I have a patient that ordered and paid in full for a lens only job back in November of 2014. It is the middle of June and they have yet to pick the lenses up.
What is your opinion on this? I am about to call them donations as they are large enough I can edge them into a smaller frame and donate them to the local charity.
These are going to be stupid questions but it must be asked:
Have you attempted to call the patient back about the order? If so, how many times? Did you document dates and how many times you called?
I would try one last time to reach them, both by phone call and letter as a final attempt, asking them to come in so the order can be finished or offer them a partial or full refund (or none, whichever you choose or whatever is your office or company policy is)
Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity
All paid for? Throw them into a bag and wait. I had a patient pick up after 8-months... turned out he was in jail.
answer to stupid questions that must be asked.
We call patients twice per month and notate everything. so 23 attempts.
If I could just get them to confirm their address I would mail them and say good luck.
this doctor holds onto things from early 2000's.
If they are paid for you should just hold on to them. When you call do you just leave a message or do you speak to the person?
I had a pair sit here for almost 2 years once. They were paid for so I never worried about, one day he just showed up...he's been busy! Lol, he must have been!
A few years ago I cleaned out the storage locker and finally threw out a couple of dozen really old jobs that were never picked up from so far back that my hair was still brown. One pair, as I recall, was a pair of Ultex bifocals in a Safilo Monza frame from 1973.
Why did you hang on to these old jobs for forty some odd years, you may ask? Well, I did once discard a job and some three years later the customer came in looking for them. The customer from Hell. She made a scene, insulted my birth status and stormed out of the office nearly taking the door off its hinges. I swore "never again" and decided to keep these jobs until the Second Coming.
Here is a question for all you bar room lawyers. What with all this hoopla about Rx's expiring in one or two years, would I be in violation of some regulation had I delivered the glasses three years late?
I guess that if you make an honest effort to contact the customer and are unsuccessful you can do what you will with the glasses and sleep the sleep of the just.
Send a certified/registered letter to the patient.
Send em the job by registered mail ....................
Originally Posted by MikeAurelius
Send em the job by registered mail (if it is paid) and a note that they can come for any follow ups.
Could be deceased. If they're paid for up front, no need to worry about it.
I have a drawer full of lenses that haven't been picked up. The expiration of the RX has been noted on each. The day after the RX has expired they are placed into the circular file and a note is made in the pats. chart, if the lense have been paid for, that they have a credit on account for the amount paid.
Clinton Tower
The intellect to live free is in short supply
ALT248=°
+1
A Credit? Why?
Don't re cut them! Let sleeping dogs lie and don't spend any more money on phone calls, postage etc.
Put them in a 6x8 manila envelope. Note on the front pts name, date ordered, date broken down and filed and any notes as to when and how you tried to reach them. Put the envelope in a shoe box and notice over the years the job or 2 that join them and surprise them when they come in, sometimes years later (but often a week or two after filing them-karma?), that you still have them.
If there's a balance due that's another story.
I believe the courts consider them abandoned after 3 months but I'm not positive on that.
Last edited by Uncle Fester; 06-15-2015 at 12:33 PM.
CME4SPECS
Why a credit, as I mentioned in my original post, ("if the lense have been paid for") then I owe the pat. what they have paid for, or credit for the amount to use at their discretion.
Clinton Tower
The intellect to live free is in short supply
ALT248=°
The record in my office is 5 years. She came in 5 years later and wanted her deposit back.
If you charge her a storage fee she will probably owe you money.
I called, then sent a letter. If no response after 4 months I would just mail them the eyewear (if a complete pair), if was a redo or warranty (which means I needed the old frame or lenses) I put the frame back on the boards, and taped the lenses to their chart.
I had quite a few patients who encountered major medical conditions and were occupied. Some just moved. a few had tragically passed away.
If you require pre-payment in full, you have FAR FEWER patients fail to pick up, and far more options to handle it when they don't.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks