Due to technical malfunctions with my smart phone, I did not receive most of my texts, emails, and voicemails for what seems to be roughly a 2-week period of time from 10/12-10/27. There does not seem to be any pattern to which messages I did or did not get. I was receiving some messages here and there, so I just thought maybe I was having a "slow period". I did not become aware of this technical problem until last weekend, when I saw several friends who told me they had been sending me messages and I had no idea that they were calling or texting me. I corrected the problem this past Sunday night. I am not very adept with technology, so I required help and it took me several hours. A corporation with IT designees would have likely noticed this issue within hours and fixed it. Being an intentionally small business, I have no such employees and had to fix the problem myself.
Being a simplified business has positives and negatives. Among the positives is that I have a personal relationship with each patient. Among the negatives, problems take longer to fix when only one person is working on them.
This past week, I have gotten several angry messages from people who contacted me and did not get a response. I realize that we live in a world where instant responses are expected. What is shocking to me is that anyone who has met me would assume that I was ignoring their requests for contact. I would never ignore messages from my patients or requests for information from prospective patients. When we depend on technology, sometimes it lets us down. That is what happened to me this month and it is not a reflection of a lack of professionalism or disorganization on my part.
I am committed to providing the highest quality natural health care through one-on-one education and empowerment. I am the only healthcare provider I know who offers access to me directly. I do not have a "middle-man". No one has to leave a message with someone else to get through to me. This system is not a reflection of my lacking financial funds to hire a secretary. This system exists because I believe that medicine has become too much of a culture of experts. With such separation between healer and patient, there is no empowerment taking place. I realize that by allowing everyone to call me by my first name and giving such free access to me I run the risk of people overstepping the boundaries of professional respect. That is a risk I am willing to take if it means that I can have more meaningful interactions with people that facilitate real healing.
I am posting below my policies for contact. Thanks for listening.
Blessings,
Michelle
Contact Policies for Health Revolution Ayurveda
I am happy to answer questions and concerns via text, email, or phone.
I give responses to messages within 24 hours Monday-Friday, 10 am - 5 pm.
On weekends and holidays I do not answer work-related messages of any kind because it is important for me to have a healthy work-life balance. Weekends are my family time and that time is sacred.
I always recommend that those needing urgent medical care call 911 or go to the nearest emergency medical facility, rather than texting, calling, or emailing me.
It is easiest to get your questions answered by email or text. This is because I can respond when I have a few minutes here and there during the day.
Attenuated responses to questions are a reflection of limited time on my part, not a lack of attentiveness.
Return phone calls that last longer than 5 minutes will be billed at a rate of $16 per quarter hour. If you have a quick question that you would like me to call and answer by phone, the best thing to do is to leave me a message with your question so that I am prepared to respond when I call you. Emailing me, "Michelle call me", does not allow me to be prepared for answering your question or addressing your concern. I will not respond to these types of requests. If I need your chart to answer your question, I need to know that before I call. Providing me with the necessary information allows me to be of greater help to you.
Thank you to all the lovely souls who have made me part of your healing journey!
-Michelle Dexter Garber