At that point, I was already pondering other options say, for instance, going to another hospital either Mercado or CP Reyes in Tanauan City.
But why should I go to Tanauan when my daughter had already connected and transacted in advance online for a simple consultation about her swollen right foot after accidentally stepping on a spiked crown starfish during a short vacation in Anilao, Mabini, Batangas with her classmates and friends from UST.
It was confirmed, confirmed Cabrini’s appointments center via text.
I was there, the early morning of Thursday (24 Feb 2022) right in front of a middle-aged receptionist who was eating a quick breakfast when I arrived ahead of everyone else in an effort to be tops on the list for a day’s consultation.
“Tapusin ko lang po almusal ko sir.”
Yes, that’s okay I said. No problem.
“Upo muna po kayo,” she added.
Minutes passed by and other patients started flowing in so I tried to make my presence felt for them to give notice I arrived ahead of them so I approached anew the receptionist.
“Wait lang sir kukunin ko lang po ang listahan sa loob para di po tayo mapagalitan.”
It turned out that the master list contains already the outpatients who made an appointment a day before with this or that physician.
When she returned, she gave me the registration log containing the patient name, gender, a yes and no checklist on Covid, and signature.
Done.
“A breeze,” I said to myself.
But this is not to be as the lady soon after kept on asking me a screenshot or the exchange of text messages with their (Cabrini’s) appointments office!
“Sorry I don’t have it as it was my daughter who texted the office of your appointments yesterday for her checkup today. Am just here to have her HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) approved. Actually, her consultation is slated for 2 pm with a certain Dr. Quito,” I told her.
“Ah sir, sorry kelangan po naming makita yung exchange ng text messages para masigurong may appoinment po kayo today,” that’s her answer.
By golly, wow!
I called home to give me the screenshot of my daughter’s conversation with Cabrini’s appointment office.
But alas, her phone won’t open as it was malfunctioning already after moisture accordingly seeped in as she used it taking pictures underwater while they were in Anilao.
Yay! I just restrained myself from shouting out loud! OMG! Instead, I just walked away to the parking lot.
But wait, I need to give it another try, pakiusap one more time. At nakuha nga sa pakiusap but not after I almost blew my top.
Because it turned out that my daughter’s name, name of her doctor, consultation time, clinic were all right there on the master list that she borrowed from the HMO and registration section.
Why the middle-aged receptionist kept on asking me to see the exchange of text messages on the appointment when everything else was already there is still a big puzzle to me.
It’s also puzzling why they are still there when outpatients and their relatives can already go straight to the registration section inside the hospital for their health appointments.
Hilig talaga ng mga kapwa nating Pinoy ang pahirapan ang kapwa nilang Noypi!
I just hope St. Cabrini can already do away with that reception desk across the emergency room door pronto. Kung pwede lang.
Those ladies could be driving away patients and revenues for the hospital and doctors!