At the Doc’s key phrases

In the past I visited my doc's and picked up from (I think) the reception staff 'shinsa(e)tsu desu ka' so on subsequent visits would present my insurance card with 'shinsatsu onegaishimasu'.

But then I noticed reception would often respond seeking clarification with 'nai kai desu ka?'. I also heard others approach reception with a 'nai kai', rather than 'shinsatsu', so I started to copy that.

But I'm really confused. What should I be saying to simply express the idea that 'Hi, I'd like to see the doc, please'.

If you have made a medical appointment in advance, then say "Shinsatsu yoyaku shita Dave-desu".

If you have no appointment or the clinic doesn't require an appointment, "Shinsatsu onegai simasu".

Doctors of internal medicine are called "Nai kai".

Some clinics ask "Shinsatsu desu ka" (you want to see the doctor?) as against "O-kusuri dake desu ka" (Are you coming to get your medicine only? - some doctors, when repeat patients with the same continuing symptom come back, get the nurse to check the records and give out repeat prescription without seeing the patient.)

So you have been correct, if you want to see the doctor, "Shinsatsu (wo) onegai shimasu."

As tokyo friend 48 mentioned, "naika-i" is "internal medicine doctor." Does that clinic have any other departments?

On the door into the consulting rooms is written 'nai kai 1, nai kai 2', etc.

How is it written? “à‰Èˆã? (This means "internal medicine doc.")

“à‰È 1
“à‰È 2

Thanks for your help!

Oh, that's "naika," internal medicine (without the "i" at the end). So those must be the internal medicine examination rooms 1 and 2.

I am still guessing that that clinic treats patients not just for "internal medicine" but something else as well, so the receptionist is making sure (or the patients are making sure) that it IS the internal medicine doctor they want to see.

Anyway, if you want to see the doctor, you can say "shinsatsu (wo) onegai shimasu." If asked "naika desu ka" (for internal medicine?) you can say "hai." :)