Thank you Linda and Michele for respecting the "gate keeper"! As the gate keeper, watch dog, biller, Dr.'s wife, chief cook and bottle washer (ha!) I always appreciate when I'm treated with respect (especially when the person trying to get to the doctor doesn't know my many job descriptions).
Understand that you will NEVER get to the doctor if you're snotty to the staff. I do the billing, but I've had several billing services come in to get our business. If they're nice and professional, I let them know I'm the biller, take their card and keep it in the event we can ever afford to use a service. I also let them know that we are in constant contact with MANY different types of medical facilities who look for billing services. I will absolutely tell others if someone has impressed me.
The flip side of that is if the person is overbearing, pushy, or talks down to me (not knowing my position), they get shut down immediately. Never assume anything about the front desk person.
I get at least 10 calls per day from people trying to get to the doctor. My job is to screen them. I am the watch dog. Be courteous, be professional. That's the only way to get through.