Thursday, April 1, 2010

Is this some kind of April Fool's Day joke?

This is an actual conversation I had today with a patient. Just imagine my voice getting increasingly louder as the conversation progresses.

Me: Terrace Pharmacy, technician speaking.

Patient:  Hi, I have a prescription that was filled there, and I'm wondering who the doctor is. The prescription number is 123456.

Me:  Okay, it looks like its for Medication X.

Patient:  Who is the doctor on that?

Me:  It's Doctor Biddulph.

Patient:  Who? How do you spell that?

Me:  B-I-D...

Patient:  Wait, I can't hear you! So it's D.

Me:  No, B as in boy.

Patient:  Okay, B.

Me:  Yes. B-I-D...

Patient: Okay D-I-D...

Me:  No, B as in boy, I, D as in dog.

Patient: Okay, B-I-D. What's next?

Me:  Okay, next is another D as in dog, then U...

Patient:  Okay, zero?

Me:  No, not zero, D again, as in dog.

Patient: Okay, so it's B-I-D-zero...

Me:  No, there's no zero. It's B-I-D-then D again...

Patient:  Okay B-I-D.

Me:  Yes. Then D-U...

Patient:  E?

Me:  No, not E. U.

Patient:  I'm sorry I can't hear you. There's a lot of static. (Note: I didn't hear any static.)

Me:  Okay, so it's B-I-D-D-U

Patient:  B-I-D-E. What's next?

Me (giving up):  Okay. Next is L.

Patient: Dash?

Me in my head:  What the heck? Dash?!?

Me out loud:  No, there's no dash! It's L.

Patient:  Okay, O.

Me (giving up again):  Okay, then P as in Peter.

Patient:  E?

Me:  Now, P as in Peter, or Paul.

Patient: Okay, P.

Me:  Yes. And last is H.

Patient:  A?

Me:  No, H as in happy or Henry.

Patient:  8?

Me (in my head): 8?!?! Who has an 8 in their name?

Me (out loud):  No, not 8. H, as in Henry, or house, or hairy, or happy.

Patient:  Oh, H.

Me:  Yes.

Patient:  Okay, so it's B-I-D-E-O-L-P-H.

Me (totally giving up):  Yes.

Patient:  Okay, thanks, bye!

Me (in my head):  What the heck? Are you deaf? Did you not put in your hearing aid? Do you not listen at ALL?!?!?!?!?

Me (out loud):  Bye!

4 comments:

Annie said...

I must say, it was more fun hearing this in person. I could play the conversation in my head while I read! I still think my favorite part was, "THERE'S NO DASH!"

Jewelsp said...

LOL!!!!!!!!! This was hysterical to read!!! Poor old, deaf person! Poor you for having to try and help them. :)

mbbatch04 said...

I love you Janel! This is awesome!

Heather~Marie said...

It's a little late in the reading...but that was AMAZING!!! I could totally hear you saying that...and some old lady saying the other parts. That just made my day Janel. Thank you :)