I had many good wishes for a "Happy New Year", but I'm wondering when those wishes are going to be manifest? So far, it's been--well, not disastrous--but shall I say "distasteful"? First, I had to bring my '99 Malibu in for A/C repair. The A/C was only blowing warm air. Ironically, when I asked them to fix it so the air would be cold, it happened to be about 49 degrees outside with the wind chill. To make matters worse, the bill came to $163. When I picked up my car driving Rho's over to Firestone, I left her '95 Cavalier there for an oil change--but it also needed to have the "intermittent" wiper switch repaired, and also someone or something had ripped the mirror off outside the passenger window and it had to be replaced...ergo $348. Then on Thursday and Friday the Dow plunged into the Atlantic Ocean somewhere and cost my IRA over 3 figures. So what's so "Happy"? I guess the answer to that is I have been waking up every morning--but not before noon.
To carry on with my whining, I brought Rhoda to her eye doctor on Friday for a checkup on her post cataract removal procedure. Her appointment was for 1:40pm, but we didn't get out of there until 3:30 or so. Her doctor's excuse was that his nurse didn't tell him that a patient was waiting. Yeah? Tell it to the Marines. These doctors down in the "Sunshine" state are in the habit of scheduling two or three patients at the same appointment time--but they don't tell you that. I happen to be very fortunate in that I have most of my MDs at the VA and I never, ever have to wait more than 15-20 minutes past my time. Why? Because every appointment is for either 40 minutes or one hour. So my advice to future retirees--if they don't want to sulk in waiting rooms--is to join the Army for a few hours and then after your discharge for mental illness sign up for the VFW or American Legion and then at the VA Medical Center in W. Palm Beach. And there's no need to thank me for this advice. I offer it of my own free and philanthropic will.
1 comment:
I think doctors' overscheduling is now universal, and it continues because patients put up with it. In the past year or two, if I've had to wait 20 minutes, I go to the desk to inquire what's going on. If there is no good excuse and the time reaches 45 minutes, I leave (my general practioner -- I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes for him -- says that he would walk out after 30 minutes). I've done this three times already. Of course, not everyone can afford not to see their doctor on the day they've expectd, but we all can certainly complain loud and often when we are abused. Complaining to the doctor is good too, because he/she doesn't like the hassle.
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