Walk-in or Appointment?
Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 9:47AM 
So yesterday morning I arrived at a local lab at 6:15 to get blood drawn before work. I walk in and am asked if I am a “walk-in” or if I have an appointment. I had no clue I could make an appointment so I just signed in on the “walk-in” sheet which was filled. I noticed that many, MANY people had signed the “walk-in” list and many of those had not been crossed off. I have learned that they cross you off when they call you in.
I sat down for a few moments and saw a man walk in.
“Walk-in or Appointment?”
He had an appointment for 6:30 I heard him say. She took his insurance card, asked him to fill out his address and phone number, had him sign a sheet, and told him to come back around to get his blood drawn.
As he strutted into the back room I saw most of the people in the room shoot him a dirty look as if he did something wrong. I should have high fived him as he walked by!
Another man stood up and walked to the counter.
“How much longer? I have been here since 6:00?”
“I would guess another half an hour, there are several people before you,” the receptionist answered.
I knew I could not wait because I am supposed to be at work at 7:30. I went up and crossed my name off. The receptionist apologized for the wait but I told her, “Don’t worry about it. I am going to make an appointment!”
Fast forward to this morning.
I walk in the door at 6:20 and there are only a few seats left in this place.
“Walk-in or Appointment?”
“I have a 6:30 appointment,” I said with pride.
I filled out all the paperwork and headed to the back door to get my blood drawn.
I made sure and held all my paperwork in my left hand just in case someone wanted to give the old Ninjabetic a “high five” I could be ready.
No one did.
Oh well.
Reader Comments (3)
Um? What time?
I thought there was only one 6:30 each day! There certainly is only one that I see!
Yeah, my clinic's lab also has appointments available. One time when. I'd waited a long time for fasting cholesterol, I sort of faked a hypo so I could get in. Now, I truly was dropping, but, maybe exagerated it a little bit. They certainly moved fast and even led me by the elbows into the other room.
ooh, good tip! i'm about to start getting my blood drawn in a lab separate from my doctor's office after a nasty bill for my last appointment/labs (f-ing out of network separate $1000 deductible... my compromise is to pay for the dr. i really really like but get my labs somewhere else) and after reading this i am definitely going to try to make an appointment.
and yeah.... 6:20?!?! I am not even near conscious at that time let alone getting my blood sucked out of my veins.