I'm not going to get on an outward tyrant rant on my experience today. I'm afraid I may come off more angry than I am. Then there's the political issue that is healthcare and I don't feel like making anyone angry bringing up a system that so clearly needs changed. I'm also not going to get into what I see on a day to day basis...you know because I work in a hospital.
No, instead I just want to open up and share.
But more importantly I want to pass on to all of you what I consider a "moral of the story" if nothing else to provide some hint of insight.
Going into what I thought was a regular physical exam today, I checked into the office that I had waited 9 months to get into. After waiting 45 minutes for my name to finally be called, I followed the scrub topped technician into a narrow hallway that eventually came to a set of rooms. I sit down, normal pleasantries exchanged, and proceed to get the normal vital signs checked. All is well.
Within a few minutes my doctor enters. She gives me a puzzled look, "Are you here for a follow up?"
"No," I return, and proceed to explain to her that I had been scheduled for a full physical exam. This appointment had been planned months ago.
She is immediately confused...and rushed, sensing her front office has staged a mix up that she is almost an hour late for and clearly has to spend longer than she deemed necessary with this peculiar "follow up."
She pushes a paper my way with just short of a million boxes to probe my health history. I gladly check off all that is going on, the reason for my visit, thinking this will spark a long due conversation I've needed to have.
We go through the motions of a typical physical exam...eyes, ears, lungs, heart, reflexes. All is well.
I sit back down as she is out of the room getting papers together so I can have lab drawn.
Before I realize what is happening I am on a bench waiting for a scheduling receptionist. What about my health history? My sit down conversation about the concerns that I've had?
You see I've come to some conclusions throughout the years about health professionals. I work closely with them, and I've had some personal experiences of my own.
As a general consensus I know that they do care. They don't mean to be put off by scheduling mishaps and staff shortcomings. I know that they are busy, but also preoccupied. I also know as a rule of thumb we have a lot more geriatric patients in those offices than people like me...ones with multiple issues and concerns, and when people like me come in...we're not treated in the same way.
Because you know, nature proves that we're healthier. And I know nature has good intentions but say when we actually do have some health concerns and things we'd like to discuss, health professionals may not be prepared to be an educator because they are often called for other purposes.
And that's okay. I get it. We need them for those other purposes.
So here's my moral of the story.
Be there for you. Educate yourself on your health. Be your best advocate, teacher, expert and know you. If you need more information, research. If you need to be healthier, take steps. Don't wait for that health professional to start taking your health into your own hands. They are only there to help when they can and need to, but you are your body's full time health expert. Don't let what we have today in health care throw you off the trail for optimum living.
It's funny because I've waited months to get into that office, to straighten out these health concerns that I've had. The answer wasn't there, it was within myself. I know what I have to do to be the best me. I'm not trying to be anti-doctor here...I just think they want partners in your health...you.
And for those wondering...yes, I'm in the market for a new doctor...
