Over four visits, the staff in the doctor’s office where I was getting allergy shots made many errors, once preparing a dose one-tenth of the ordered amount, and once preparing to draw a dose twice the ordered amount.  I objected and eventually got the correct doses.

In the fourth visit, I was startled to find that the doses had been drawn up before I was taken to the treatment room.  I have gotten allergy shots for different allergens for about eight years out of the last forty-five, in different parts of the country.  Never before had anyone prepared the syringes before I entered the room.

I didn’t have a chance to discuss this point with the nurse practitioner (NP) then, but when I checked in for the next visit, I asked that the doses not be drawn up until I was in the room.  

The front desk staff said, “Just say that when they take you back.”

“That will be too late.”

They agreed to tell the NP up front.  When I was taken back, though, the doses had been prepared. 

I said, “I will take these shots, but in the future, I’d like to be in the room when the syringes are filled.”  The medical assistant (MA) flagged down the nurse practitioner (NP) who was walking by, and I repeated the above.

The NP started shouting at me.  “If you’re going to play these games, you can go back to the Mayo Clinic!  I’m not going to play these games!  You want to play these games, I won’t treat you!”

“What games?” I asked.  “I want to see the serum that’s going to be injected into me and what vial it’s coming from.”

“If you don’t trust us to do our jobs, I won’t treat you!  I won’t play these games!”

 “How does it hurt for me to be in the room when the doses are drawn?”

“It takes time!  I don’t have the time!  I’m not playing these games!”

“It sounds like today is a bad day.”

“A very bad day!” the NP said, and stormed out of the room.

Let’s stop and consider my alternatives.  First, I could wait and talk to the NP again – on what I would hope would be a better day.  Second, I could seek help from the office manager.  Third, I could agree to have them draw the doses without my seeing what they were doing.  Fourth, I could find another place to get the shots.

What do you think I should have done?  Feel free to email me at the address below, with your own solution or one of the above.  Next week I’ll share the results – and tell you what approach I chose.