Health Care On Life Support

-

I had the great misfortune of having to spend an afternoon and most of the evening and into the night and damn near into the next day embroiled in a healthcare situation.

What a mess we’re in.

It starts with the primary doctor who is essentially useless. I don’t even bother to go there for my own health care needs because they do nothing for me.

Ever.

I had one episode where the nurse practitioner started it all by asking me what “Do you think it might be?”

“How the hell do I know? I’m a safety guy and a writer. I feel like crap. You tell me.”

She looked as if I slapped her.

The primary doctors are also scared of their own shadows.

“The insurance company may deny the x-Ray.”

“We don’t like to prescribe anything stronger than Ibuprofen. You can may be able to get something over the counter that might help.”

I pay a co-pay for that?

And of course, prices are ridiculous. If they give you a saline drip it’ll run about a grand. It’s salt water!

Back to the latest visit.

The receptionist was a mean, nasty woman who literally growled before she yelled.

“Who pissed in your corn flakes?” My Dad might’ve asked her. 

I let it go.

The fact that Covid has every building short on beds, and every person scared to look at the patient is absurd.

The doc examined Kathy from 20’ away!

Then the waiting around!!!

There were four people in the waiting room when we arrived. We thought we were fortunate, but Godzilla at the front desk mentioned that they only basically did x-Rays and little else.

However we saw at least 10 people in scrubs. Ten people working on four seemed to be decent. Perhaps we wouldn’t be waiting all day and night.

But wait we did!

We were on our 4th episode of King of Queens before anyone popped their head in.

“Should be just a few minutes,” the one smiling nurse said.

A few minutes in a health care setting is short for ‘another two freaking hours!’

“Let’s just leave,” Kathy said, but we were four hours into it!

“Let’s get it done,” I said.

As it turned out…

…it won’t be a super quick fix.

So, we are going to have to battle it out in the wonderful world of mean-ass people, charging way too much, scared of insurance companies, and willing to put people in the poor house to get care…

…just a little while longer.

What a mess.

And it certainly is a shame that we live in a world where we don’t expect answers from the doctors, or even service with a smile, all while wondering if a second mortgage will be necessary because they took a CT scan which some insurance rep will deem as frivolous.

Wonderful.

Just what someone needs when they don’t feel well.

Particularly with Godzilla greeting you at the door.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Buddy, Dave

-
Way back in 1997, I started working with a steel erection company out of Syracuse. I was coming straight from a long stint with a steel erector here in Buffalo so I knew my stuff when it came to steel erection safety rules. On day one, I met with the safety director and he was just getting started as a safety guy, but man, he certainly cared about the guys he worked with. Dave was a good man from the start. He’d say things like: “You’re so full of beans.” Just a down to earth, hardworking guy who became a fast friend. We drove all around New York State setting up jobs. I always let Dave drive so that I could rest. One fine day, way up North of Syracuse, we passed a state trooper.  I glanced at the speedometer. “You’re screwed,” I said, and seconds later, the lights came on. Dave was beside himself.  The cop stopped by the window, grabbed the license and registration and headed back to his vehicle. “Here’s the thing,” I said. “You’re pissed, but you’re such a good guy that I be...
Read more

Mom & Ollie

-
Image
 Ollie Stadium is a mess. The heavy rains rendered the backyard a mud pit and even though we threw in the side yard, the Big O was looking for more, and we were both covered in mud. I had to take some steam out of him somehow so I suggested we go visit Grandma. Ollie hates the car, but he laid quietly as we made the trip. We even brought the football because there is plenty of room to play at Grandma’s. Mom opened the door and started laughing. I thought about the love she had for every single dog we ever had. Oliver was quick to give my Mom a kiss, and then he stood beside her. The love between Mom and Dogs is a mutual bond. Through the years, Mom would make breakfast for the dogs.  Fried eggs, toast, bacon… She would wrap Christmas gifts for them. “To Jeter, Love Santa,” she would write on the cards. They played with the big chicken that made a lot of noise. Mom tossed the football and Ollie brought it back to her. As the visit drew to a close I headed for the door.  “C...
Read more

Eyes on the Horizon

-
Image
My sister’s book is out there! Go get it!! It makes me so proud to see the book on Amazon, knowing that it’s very, very great! It’s been a long, long time since we were out in California, brainstorming my stories long before they were published. Carrie Lynn was writing, writing and writing some more through the years and I kept telling her… …”Go for it!” Well, she did!  To amazing results. Of course I was able to read the book as it was being put together, but I ordered a copy from Amazon yesterday and can’t wait to read it again. The shoe is on the other foot now as I have been sitting on a lot of my writing lately. I plan on getting it out there before the end of 2024, but for now: Carrie takes center stage! And it’s so great… …go get a copy!
Read more