Guide to visiting a GP clinic in Singapore
I am making a guide for you Singaporeans about visiting a GP here, because some people just annoy me at work, and making things difficult for us. By us, I mean, us clinical assistants. And you, being the patient.
The clinical assistant (a.k.a "Missy" or "nurse" at the clinic)
A clinical assistant is basically the staff in the clinic that isn't the doctor. What they do is to prepare your prescribed medication, and instruct you on the usage. They also do all sorts of things like register you in the queue, organize the clinic (both stocks and people), assist doctors in procedures, and arranging any referrals. Of course, it is almost impossible for me to list all the duties, but you get what I mean.
They are part-customer service, part-professionals.
The patient (a.k.a people wanting to consult the doctor)
The word 'patient' is to be strictly used as a noun here. It is false to assume that all patients are patient. In fact, most of them are impatient. So you, the patient, is the person who wants to consult the doctor, get your medication, so that you can get well. You are responsible for waiting in the queue for your turn, and take your medication on time, and... Oh, to pay for services.
In the clinic, you are part-customer, part-person-who-needs-to-listen.
The doctor
The doctor here is the superstar of the clinic. Without them, a clinic would not be called a clinic. They are responsible for diagnosing your illnesses and prescribing the correct medication and dosage.
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1. What you need
Your IC/birth cert/any form of ID, insurance card (if any), and money.
But even so, that is just the bare necessities. To NOT be considered an asshole, you will need PATIENCE, AND GRACIOUSNESS.
2. What to do
First, you approach the counter, and kindly ask for attention if the clinical asst. does not notice you. If you see them explaning medication to another patient, bring out your patience and use it until the clinical asst. has finished and the said patient has left.
Then, after getting their attention, inform them if it is your first visit to the clinic.
If it is your first time, produce your ID, and once again, use a little patience while she creates a new patient record for you. Inform them of any drug allergies.
If you have been to that clinic, inform them of your name and/or ID. Better still, show them your patient appt. card or IC.
Inform them if you have any doctor preferences. Inform them if you feel it is en emergency (breathlessness, open bleeding wound, very high fever), but it will all be up to the doctor's discretion.
After that is done, make sure you get a queue number, if not remind the clinical asst.
Next, use your patience. Take a seat and wait for your queue. Please note that if the consultation for any patient before you is long, it is NOT the clinical asst's fault. Do NOT pester the clinical asst. by asking them why the consult is long. They will not know, and they CANNOT do anything about it. In fact, pestering the clinical asst.s delays dispensing of medications for others. Just sit back, and wait.
If your queue number is skipped, kindly inform the clinical asst. Once again, it is not the clinical asst's fault, reason being the DOCTOR is the one calling the numbers, not the asst. The clinical asst will inform the doctor. That being said, please do NOT enter the doctor's room yet if someone else's number was skipped to your number. Use your graciousness now, and inform the asst.
When your number is being called, enter the doctor's room. Be concise, but accurate with your information. Inform the doctor of any drug allergies, request additional medication if necessary, and ask for an MC if needed (and what type of MC). Listen to what the doctor has to say about your medication. Thank the doctor after you are finished with your consult.
After your consultation, take a seat and wait PATIENTLY for your medication. I shall explain what happens after your consult, while you wait. The clinical asst will receive your consultation notes, either in hardcopy or soft copy. They then have to type into the system all of your medication and dosage. After which, printing your MC, preparing your medication, studying your note, before calling your name to dispense your medication to you. Furthermore, the doctor has to hand-sign your MC. So please be patient.
After your medication is prepared, your name will be called. Approach your clinical asst and listen carefully to the instructions. Ask if there is anything you are unsure of. Check your MC when the clinical asst hands it to you, and make the necessary payments. Ask for a receipt if necessary.
Thank your clinical asst, and leave the clinic. Remember to take your medicines.
3. Deviation from above steps
In the case you miss any of the steps above, please refer below.
P.S. There is no such thing as you forgot your patience. Just make it.
I forgot my ID!
For new registration, write down your name, DOB, IC number, address and contact number, and any drug allergies. For repeat visitors, a name or IC number will suffice.
Shit! I missed my number!
Just inform the clinical asst. and wait patiently for your number to be called, probably after the next or another patient.
I forgot to tell the doctor about something or I need MC/this medication!
If there is anything you forgot to inform the doctor about, please inform the clinical asst politely while she arranges for you to re-enter the doctor's room.
If you need additional medication or an MC, too bad. Wait until the clinical asst calls you for your medication, and inform them of your additional stuffs. You then have to wait again while the doctor approves of your additional medication and dosage/MC. There is no choice.
I think there is something wrong with this medication...
Clarify with the clinical assistant! There are times where doctor's words are undecipherable/written wrongly/typed wrongly, so clarify! You then need to wait for the necessary ammendments to be made.
I think there is a medication missing...
Again, clarify. (Also see forgetting to tell the doctor... medication.)
4. Exceptions
Extending MC
Extending MC can only be done if there is no gap in between the day of your previous MC and the day of extended MC required. The clinic will also be unable to issue an MC for days before the current date.
Buying medicines OTC
The clinical asst will inform the doctor for you. After which it will be subjected to approval by the doctor on duty. There is nothing we can do if the doctor refuses to approve of OTC medication. Please wait patiently.
Taking a queue number over the phone
NO WAY. Don't even think about it.
5. Final note
Do not blame the clinical assistant for every single mistake. They are human too, and they have emotions. Not all mistakes are the fault of the assistant. You need to have much patience and graciousness, especially when the queues get long. There is no way out of waiting.
You have to put yourselves in the shoes of other patients. They are all patients, and they are all entitled to the same quality of service as you do. So please be gracious.
The clinical assistant (a.k.a "Missy" or "nurse" at the clinic)
A clinical assistant is basically the staff in the clinic that isn't the doctor. What they do is to prepare your prescribed medication, and instruct you on the usage. They also do all sorts of things like register you in the queue, organize the clinic (both stocks and people), assist doctors in procedures, and arranging any referrals. Of course, it is almost impossible for me to list all the duties, but you get what I mean.
They are part-customer service, part-professionals.
The patient (a.k.a people wanting to consult the doctor)
The word 'patient' is to be strictly used as a noun here. It is false to assume that all patients are patient. In fact, most of them are impatient. So you, the patient, is the person who wants to consult the doctor, get your medication, so that you can get well. You are responsible for waiting in the queue for your turn, and take your medication on time, and... Oh, to pay for services.
In the clinic, you are part-customer, part-person-who-needs-to-listen.
The doctor
The doctor here is the superstar of the clinic. Without them, a clinic would not be called a clinic. They are responsible for diagnosing your illnesses and prescribing the correct medication and dosage.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. What you need
Your IC/birth cert/any form of ID, insurance card (if any), and money.
But even so, that is just the bare necessities. To NOT be considered an asshole, you will need PATIENCE, AND GRACIOUSNESS.
2. What to do
First, you approach the counter, and kindly ask for attention if the clinical asst. does not notice you. If you see them explaning medication to another patient, bring out your patience and use it until the clinical asst. has finished and the said patient has left.
Then, after getting their attention, inform them if it is your first visit to the clinic.
If it is your first time, produce your ID, and once again, use a little patience while she creates a new patient record for you. Inform them of any drug allergies.
If you have been to that clinic, inform them of your name and/or ID. Better still, show them your patient appt. card or IC.
Inform them if you have any doctor preferences. Inform them if you feel it is en emergency (breathlessness, open bleeding wound, very high fever), but it will all be up to the doctor's discretion.
After that is done, make sure you get a queue number, if not remind the clinical asst.
Next, use your patience. Take a seat and wait for your queue. Please note that if the consultation for any patient before you is long, it is NOT the clinical asst's fault. Do NOT pester the clinical asst. by asking them why the consult is long. They will not know, and they CANNOT do anything about it. In fact, pestering the clinical asst.s delays dispensing of medications for others. Just sit back, and wait.
If your queue number is skipped, kindly inform the clinical asst. Once again, it is not the clinical asst's fault, reason being the DOCTOR is the one calling the numbers, not the asst. The clinical asst will inform the doctor. That being said, please do NOT enter the doctor's room yet if someone else's number was skipped to your number. Use your graciousness now, and inform the asst.
When your number is being called, enter the doctor's room. Be concise, but accurate with your information. Inform the doctor of any drug allergies, request additional medication if necessary, and ask for an MC if needed (and what type of MC). Listen to what the doctor has to say about your medication. Thank the doctor after you are finished with your consult.
After your consultation, take a seat and wait PATIENTLY for your medication. I shall explain what happens after your consult, while you wait. The clinical asst will receive your consultation notes, either in hardcopy or soft copy. They then have to type into the system all of your medication and dosage. After which, printing your MC, preparing your medication, studying your note, before calling your name to dispense your medication to you. Furthermore, the doctor has to hand-sign your MC. So please be patient.
After your medication is prepared, your name will be called. Approach your clinical asst and listen carefully to the instructions. Ask if there is anything you are unsure of. Check your MC when the clinical asst hands it to you, and make the necessary payments. Ask for a receipt if necessary.
Thank your clinical asst, and leave the clinic. Remember to take your medicines.
3. Deviation from above steps
In the case you miss any of the steps above, please refer below.
P.S. There is no such thing as you forgot your patience. Just make it.
I forgot my ID!
For new registration, write down your name, DOB, IC number, address and contact number, and any drug allergies. For repeat visitors, a name or IC number will suffice.
Shit! I missed my number!
Just inform the clinical asst. and wait patiently for your number to be called, probably after the next or another patient.
I forgot to tell the doctor about something or I need MC/this medication!
If there is anything you forgot to inform the doctor about, please inform the clinical asst politely while she arranges for you to re-enter the doctor's room.
If you need additional medication or an MC, too bad. Wait until the clinical asst calls you for your medication, and inform them of your additional stuffs. You then have to wait again while the doctor approves of your additional medication and dosage/MC. There is no choice.
I think there is something wrong with this medication...
Clarify with the clinical assistant! There are times where doctor's words are undecipherable/written wrongly/typed wrongly, so clarify! You then need to wait for the necessary ammendments to be made.
I think there is a medication missing...
Again, clarify. (Also see forgetting to tell the doctor... medication.)
4. Exceptions
Extending MC
Extending MC can only be done if there is no gap in between the day of your previous MC and the day of extended MC required. The clinic will also be unable to issue an MC for days before the current date.
Buying medicines OTC
The clinical asst will inform the doctor for you. After which it will be subjected to approval by the doctor on duty. There is nothing we can do if the doctor refuses to approve of OTC medication. Please wait patiently.
Taking a queue number over the phone
NO WAY. Don't even think about it.
5. Final note
Do not blame the clinical assistant for every single mistake. They are human too, and they have emotions. Not all mistakes are the fault of the assistant. You need to have much patience and graciousness, especially when the queues get long. There is no way out of waiting.
You have to put yourselves in the shoes of other patients. They are all patients, and they are all entitled to the same quality of service as you do. So please be gracious.
