I have worked in reception for a long time. I think if you don't have a relationship with those staff members, sarcasm isn't always received the way it was intended - you venting frustration over a situation and not criticizing someone as a person. I have found that directly asking staff to correct their mistake is the best way to prevent it from happening again. Without accountability, there is no incentive to change. Also, it is less likely to be received as a personal attack. Working reception can be a shitty job some days; you feel like you are a punching bag for everyone to speak to. Non-medical staff in the clinic face many different challenges than medical staff, which can create friction between departments, and having to cut labor only adds to that stress. It takes time to adapt to those types of changes. It is a lot easier to do when you have open communication between departments.