Doctor's manners

I was in the doctor's office the other day to get a physical. I think about doctors differently now that I have two sons that are going to be doctors with a possible third one in the form of Addie.As the doctor came in and sat down and started asking me questions I had a epiphony pertaining to docs. He was on the computer and looked up my file from when I was in a year ago (I hadn't seen him since) He was confiming a bunch of stuff like the meds I'm on (Norvasc and TriCor), my latest blood test, did I have a colonoscopy and the like. It just struck me that this man doesn't know me from Adam (no pun intended Addie) I'm just a body to him. No relationship with me as a person. It was obvious that he hadn't even looked at my file before he came in.I have nothing against this Doc nor do I think he was in anyway a bad doctor. When I only see him once a year, I can't expect him to know me from the hundreds of others he is seeing. It is just the thought occurred to me that I want a relationship with my doctor that is beyond just a body he is seeing. It just gives me a funny feeling that he really doesn't know me, has little interest in me as a person and is just treating me as a kind a generic patient. In a large practice it can be no other way, I suppose, but it just hit me that I hope Mark and Jeff and Addie really have the opportunity in their medical lives to get to know their patients and really be a part of improving their lives in a personal and professional way.I also suggest that when you see a patient after the first time, that before you go into the patient you review the records briefly, try jogging your memory as to why and when you saw him the last time so that when you open that door you are approaching him or her like you are personally interested and informed about their issues. It makes the patient feel more than just a body. Don't know how you do that, but I sure think it would help. My doctor takes a picture the first time you see him so he can kind of remember what you look like and that may jog his memory. Seems like notes in the file to help you the next time would be a good idea as well as names the patient goes my. You should take a few moments to review that before you open that door. I'm sure that in the rush sometimes that happens and other times maybe not. The first thing he said to me was "Hi Michael." I knew right away he didn't have a clue about anything we had talked about before and didn't remember me at all. How hard would it be to make a note in the file to say this patient goes by "Mickey." A little thing and perhaps a bit artificial but it sure gives the patient the impression you know who he is.Dad

Elder Foster's Phone Call Schedule

Well, no one has responded so let me tell you all. We are calling Drew at about 1 P.M. Denver time or 7 P.M. Accra tim on Saturday, May 13th. Note this is Sat, not Sunday. We will chit chat for awhile and then try and tie each one of you in, one at a time. The Schedule will be something like this.Mark and Liz - about 1:10 P.M.Addie - about 1:30 P.M.Matt and Wendie - (at Matt's place)about 1:50 P.M.Ty and Dana - about 2:10 Seattle timeJeff and Angie - about 2:30 Arizona timeKristen - after all of you.We plan on talking no more than a couple of hours with him. It is going to be fun so be there or be square.Dad
2:26 PM
Tankfos said...
Very well organized. You are a mastermind.
5:32 PM
Tyler said...
Great, I just have one comment.I think you meant the following:Ty and Dana - 2:10 PM Denver time (1:10 PM Seattle time)Jeff and Angie - 2:30 PM Denver time (1:30 Phoenix time)We'll be ready...Ty
8:49 PM

Elder Foster's phone call on Mother's Day

Just a thought for the week. I am going to try and call Drew this week to see when would be a good time to talk to him. For the first time in a long time, none of you will be here for the phone call. It seems like in the past at least some of you were here. Obviously, little Max might decide to come on the very day we talk to Elder Foster so if that happens, all bets are off. However, barring that wonderful event, I would like to see if we could tie you each in for a bit of the conversation. How about 10 minutes for each couple? I assume this will happen sometime around noon on May 14th but we will see what Elder Foster says. Please let me know if you all can be near a phone sometime on Sunday and we will make this work.

Love you all,
Dad

Thought for the Day - May 6, 2006

I am feeling kind of foolish as I try and figure out this blogging stuff. It is not that I'm stupid or ignornant of the power of the internet or how to use computers, but it is that it that I really have no strong desire to devote the time to figure it all out. This site appears to make this pretty easy, but it is not intuitive and they could have made it a lot easier by giving you tabs to add links and the like. Instead you have to go through this routine and I just have no desire to remember it. I don't mind making entries and all, but I'm just not into sitting down and figuring it all out.

Call me old fashioned, call me old school, call me a foolish old man, but them thar are the facts.

However, I will try and start some different strings on my blog that might prove to open some dialogue for those who know me best and know that I am not only interested in knowing your thoughts but am totally devoted to converting you fools to my way of thinking on every possible subject on the earth. There, I have finally said it. My goal is to convince every one of you that you are wrong and I am right on every conceivable subject that I wish to pontificate on.

Are you ready for that?

Dad