Thanks for sharing, and I'm sorry to have asked a question that delved into your business that way. I can understand why you're nervous. I just want to thump docs that act that way with patients. It's so easy to be calm, patient and reassuring--and to separate oneself from whatever billing dilemmas are happening. That's just unforgiveable in my book. There are too many good, calm, friendly docs to have to endure one like that. Think it over. It might not be too late to fire his impatient ass and get another.

I have an ophthalmologist who's the same way. Impatient. Makes me nervous. He's very lofty and arrogant. Just a sort of an overall jerk. I get the distinct feeling that all he really wants to do is high-bill Lasic procedures, not routine eye medical care. My husband's theory is that he's that way with me because I'm a smart women who asks too many questions--and because I'm also four inches taller than the doctor. Anyway, I found myself dreading going to him (and I seriously would do almost anything to avoid going to the eye doctor--it creeps me out), when I suddenly realized earlier this year that I didn't have to go to him anymore. So I got myself a new eye doctor, who's much nicer. I still hate going there, though. Don't like anyone messing with my eyes.