Why do we need to tell customer service/operator about our sickness in order to make appointment w/ a doctor?

Isn't it awful that everytime we want go to the doctor office/clinics, they have to ask us why do we want to see a doctor, what sickness do we have. I mean we are not doctors, how do we know about our sickness? That's why we want go to a doctor to get analysis and cure. By the way, it's a patient privacy right. Only doctors or nurses can get that information, not the operator/customer service.
Do you agree? What do you think?

usually it is to prioritize patients who need to see the doctor the most

they need to know how much time to block off for your visit. it's the same reason they ask you at the auto mechanic. often times the "operator" is also a nurse.

I think the person who answers the phones just needs to know your symptoms etc. so they can know what to enter in the computer.

If you have a really serious illness they will work to get you in sooner. If all you need is a check up, that's something you can wait a few days to get done. If you are calling the doctor, I would think you'd be able to describe your symptoms, and discussing this with the person who does the scheduling isn't breaching any privacy rights. All you have to say is you have a sore throat or whatever.

That seems like a valid question, but think about it. When you go to the car mechanic, you need to give him the symptoms of your car's problem and he will better be able to help you solve the problem. You might think you have something, but based on the information you give him, you could discover that he knows it's something else all along.

And you might tell the person at the desk this beforehand so that the doctor or assistant can pull up your file on that case or ones like it. Also, it gives the doctor something to work with once the receptionist types up the symptoms (they have medical training 95% of the time) so that you don't need to repeat them to the doctor himself.

I hope that wasn't too confusing?! Good luck.

If you have an earache you don't go to a foot doctor, they need to know that.

They need to know what they need to be prepared for.

It is what is called "Triage" in medical terms. In order to serve you more efficiently, they must know what the signs and symptoms are in order to assist you further like referral to a specialist and types of tests that may have to be performed. Relax, its not a personal invasion of privacy by any stretch of the imagination.

Because they book twenty patients in at 8Am and only have two doctors! No, really it is annoying but,it is to figure out how long the Doc will be with each patient!I hate it when they tell you you can"t get in for a month, and you are in escruciating PAIN!I think the operator is a nurse also.

i agree, i think its riduciculous that you have to tell receptinists all your buisness. then when you try to make an appointment (with us in wales) you usually have to wait three weeks to see a doctor of your choice. you can see someone else but sometimes you feel you want to see your own doctor as you feel more comfortable and less stressed

Valid questions - wish I had answers - cause I get tired of having to tell a half dozen people why I want to see the dr. before I get to the dr. and then he doesn't even ask me why I want to see him and he starts rattling off stuff that doesn't even pertain to me and I have to say excuse me - I don't think you have the right patient - and guess what - I'm right he doesn't - then we have HIPPA - it's so confidential I can't even find out if I'm a patient at my own clinic - needless to say - it's a soap box peeve with me!