Respond truthfully. If you feel poorly and that's why you're at this appointment, it helps them help you to accurately describe what's up.

That's an odd question. Why wouldn't you tell the receptionist how you feel? You'e at a doctor's office, right? You're probably not there because you feel great and happy and chipper.

Unless you're at the doctor for an annual physical - then you wouldn't be there because you're sick... haha

I always answer truthfully. Why wouldn't I? And why wouldn't you? If you feel like hell, SAY SO.

Something like "I'm here." Said back as politely as possible, meaning grimace/smile, not eye-roll, although you might feel like it.

Albert_135, if this was yourself feeling so miserable, I hope you're doing better now!

I like cooper's "I've been better"

If this were a large facility and I thought the receptionist was just being polite then I'd give a generic answer along the lines of - "well enough" or "all right, considering the traffic" .

In a small physician's office with regular staff then I 'd probably be a little more specific.

Imstillchloecat - the OP specifically says he's there because he feels "miserable as all H..." Not that he's there for a physical. Haha to you too.

LOL.

You don't need to go into details. "I feel sick", "I've been better", "Miserable", "If I felt well, I'd be at home right now".

If the receptionist is just doing a blind social greeting, maybe she'll get the hint that doesn't work in that setting.

I've never been asked. But I have been asked, why are you here today? Which makes more sense.

I'm here for my semi-annual check up.

I've never been to a doctor's office due to illness.

I see nothing wrong with saying "I feel like h#%%" but I would follow up with "Thank you for asking." Nothing wrong with a blind social greeting, it is just common politeness and I am sure she expects some honest answers! Respond politely in return.

That is my number one annoyance. Hello how are you is spoken in one fast sentence. They do not really hear any response. I choose to not answer, goes unnoticed.

Years ago my mom went in for a doctors appt. Tne receptionist tells her the doctor is an hour behind. Moms annoyed response was "and to think I broke my neck getting here". When appt. was finished she was really upset that they had examined her neck first, when her complaint was a stomach issue.

Not only at the doctor's office, but everywhere, that is a common question but mostly a social signal and not real curiosity about your well being. I do think though that if there is one place that a true responsive is called for rather than the automatic 'I'm fine how are you', it is at a doctor's office.

Marcopolo5, that is so funny -- so they did hear her!

I usually say that I'm ok and ask how they are. I try to be polite, as I know they usually are too. If it's something urgent or really painful I might say something since my primary doctor is a walk in clinic with no specific appointment times.

Why do I ask?

The poor receptionist is just that and really has nothing directly to do with my health. This receptionists perhaps handles reception for a dozen offices, some like billing are only remotely related to health. Ideally she should, perhaps, ask "How may I help you?''

I too like cooper's "I've been better"

Today I saw a doctor. The receptionist smiled, don't remember if she said hello. I signed in, she took the clipboard and started right in with questions, new medical card etc.

I honestly didn't miss the "how are you?"

So maybe in a doctor's office, a nice smile and hello is really enough.

This question is always asked of me by my doctor. However, it is asked in the manner of a polite greeting with a smile, not really a question as to how is my health. Much like that of an acquaintance you might see at an event, or someone saying "have a nice day" after the original greeting we get on with why I'm there. The doctor may then say why are we seeing you today.

Some places should reassess their "polite greeting"...Doctors offices, funeral homes...the dmv, maybe...

A colleague (internal medicine office) recently described how her receptionist knew when the patient said, "I am having severe chest pain," to immediately notify one of the clinicians - rather than just let the person wait their turn.

Yes, most of the time the response is probably vague & nonspecific, but the question may be part of their triage process - so someone with a severe, potentially life threatening, complaint is not left sitting in the waiting room.

While people may say the patient should have called 911 and went to the ED, there is a huge problem with low levels of health care literacy, and many people don't access medical care in the best way.

Thus, responding accurately in a medical setting may help save your life. The receptionist does not need a full history of your presenting illness, the nature and severity of complaint will probably be enough.

Interesting point you bring up mdln...

I was brought up thinking that an "emergency" is a life or death sort of thing...you didn't go to the ER unless you had broken something or worse. You didn't call 911 unless your life depended on it.

I have only been to the ER twice in my life. I was surprised to see someone there with a migraine (I suffer so I know what it's like) and others who seemed to have non life-threatening issues (I'm basing this on the fact that they were seen and walked out...I do understand that there are many many things that are not visible). Many people were waiting to be seen...but they were sitting and talking in a somewhat "normal" manner...

My neighbor recently had a stomach virus and called an ambulance. I was astounded at this. My dad fell off a ladder and broke his arm badly enough that the bone was sticking out. He balked when my mom called an ambulance (at my insistance).....to this day he thinks it was overkill on my part.

Is an emergency what I was led to believe? Does money/insurance have anything to do with needing to be seen in the ER as opposed to seeing a doctor in a walk-in office?

Penny design, yes, money/insurance has a lot to do with it. Many people have no choice but to go to the ER if they're needing medical attention.

Absolutely yes, some people use the ED for non-emergencies because they either don't have insurance or money to pay out of pocket, or don't have a regular doctor.

And I've had people come to the ED because they "didn't want to bother" their doctor, or don't want to wait until tomorrow to get their sore throat checked, or say that the ED is closer so they come here instead of an urgent care or their doctor's office. I've also seen people who definitely should have come to the ED sooner but thought that their stroke symptoms/heart attack symptoms/ inability to breathe would go away with an aspirin and a nap.

Penny, you are correct. Most ED patients would be fine going to a primary care provider. Unfortunately, many do not have one, others do not want to wait for an appointment, some think the ED is a place to get better care, and some do not realize it would have been safe to wait for the next available appointment.

Many offices have staff tell patients who don't want to wait until the next available appointment to "go to the ED" because it is so difficult w/ legal risk to phone triage. Insurance co-pays for ED visits are often large ($100-500, not uncommon), unless admitted, but that does not seem to keep people away.

If someone asked me how I felt and I felt sick....I'd say, "sick".

We had some medical staff where I worked and I'd often see the Drs. around at the cafe or the gym or in the hall. One time one of the docs said, "Hi. How are you?" And I replied, "Why is it whenever a doctor asks me how I am, I feel obligated to tell him!"

"I've felt better" (and said with as much smile as I can muster). Been there too many times. Not nearly as many since I had my sinus surgery :) It'll be paid off financially in another month, but it's saved me money other ways and loads of pain, agony, and time. Well worth it.

The only time I tell my husband never to say fine is when his WCB worker calls to check on him. Because he'll be being honest with her. He's not fine.

I never have had anything dire, just flew etc, but I think if a receptionist ask me anything within hearing of the other people in the waiting room, I would be very inclined to say that I had bloody diarrhea and was coughing up bits of lung tissue or something equally horrible.

"I was better, but I got over it"

Randy, you remind me. I had this boss who would answer "Better" when someone asked him how he was doing. On a daily basis. They'd say, "How were you before" "were you not doing well?" that kind of thing and he'd say, "I was great before!". Positive kind of guy :)

Boy, Rob, I'd find that annoying. One of those things that the speaker thinks is cute and clever, but is more of a "gotcha". I'd stop asking him how he is after the first time.

It really made people smile. I guess he's charming enough he could get away with it (grin)

'Not the best.' I've been through a lot and I have to tell them this a LOT.

My response today at my appointment if asked will be "I'm cold, ready for spring and I hate winter." Another fun response is "Fit as a fiddle and fine as frog's hair."

This is an antiquated question like, "How do you do?" It's inappropriate within a medical setting. I'd prefer, "Hello. How may I help you?"

Why do receptionists call you in to the doctor's examining room using your given name? Is it an attempt to preserve patient privacy? My primary's nurse calls me Mrs. (Surname), despite having known me for twenty years. She introduces herself by her given name.

I sometimes tell them that's what I'm here to find out... (or for you to tell me.)