Page 20 of Family Bonds: Carter & Avery

“Yes,” Avery said. “I’ll see them whenever they can come in.”

Roseann smiled, nodded and then went back to the call.

“Any problems logging on?” she asked Melody and Kendall.

“No,” they both said.

“When you’re done, I’ll let Roseann talk to you about the way things are done in the office, Melody. We’ll work out our own routine as we go. You do what you see fit but observe like I’m going to do. The flow will figure its way out. Kendall will be able to see patients on her own without me. Things like shots and grooming. Kendall will explain the time it takes to do those things and we’ll set days or times during the week when those appointments can be made. I’ll pick surgery days too where I won’t take appointments during that time.”

Melody was taking notes, Kendall nodding her head.

Nine o’clock rolled around and Dr. Mullins’s first patient arrived, but no doctor yet.

“He normally is here by ten after nine,” Roseann said. “He lives in Boston, so coming on that ferry, unloading his car and driving here takes a bit of time.”

They weren’t that far from the Romeo port, but she figured this time of year, there were tourists getting off the ferry too and it would take longer than normal.

“Not a problem. What is the patient in for? Do you think Dr. Mullins would mind if I saw them so that he doesn’t get behind with the next appointment?”

She was looking at the schedule of appointments and saw they were back to back and packed for the day. She wasn’t surprised. Some were simple things like vaccinations, but a few were sick visits.

“I think he’d be thrilled. I’ve got to get some meds filled too for Dr. Mullins to sign off on and then have them picked up also.”

There was a pad on the desk with a long list of names and numbers. “What’s that?”

“Those are the messages left on the voicemail. I try to check them once a day when I’m not here to see what I’ve got to get ready for.”

She was flipping through. Many were refills of simple things. “Why don’t I take care of some of this too? Do what you need to with the meds, put them with the charts and I’ll go through and sign off and approve things.” She turned to look at Melody and Kendall. “We’re going to use the software on the laptop and will need to get all the existing patients inputted. New patients we will start right away. Anyone that calls for an appointment, when they come in we will enter them so that I can use my laptop to see them and do what needs to be done all in live time. If you can send papers before the appointments or they can come in earlier, great. When an existing client comes in or is scheduled, we’ll try to get their files entered before their appointment.”

“I can help with that,” Roseann said.

“Thank you. If you and Melody can share the laptop and take calls together today and do what you can, I’d appreciate it. And if you want to come in tomorrow, Roseann, I’ll pay you for your time. We’ll figure it out.”

“I’d love to,” Roseann said. “Here is the chart for Moses. He’s the first patient of the day.”

She took the chart. “Can you show them to exam room one, which I know is the one Dr. Mullins uses? Once Kendall is all set up, I’ll have her doing that, but I want to look this over quickly.”

“I’m used to it,” Roseann said. “By the way, the place looks great. I think I spent five minutes walking around and looking at all the finished work.”

“The volunteers did a wonderful job,” she said. “I never expected this.”

“You’ll learn the island is a great place to live. Everyone takes care of their own.”

Which she found out by the end of the day.

She was exhausted but in such a rewarding way.

She’d seen patients, she’d talked with Dr. Mullins, Melody and Roseann were bonding and working well and she was positive she was going to have Roseann stay on a few days already.

The phone had been ringing off the hook and she had over fifty appointments added to what Dr. Mullins had scheduled for next week.

Some were to see her; others Kendall could care for.

Lots of the patients were new and transferring from the mainland, so those appointments would take longer to get their history one on one so she’d had them scheduled as such.

She’d run out to get lunch for everyone, walking home to get her SUV and then picking it up and deciding she should have done that in the first place rather than carrying everything over on the walk.

She’d know better tomorrow when she came in.

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