I’m starting to have moments where I feel like how the typical “boomer” is portrayed when it comes to dealing with people and technology. Granted, my resistance towards scheduling and completing paperwork that I can do in person over the internet or an app, is a showing itself to be more of a of a hindrance I’m creating for myself than anything. Still, I feel like things shouldn’t be this complicated.

I had a conversation with a medical provider and told them over the phone that I would like to schedule for a specific day and time, and don’t want to bother submitting paperwork if they are not available. They told me this time was available, and so I said “great” and proceeded to fill out the normal patient intake forms.

Now after submitting these forms I’m told that the only availability is on days that do not work for me because someone else booked for that time slot.

Similarly, I opened a claim with one of my insurance providers and gave them with a day that I’d be available. With certainty, they told me someone will be available on that day, and even provided a timeframe that worked great for me. Two days after said availability, I get a missed voice mail saying they are ready in the next 15-30 minutes, which needless to say I was not available for. This unfortunately occurred twice in a two week span.

It’s really easy to get frustrated at the person who’s on the other side of the phone. But I’m starting to feel like there is a bigger issue than carelessness or forgetfulness. It’s no surprise that the person who schedules online or on the app will get the more immediate response.

But there is something else here.

The impersonal is prioritized.

Regardless of the time spent to find a provider who I can talk with directly, or the conversation explaining that I’m not comfortable filling out personal information into yet another black box system until I have some confidence that a) you are the right provider for me, and b) you are even available around my schedule.

Regardless of the conversation I had with the insurance company about my work (et al.) schedule and my availability for a meeting.

None of that matters anymore when the status quo is offsetting cognitive load to a machine.

I’m by no means a techno-luddite, but whatever (waves hands around) this is,
is just absurd.

There’s gotta be another way.