New, improved medical care. So I go to my bi-an checkup. This time the office has three empty staff chairs.

[3Hotdogs]

The nurse who used to do the prelim weigh-in and shit, she's gone. The appointment was for 9:30. I get there at 9:27. The weigh-in and ekg is completed at 9:50 (or so).

"Dr. L will be with you shortly.

10:30, he still hasn't showed up. I walk out into the hall and he is in his room, talking with another physician.

"What's going on? My appointment was for 9:30?"

Him: "I have you down for 10:00."

I show him the appointment card that says 9:30.

"We're busy."

-----------------------------

Last September, same medical group, different building, different physician-specialty. I'm finished with the check-up, waiting for printout of prescriptions....

40 minutes passes when someone notices the light is on in the exam room and they are closing for the day.

"Oh, Dr. must have forgot you were still here.

Small practices are being bought out and consolidated into medical factories.

Fuck the patient. It's about the bottom line.

[Diamond_Dog]

1. That's terrible!

And right wingers will tell you we have the best healthcare in the world and that in European countries you have to wait for months to be seen by a doctor. How is your experience any better? And, in many cases in America, you’re so limited as to where you can go, or who will accept your insurance, you’re stuck in the same crappy medical office.

Your last line says it all.

[TommieMommy]

2. I agree with you. It's horrible. Money has become the priority not patient care. 😡

[Intractable]

3. Typically, they take you from the waiting room to an exam room.

The Doctor will be with you shortly, they say.

They close the door.

They forget about you.

I have learned to open that door and keep it open. This way they see you (glaring at them).

[Aristus]

4. Sheesh! I'm only a Physician Assistant, so I guess I don't have the luxury doctors do of ignoring their patients.

Once my MA has left the room after workup and vital signs, I'm usually right in there after her. I've had more than one patient say: "That was fast!" I like to joke: "I can circle the block, if you like."

That gets things kicked off very pleasantly. My patients trust me because they know I'm not going to leave them hanging...

[3Hotdogs]

5. My stepdaughter is a nurse-pract. The office where she worked for 15 years was bought out by the second largest

medical corporation in the state (N.J.). The staff was promised better working conditions and stuff. She lasted about two months. Fortunately, the practice was profit sharing so she walked away with over $1m. She now works as an office manager-practitioner on a contractional basis and seems happy at that position.


Side point.... she took her money and became partner in a medical marijuana farm. In February, the farm expanded into retail. She Is happy and I am happy for her.


3H