Why is scheduling an appointment with a doctor so damn difficult?

I called Baton Rouge Orthopedic Clinic yesterday to make an appointment with Dr. Griffith.

The first woman I spoke to in Appointments told me that there was no availability until June 23. Unfortunately, I'm taking a few summer courses so the times available would overlap with class lectures. I asked her three more times what the next available appointment was until I finally found a time that could work, which was five days later.

Before I can finalize the appointment, she informs me there is an outstanding balance on my account and that I cannot schedule any appointments until the balance is taken care of. I had no idea what balance she was referring to, but I allow her to transfer me to the billing department to get things fixed.

The woman I spoke to in the billing department explains that the system had simply failed to reflect the last payment received and that there was in fact no money due on my end. This took place within a minute's time.

I'm transferred back to Appointments and I am forced to repeat all of my information to a new woman. Once I tell her that I need to schedule an appointment with Dr. Griffith, she reveals that the next available appointment isn't until July 5. I ask her how is it possible that in a minute's time the four appointment's the other woman offered me were all taken? She says there are six individuals that handle appointments and didn't seem the least bit surprised by the quickness of such reservations.

I go through the same dog and pony show with her until I finally find a date that works...July 11 (two weeks after the initial date I selected just a couple of minutes prior).

Why the frick can't you schedule an appointment online with most medical clinics? It's one of the few industries in the 21st-century that has failed to adopted this capacity for patients/clients, and I can't for the life of me comprehend why that is the case. I'm tired of having to repeatedly ask someone what other appointment times do you have. Just let me view the damn thing myself and I will select an appropriate time and date.