For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for December 06, 2024

Far Side Medical School Training

Medical Prof: “Jensen when a patient has waited in the waiting room for an hour what do you do?”

Jensen: “See the patient?”

Medical Prof: “NO!, move them to another room for an hour!”

He’s too dumb to just call and make another appointment??

He’s to dumb not to realize he’ll pay for both appointments, since he didn’t cancel

Reality comics

What a jackazz

From Lynn’s Comments: This is the kind of stuff you can’t make up. Some of my best lines came from real day-to-day happenings. We had a large readership among dentists who appreciated seeing their days in the clinic illustrated by someone who knew what went on and was understanding and sympathetic.

The fool doesn’t have to wait. He should do something else and come back by 3.

Kind of risky to be saying that out loud before the appointment with the dentist

A little less novocaine for you buddy.

Had a recent dental emergency, mine was good enough to squeeze me in, great service.

All those teeth gotta come out! Punch or pull?

The best part of owning your own business is that you can choose who you wish not to do business with! Telling a P I A something like “You know, I’ll bet you’d be happier spending your money somewhere else” and watching the expression on their face when they realize the cash they have in their bank account really has no impact on you is something to cherish.

#@&*hole

If this happened a lot with this guy, John could’ve dropped him as a patient, easy. However, since this is only a comic strip, it makes John Patterson look like a saint as a Dentist.

Time to look extremely concerned and then rev a dental drill menacingly.

“So I figured….”

“You figured wrong.”

There is one in every crowd.

Hopefully they charge him for his missed appointment. Where does John get all these entitled patients?

That patient is an ingrate.

Make him leave. That’s it.

Mental Note: Use half dosage of Novacaine on the whiner……

Jon, who are these losers who you continue as patients? NO is a good word that comes to mind.

Wotta creep.

The flyers are interesting: Gums: The Unsung Heroes, Flossing Made Easy, Smile, The Joy of Brushing {maybe}.

Try losing a crown, they’ll squeeze you in

There are too many wise guys like him…….too many!

If dental care was run by the government, then this guy would be waiting much longer.

Dentists need chiropractors to handle all t he pains in the neck in their office

This is why I had to stop working at a doctor’s office. The so-called “problem patients” were driving me nuts!

I had patients who were that oblivious. I used to have this and another FBOR comic on the bulletin board to remind me to retire. Seeing this makes me think I did the right thing and I wish I could have done it earlier. The truth is 99.9% of people are great but this other 0.1% can screw up everything for everybody in the office, often a daylong chain reaction of other people’s schedules being adversely affected.

If only that were true only for the latecomers. I have frequently had 2-hour waits after getting to my appointments ON TIME. The patient in the strip may have been in the wrong, but the comment is generally correct.

If I find I’m unable to keep an appointment, I either call the doctor or tell them when they call to remind me of the appointment (whichever applies), and re-schedule.

I once had a late afternoon appointment at a radiology lab for an upper GI series. I checked in at the front window and sat down in the crowded waiting room. It got to be a little after 5:00 pm and I was the only person in the waiting room. I went back up to the window and inquired when I would be seen. To their great chagrin, I had fallen completely through the cracks and the doctor had gone home for the day. Luckily, he lived close by and was able to get back to the office and do my xrays. I would have been even more immensely ticked off if they had suggested rescheduling.

Boy, this is an ugly week at the Dentists office. If you miss an appointment at my Doctors you pay a service charge for it !

How is it that education and healthcare are rights in Canada, but dental care is not?

There was the one about John dreading seeing a patient:

Secretary: Dr. Patterson, are you positive these casts belong to Mrs. McGillicuddy?

John: Yes, I would know her smile anywhere!

Secretary: Dr. Patterson, you last patient is ready.

John peers into antechamber

John{talking to himself}: Oh no, not him! This kid is the worst! No matter how gentle I am, he does nothing I say. This is a living hell!

Michael: Hi Daddy.

Imagine this for John’s day:

Patient List:

Beauregard, Violet

Gloop, Augustus

Salt, Veruca

Teavee, Michael

THROW HIM OUT, JOHN!

How’s you patient load? You really sure you need this one?

Typical overbooking for same time in any medical/dental office

No novocane for that one and laughing gas wouldn’t help his attitude

See, if this happened today, he’d just sit and scroll on his phone for an hour. Wouldn’t even notice the time passing.

Dealing with the public is not always pleasant.