Doctor, Doctor

I used to be afraid to go to the dentist, but I was never afraid to go to the doctor. Back when I was a kid, I had to go often, because I had a cold almost every two weeks. Then I got my tonsils out in the fifth grade and that sorta took care of that.

As I got older, it got to be annoying to go to the doctor. You'd show up at 9:50 for an appointment at 10, then you'd wait 20 minutes in the waiting room, another 20 minutes in the exam room, then you'd see the doctor for about 10 seconds.

That'll be "an exorbitant amount of cash, please."

This last part got to be a real pain in the pocketbook when I was no longer on my parents' insurance. When I finally got benefits with my first teaching job, that wasn't too bad, but Blue Cross-Blue Shield still took a big chunk out of my measly paycheck.

After I got married and got REALLY great health insurance through the VA, going to the doctor got easier. You showed up at 9:50 for an appointment at 10...and you got into your appointment...at 10. You saw the doctor, specialist, or whoever, and they sent you to the pharmacy where you waited 5 minutes or less for your meds, which for me was free. As long as I went to a VA hospital, everything was free.

(I have the Marine Corps to thanks for this, and today is their birthday, by the way. SEMPER FI!!!)

Going to the VA for health care was almost like being cattle-herded. I remember visiting my PCP (primary care physician) at the VA in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where I had a quick exam, got a cat-scan, and then picked up a prescription, all within an hour. I didn't wait for anything. I thought that was great. Albuquerque had, and I assume still has, one of the best VA hospitals in the country. When we moved back to Arkansas, we chose to use the Shreveport VA, and weren't quite as impressed. The quick service was still there, but somehow it just wasn't the same. However, the VA insurance plan that I have is still one I can't complain about.

Here's what I'm getting at, and I'm not about to rant about the big health care plan that's causing such a stir. (I don't get political, because it's not my thing, but I will say that I think we're all about to get screwed.)

A couple of weeks ago, I had to go in to get "THAT" check-up women are supposed to get on occasion. And here's what happened:

I waited about two minutes in the waiting room. I didn't even get to read a magazine article. I didn't wait too long in the exam room either. I liked the doctor instantly. He reminded me of a friend of ours, like he's the Indian version. (And I mean Indian, not Native American.) He was very personable and friendly and not holier-than-thou.

I had to go back today, and right after I sat down, a nurse came out to tell me they were running behind and it would be about 30 minutes before they could get to me, so if we needed to do something else we could come back. We went to get something to drink and returned. About three more minutes went by, and I got called into the exam room. I happened to see the doctor on my way back and he apologized for the wait.

The nurse took my vitals, went out, then came back to say they were still waiting on a procedure room, and wanted to know if she could bring me something to eat or drink while I waited. I just asked for a Coke, and about five minutes later she brought me one. Then the procedure room was available, and again, the doctor apologized for the wait. The procedure took about seven minutes (I had to sing "Crazy on You" in my head to get through it), and still the doctor and the nurses treated me very well.

It's not often someone has a "pleasant" experience at the doctors' office, (the procedure wasn't pleasant at all), but today was one of those better health care moments. Though I had to wait, they told me about the hold-up, and made me comfortable. The staff was so nice, and they seemed to be getting the other patients in and out quickly. And because of today's experience, I wanted to share.

And it only cost me a small co-pay. All the more reason to smile. :)