The community of patients that our ophthalmology clinic serves is notorious for providing bogus contact information. This includes phone numbers, addresses, and sometimes even ages. This is likely not intentional–they travel back and forth from their home country frequently. Many of them do not have a permanent U.S. address and provide a relative’s, friend’s, or neighbor’s when asked. This is problematic when we have to contact them.

For missed clinic appointments that is usually not a problem. They can reschedule at their own leisure, and there are usually enough patients to be seen in clinic already. Our surgical numbers, however, are dependent on our ability to reach our patients.

I had 2 patients that I’ve been trying to schedule for pterygium surgery, and none of their provided telephone numbers work. How can I reach them? I have a listed address on the demographic sheet, but should I go to their house to ask them to return to clinic for surgery?

Imagine that your doctor shows up at your doorstep to get you to have surgery. How would that feel? I wonder if he’d be treated like any other annoying traveling salesman hocking his wares.

I guess I’ll find out soon enough…

medicine ophthalmology, rant