The secretary told us to come in to the office whenever we called and asked if something was normal after our initial visit. We came back due to their instruction to come back after they put us on hold, acted like they were talking to a doctor, and came back a few minutes later to say that is was not normal.
It was, in fact, normal.
We hefted my 13 year old 70 pound Golden Retriever son, Rylan, into the car while he was in extreme pain even though what was happening was normal and if they were to have actually spoken with the doctor, we would be told to have him stay home where he would be comfortable.
We made my dog suffer because of that secretary. Not only that, he was bleeding out in the waiting room and the secretaries were rude whenever I asked if I could have a paper towel to clean it up. On top of that, they gossiped, giggled, and played around with pencils while my dog was dying on the ground. This led to extreme unnecessary suffering and ultimately ended with my dog being put down by Princeton Vet the next day.
I am infuriated with the front desk workers. I know that the doctor did not mean for this to happen, as she seemed just as mad as we were. The doctor told us he would be okay and that there was no "if" Rylan would be making it through this, and that it was a "when" Rylan will be making it through this. After going to Princeton the next day, it was found that a mass in his liver was the issue which would lead to his death.
The doctor couldn't have known how serious the issue was, so I do not blame them nor the front desk workers for my dog's passing. But, the front desk workers absolutely made Rylan's last night alive miserable. I'm happy I didn't get either of their names or else I'm afraid of what I would have done out of grief. I wish nothing but the worst for whoever was careless enough to not even check with the doctor.
To top it off, the room we were put in did not have any soap in the dispenser, nor any paper towels. I was not able to help clean off my poor dying son, nor was I able to wash his blood off of my arms.
For the thousands you charge, you could certainly afford to have soap or paper towels. Hell, I'd forgive not having either if me, my wife, and my son weren't treated so poorly by the front desk workers.
And, I have no idea if its protocol, but the tech required him, through bloody diarrhea and bloody vomit, to walk into the back with her. I offered to carry him, but she stated that she would NEED him to walk back there when he was quite obviously in pain. They didn't bother to even get his temperature while they were back there. It felt like they only did this to be cruel.
I am a man that works in mental health and prioritizes kindness, love, and compassion above all else.
Despite this, I will hate you until well after I have met with Rylan once again.
I will see you in my nightmares and will dream about the day another company puts this place out of business. It is my only option, and I will unfortunately likely be back, as unlike the front desk workers, I will love and be loved by someone that will-- God forbid-- likely need this place's services. I will never forgive what you had done to someone like him, who did all he could to love and be loved in return. I will continue to tell this story to everyone I know and will warn them of this hell hole. One of the only positives out of this entire ordeal was that Rylan didn't die in this place.
I hope whoever had a hand in this suffers and bleeds in a waiting room so they can realize how it feels. Though, Rylan was lucky, as at least there were people there who loved him. I doubt you will have that luxury.