It happens! My mother and Father-in-law were both going to a noted neurologist in Lexington. Both were in nursing homes. Mrs. Gragg went into a coma and was hospitalized.
An associate from the neurology office was the one who made the rounds. We missed an appointment with all of the confusion and concern about the hospital stay.

We got a bill (full price) for the missed appointment. When I mentioned that a Dr. from their office was the one who was seeing her in the hospital, it didn't matter...it was still our responsibility to call to cancel the appointment.

A month later, DR. Gragg had an appointment.
The other Dr., who had also seen Mrs Gragg several days before in the hospital asked how she was...couldn't remember seeing her in the hospital just days before.

I've become pretty disgusted with the general level of medical care in the US. If I were to run my business like most physisians run theirs, I wouldn't have a business.

But then, there are always the good ones who show real compassion....sadly they're increasingly harder to find.

How sad...

Russ