom Faranda’s Folly: On being your own advocate and didn’t need the proof.
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