A telephone snafu at a well respected hospital's patient information desk when I made an inquiry call:
Me: I'd like to ask if (patient name) can receive visitors today.
Her: What is the last name? ( I gave it.)
Her: How is that spelled?
Me: R - e - n - d - s - .......
Her: That's F - e - n - t - ...
Me: No. The spelling is R - e -....
Her: That's F - e - m - t -....
Me: No! The spelling is ......
Her: That's L - e - m - d -
Me: No, no, no! The spelling is.....
Her: That's L - e - n - t -
This was starting to sound like something from Monty Python.
After all the effort of trying to cope with someone whose cranial capacity was coming into serious question, I gave up. Instead, I telephoned another relative who told me that it is/was indeed okay to visit.
It seems like I run into things like this more and more often of late, but with one general exception.
When ever I have to speak with an attorney's phone staff, I find careful and accurate communicators. Anywhere else, be it doctors' offices, hospital desks, utility companies or you name it, ............
What's going on?
