I understand that most of the people who come to the rat-hole clinic I work in would rather be somewhere else. I can't really blame them because the atmosphere in that place really sucks. Almost non-functioning air conditioning, brusque staff members and perhaps worst of all, a cold as fish, almost asshole-ish male examining physician. Me.
I don't do friendly. We see around 40-60 pre-employment patient-clients daily, not counting the10-20 actual medical consults we get, and add to that the medical certificates we have to sign for the employees of a crappy motel chain here in Manila. With that amount of toxic, I am in no mood to exchange pleasantries with pre-emps. ( I am nice to consults though. They have real problems.) My philosophy regarding pre-emp clients is this: I'm not going to waste your time, Sir/ Ma'am, let's do this fast so you can get back to what you need to do. With the oppressive atmosphere of the place, I think I'm actually doing them a service. Hehehe.
While not friendly, I am at least civil and polite to them and for some, I can be quite nice (read: some pre-emps are pretty girls). Pleasantries will delay or prolong the physical exam and make the other people 's stay in that rat-hole place longer. So I have to dispense with the nicey-nicey and the chit-chat.
There are some people though who seem to be immune to the soul-destroying, life-sucking ambiance of the clinic. One of them is my co-worker GP Dra. J, who seems to hold it together better than I do. God bless her, I think it's because she's married. (Maybe I should get married na din.) Another is this guy who was there for a pre-employment physical exam. I was asking him his medical history. The conversation happened in Tagalog.
Me: Have you ever been hospitalized in your whole life?
Dude: Yes, doctor.
Me: When was that, sir?
Dude: When I was born. Hehehehe, joke lang po.
Hrrr.
I gave him a lame laugh and mentally gave him the finger.
I hate comedians.
I don't do friendly. We see around 40-60 pre-employment patient-clients daily, not counting the10-20 actual medical consults we get, and add to that the medical certificates we have to sign for the employees of a crappy motel chain here in Manila. With that amount of toxic, I am in no mood to exchange pleasantries with pre-emps. ( I am nice to consults though. They have real problems.) My philosophy regarding pre-emp clients is this: I'm not going to waste your time, Sir/ Ma'am, let's do this fast so you can get back to what you need to do. With the oppressive atmosphere of the place, I think I'm actually doing them a service. Hehehe.
While not friendly, I am at least civil and polite to them and for some, I can be quite nice (read: some pre-emps are pretty girls). Pleasantries will delay or prolong the physical exam and make the other people 's stay in that rat-hole place longer. So I have to dispense with the nicey-nicey and the chit-chat.
There are some people though who seem to be immune to the soul-destroying, life-sucking ambiance of the clinic. One of them is my co-worker GP Dra. J, who seems to hold it together better than I do. God bless her, I think it's because she's married. (Maybe I should get married na din.) Another is this guy who was there for a pre-employment physical exam. I was asking him his medical history. The conversation happened in Tagalog.
Me: Have you ever been hospitalized in your whole life?
Dude: Yes, doctor.
Me: When was that, sir?
Dude: When I was born. Hehehehe, joke lang po.
Hrrr.
I gave him a lame laugh and mentally gave him the finger.
I hate comedians.
