It was that time of the year again yesterday. Time for my annual physical checkup. This year my doc had a new procedure to follow. Go directly to the Blood Lab rather than his office. Let the vampires over there suck out a few vials. It's faster and cheaper obviously for the doc.
"We'll fax the paperwork over to them," said the doc's nurse.
So about a week later I show up at the blood lab. Only one receptionist (sort of) and one patient waiting.
Great! I'll be out of here in 10 minutes! ... So I thought.
"Over here sir... have a seat," drawled the receptionist or whatever her title was.
I sit. I stare. This is a young woman in Brittany Spears' body 10 years from now.
"Can I have your prescription."
"I don't have a prescription. Why would I need a prescription in a blood lab? I'm suppose to give you blood. I didn't come to take any out."
"Funny sir. We need a prescription from your doctor's office. It gives us authority to take blood and what to test for."
"Well they did say they would send the paperwork over," I said.
"Oh, then they faxed it," said Brittany.
Brittany pulls out a 2 inch binder that's falling apart at the seams.
"Last name?"
I give her my last name. The paperwork is not under "D".
"Darn!" she says. They might have faxed it over with another name and now I have to go through the entire binder page by page."
My blood started to boil. Thought I was going to burst a vein and squirt all the blood she needed into right into her face.
"Why not call the doctor's office and ask them to send it again?" said I.
"Can't. They'll get mad at me."
I'm fuming as she goes through the binder page by page.
"Nope. Not here," as she finally ends at the Z's.
"Guess I will have to call the doctor's office."
This experience only proved how inept and paper-loaded the health care system is in this country. God help people with more serious issues than mine.
Cap'n
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