Would you like this service from your T/Pdoc

So yesterday I've had my first work day at kid's psychiatric ward at a local hospital. It went well, but something struck me as really and I wanted to know if it's really that odd or not: One of the Pdocs asks us to call every single one of his clients the day before a session is scheduled to remind them. If they don't answer we have to try a few more times in the morning before the session.

I've never heard of a T/Pdoc doing this before and personally I would hate it if T did that to me and might have quit therapy if she did. I will do it as I won't jeopardize my job over this, but still would like to have other opinions on this.

I get one phone call 24 hours before my appt to remind me and let me cancel if I need without incurring their cancellation fee.

I don't mind - it was helpful yesterday when I thought I had a 13:30 because I had them to move it from my standard 14:30 but they scheduled me at 14:30 anyway and didn't do what I had asked - so at least I had a days notice to move some things around.

Maybe it's because of the setting? If it is a child psychiatric ward then I'm assuming you would be contacting the parents or guardians of the child. As a mom, I would love the reminder- sometimes times and dates can get mixed up when balancing multiple schedules. As a client myself, it wouldn't bother me, either.

No, I would dislike that very much. I have set times for my sessions, twice a week at the same time both days, and I have never been close to missing a session. I know which bus I take on those mornings, to get me there on time, and it's so much part of my routine that I can't imagine forgetting it. (On those rare occasions when I have had to reschedule, I set up a reminder on my phone.)

If T had to phone all his clients he'd have to spend a lot of time on it, and I selfishly prefer him to do more constructive things with his time. Not to mention the fact that I wouldn't want him to be calling me all the time - it would feel like an encroachment on my integrity.

Who we contact depends on the clients age. We can contact teens if their file says so. For younger kids we contact their parent or guardian. I didn't realize some people find it useful...

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My T uses a scheduling program that sends an automated email 2 days before my appointment as a reminder. I don't mind that email at all and actually kind of like it because then I know my session is soon. If it were my T actually sending it though, I would feel like they were trying too hard to take care of me. I'm an adult and I can write down appointments on my calendar and remember to go.

This is what I would hate, I'd feel like T didn't believe me capable of handling my own appointments.

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I never had that, and I wouldn't need it. I think it's also your own responsibility to know when your sessions are.

I would find that really annoying.

No. I know how to schedule appointments I make. I don't want a therapist calling me and I certainly don't want anyone else calling me. But I don't go to ones who have any staff as a deliberate choice to avoid these sorts of things.

For myself I would not like it, but if I had a child with an appointment I think it would be helpful. It's so hard to remember things like that. My boys' orthodontist always calls the day before and so does the dentist. I would NOT want an email from anyone about anything like that. My email is for me and not doctors, dentists or therapists.

My pdoc's office manager sends out an email 24 hours before appointments, but doesn't follow up beyond that.

Personally, I find it annoying to receive reminder calls or emails. I've put the appointment on my calendar, and if I haven't called to cancel it, then I will be there. I don't need the reminders.

Having the secretary verify my appt. the day before..as a teenager...didn't work out well. My parents didn't know I had made the appt. my mother answered the phone and was quite angry.

Nowadays, as an adult, it doesn't bother me one way or another.

My T's office (i assume its computerized) sends a text to my cell phone reminding me of the day/time/provider of my appointment two days early (to allow for that time to cancel before the 24 hour limit). I do find it beneficial because I always feel like i'm going to forget what day or what time my appt. is. Also, i schedule my appts a month or more in advance and never know the exacts of my appt just off the top of my head. Its a simple service that I don't NEED but i do find it useful.

I don't need that and luckily my T doesn't have any staff so I don't need to worry about that.

My H is a T for economically disadvantaged troubled kids. If he has an appointment with the parents he always tries to get ahold of them to confirm and remind them. Maybe because it's a free program and/or because the parents are struggling, but a lot of them no-show. It's really, really frustrating and time consuming and he doesn't get paid when that happens.

For a PDoc (especially a kid PDoc), I don't see it as any different than any other medical appointment reminder. I get calls from my PCP and my GYN 24 hours in advance, as well as the Vet for the dogs (even if I scheduled an appointment for 48 hours out, I get the call the day before the appointment). I think in a more medical setting, where appointemnets are less frequent and regular, it makes sense. If my T (or her office) was calling me to remind me every week, I would be put off though.
Am I remembering correctly that your PDoc's also do weekly therapy? It would be weird to weekly be reminded of an appointment...

My t doesn't do calls or emails but we have a standing appointment and so does everyone else that goes to that clinic. My p-doc does calls the day or two before the appointment and I appreciate it as a reminder since those appointments are scheduled individually and vary.

My T would personally call my mother the day before the appointment before I turned 18. Now she stopped. I'd rather her not call as I don't like my mom being able to share things with her.

My T and pdoc both have reminder calls the business day prior to appointments. I LOVE IT!! I don't have regularly scheduled appointments, and those reminders have saved us a few times when life has been crazy. With a me, a husband, three kids, church schedules, choir schedules, work schedules, etc., etc., etc., my calendar is NUTS!! So I'll take all the help I can get. I keep detailed calendars, but that doesn't mean I don't have a brain fart from time to time, so those reminders are helpful.

It makes good business sense on their end also. If it helps assure patients/clients make their appointments, if it give clients that chance to say cancel and open up a spot for patients/clients who might could use that time, etc., then it can be really helpful.

Our pediatrician, dentists, surgeons, etc. all do the same thing by the way. It isn't at all just a practice for therapists. My husband's pdoc, our dentist, and our family doctor send out reminder emails. Our T actually has his secretary call and leave a message.

I have never heard of medical people notifying people like that. I'm sure it is not usual here. The only professional I can think of who does that is my hairdresser - I get a txt message from them the day before.

I would love this service, getting an email the day before. I don't answer phone calls but I'm on the computer daily. I'd love it if all my medical appointments would send a reminder. I currently don't have a T and all my appointments are scattered about.

These kinds of reminders are so easy to send out anymore with most people having text or email access. I use a similar system with my students: an app where I can send them reminders about homework, tests, due dates, etc. Just takes one click, and I can notify 90 students all at once. Love it. My chorus uses the same system to send out reminders, seating charts, rehearsal notes, etc. My pharmacy sends a phone call when prescriptions are ready. It's just the way of technology now.

My T is still old school in their system and they personally make those calls, but I would guess they'll eventually catch up to technology and go automated.

Three days before my appointment I get a phone call and an email reminding me of the appointment. I don't mind it.

I've seen 2 different pdocs in group practices where the practice did "robocall" appt. reminders. One of them would ask you to "press 1" to confirm. A medical specialist that I see also does this.

I might feel differently about this kind of call from a therapist. Not sure.

I've only started getting reminder calls from my doctors in the last 4-5 years.