Random 5 for March 24 – Waiting, healthcare, Starbucks, pond, frogs

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Waiting and waiting – For many, many years I had only one doctor appointment a year. I was healthy. Things have changed both with me and with the system. In addition to needing more “parts” checked, doctors have specialized so that each part has its own doc. That’s not necessarily good. I recently took my SIL to two different docs. One for her broken ribs and one for her broken pelvis. It’s all bones but the ribs were reviewed by a trauma doc and the pelvis by an ortho. *bangs head on table* This involved two different appointments at two different places both with suck-y parking (even using my brother’s handicapped parking card). Outrageous waits. Appointments times are suggestions pinpointing the day rather than the time. For me it was annoying but for my SIL it was an exhausting exercise that didn’t result in any remarkable information. There are a few more this week. This will require more mocha lattes. I just hope there is enough chocolate for all this.

Big business – Health is big business these days. Locally most are non-profits although based on costs, there must be profit there somewhere! Healthcare in various forms is the biggest employer locally.

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Silver lining – Our local hospital has a Starbucks in the entrance area. That’s good news except it closes around 3 p.m. Considering a hospital is a 24 hour business, I wonder why. In the TV hospital shows, the staff drinks coffee all the time.

Pond – I have had a blue heron frequenting my pond this year. Although I never saw him eating my fish or saw any remnants (they often leave fish parts as calling cards) I started to worry. I put boards across so he couldn’t get in easily and I haven’t seen him since. Unfortunately I haven’t seen any fish either. I don’t know if he ate them all or they are so traumatized they are hunkered down in the hidey holes.

On a positive note – I have seen the frogs. They only come out on warmish days so I’m hoping to see more this week.

So how was your week?

 

60 thoughts on “Random 5 for March 24 – Waiting, healthcare, Starbucks, pond, frogs”

  1. I really do understand what you’re saying about the state of healthcare provision. My poor dad, with his Parkinsons, struggled with every movement, yet had doctor’s appointments that were the equivalent of asking him to climb a mountain. Even though he’s been gone two years now, my mom and I still talk about what he went through with treatments and specialists. It’s almost inhumane.

    I’m sorry about your fish! I am so conflicted, because the birds are so gorgeous. It’s not just the circle of life, it’s a vicious circle of life! 😦

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    • About 10 years ago I fractured my kneecap. I went to the “premier” ortho group in the area which was on the 5th floor of a building in a complex. There was a parking deck across the street. No bridge. It was insane. There was no one to help get people out of cars and into wheelchairs. Also not enough wheelchairs. Dumbest thing ever. Fortunately, they moved to a much better building. They are still on the second floor but they have a good valet parking (you don’t wait 45 minutes for your car afterward) and lot of wheelchairs, helpers and open space. To schedule an apt for my SIL directly after release was wrong. All they said was that her x-rays were normal. They could have done that on a phone call. I was so mad I was spitting nickels! (Gosh, that’s an old expression my mother used.) I feel the same about the bird-fish conundrum. I have seen at least a dozen since I wrote this so there are some. I’m ok with that.

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        • I am not a good patient. I don’t like people waiting on me (because they don’t do it right! 🙂 ) Fortunately I healed within 4 weeks and was able to get out of the mobilizer (thank goodness they didn’t do a cast. At least I could take the mobilizer off and shower). It was a cranky 4 weeks for my poor husband.

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  3. Oh ugh. I feel for you with those doc appointments. I just got back from taking my mom to a procedure where she needed to be at 6am this morning. Yawn. All turned out well. Hope your sis-in-law’s healing is going quickly and smoothly.

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  4. Parking is the worst and most stressful part of doc appointments now. No wonder blood pressure readings are high! HAHA
    Had to travel for relative’s doc visit last week, too – transportation and as an extra listener/advocate. So glad your SIL is getting better – she’ll be lots better when she doesn’t have worry about more doctor appointments.
    Healthcare is a mess. Obviously the fox was in the hen house writing legislation. All these tests ( it’s covered!) and visits when nothing is wrong. Recently after already talking with our doc and determining which tests I need and don’t need, I got a letter in the mail from a company offering me over $200.00 if I took their test….paying me to take a test I don’t need (“but it’s covered!” ). IF it’s happening to me, it’s bound to be happening elsewhere – and running up all our costs.
    Oh, FYI, many if not most ER in hospitals now contract out their emergency room docs, most then out of network, of course. Cheaper for hospital corporations ( many ER docs only 3 days a week – 24 hr days – usually consecutive – or that’s the way it is here – good to ask, “how long have you been on duty/last time you had regular sleep hours” ). Always ask specifically if anyone/all of your docs are in network – and make the request with witnesses – people are getting mad here as the hospital intake person said they took their insurance and were fine, but later find out they were treated by an out of network ER doc and are faced with a big bill. Sorry state of affairs – especially when you are hurt/sick. Now more than ever, those with insurance pay big bills so hospitals have money for those who do not have insurance…and lots choose not to. Also irritating
    Nice the Starbuck’s is there – weird about the hours considering where it is – but ours is like that too – and won’t take your Starbuck’s gift cards. Luckily there’s a storefront one just across the street and down the block.
    Go fish!!!!

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  5. Florida health care is a mess, at least where we are. I don’t miss much about Missouri but I do miss the health care we had there. I am reading in comments that you have seen FISH! I am glad that you have some remaining after the blue heron found your pond. Good news with the frogs, too!

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    • Hmmm…I thought Florida had good healthcare because of all the older people moving there (not you of course!). We have a great trauma center here and are close enough to Philadephia and NYC that we can get really specialized care if needed. Now having said that, waiting sucks no matter where you live. I am delighted to have fish! The heron can’t get in the pond so they are safe for now.

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  8. Like you, my once yearly doctor visits have increased. Getting older is part of it; doctoring methods is another big part. Besides specialization, the rules and procedures they set up for follow-ups and tests often seem more designed to protect themselves than to help the patient. I realize they’re doing their best, but I think our system of health care is in need of improvement. When I broke my arm 15 years ago, I loved my doctor. Orthopedists are definitely useful. But there are lots of health problems that doctors aren’t very good at solving. Our bodies are more complex that we like to admit, and they’re not always fixable.

    Silver lining: My doctor’s office is quite near, has a coffee stand near the entrance, and they usually see me within at least half an hour.

    What are you going to do if you don’t have any fish?

    I love the images you find.

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    • I saw some fish today so all is good on that front. My pc is usually on time or close enough although he usually refers me off. It seems like the specialists are more likely to run very late. I waited for one a few weeks back — 90 minutes. I was ready to leave. That is unreasonable. My heart goes out to the really sick people who have long waits.

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  9. That sounds like a rough week – any type of intensive medical involvement is trying no matter what. It must be so cool to have the heron visiting, but hope your fish are OK! Hope your brother and SIL continue to heal up OK, and that there are enough mochas in the world to help you deal with the hassles!

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  11. I have had the same question about the coffee shops in the hospitals, why do they close early?? Don’t they know people need that at all hours when at a hospital? I guess we just need to find our way to the staff lounge, that’s where the coffee must be, for yes you see it on TV! 🙂

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  13. I always snicker when I see “non-profit” or “family-owned” on a sign. That may be, but I suspect I’m still going to pay the same (or more!) than pesky national chains. I’m all for hospitals recouping costs wherever they can, but I hate when they get tricky. I read last week how some emergency rooms are staffed by doctors who are out of network for some plans, even though the hospital itself is. Great. – Marty

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    • I worked for a “family owned” business. In fact, two of them. For me it means they run their personal expenses through business coffers. No breaks for customers. I read that about ERs. My poor bro kept asking everyone in the ER if they were in network. I was appalled that he had to worry about that when he was in trauma.

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  14. When my husband and I recently changed health plans due to his getting on Medicare, one big consideration when choosing our primary physicians was the parking situation where they practiced. Was there a lot of parking and was it free? Fortunately, we were able to check both boxes. I hope your fishies are OK.

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    • Today is warm and I saw a dozen fish. Yay! I’m good. Even if the heron got some, I still have some too and they reproduce like crazy! (damn horny fish!) When picking a doc, even dentist or eye, I always take into consideration wait times, ease of appointments, parking and distance. If I had a serious diagnosis that required a unique specialist all that is out the window but for normal it’s important. For these doc apts, they are associated with the ER. so not my brother’s normal physicians or even his choices. Once we are out a bit and released from trauma injuries, he can transition to his normal ones.

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  16. The healthcare stuff is a real headache. I’m sorry about your fish! but the blue heron must be pretty? I will say that my son works for a Catholic medical facility and there is an emphasis to staff on ethics and being a good person. He isn’t Catholic but really appreciates the environment.

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    • We haven’t encountered people who weren’t nice (mostly). I don’t think booking times are realistic. Also the ginormous hospital campuses don’t have enough parking. I was not able to get a handicapped spot or any spot in the parking lot next to the offices. I had a 15 minute walk. (I had dropped off my bro and SIL at the door.) They had valet parking which I should have done. Lesson learned although I’ve seen people waiting 20 minutes to get their car from valet.

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  17. Our hospital has a Starbucks as well as a Chic-Fil-A. When I leave my clothes reek of chicken…must be all of that batter they fry up. As for the parking there, let’s just say my BP is always 10 points higher when my infusion nurse checks it upon my arrival and then again before leaving.

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    • Parking is crappy even with valet parking. These campuses are just way too big to accommodate all the cars! There is a full cafeteria. I’ve eaten there a few times but never been impressed. I don’t know how they can ruin pizza.

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  18. Poor fishes. I love the herons, but it would be nice if he dined elsewhere. Maybe he only ate the mean fish?

    I’m waiting on my oriole to return from Mexico. He’s the only super bright bird we have and he chitters like mad when he bathes in my fountain. But it’s been cold so he’s probably still drinking margaritas down south.

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  19. It was a terribly cold winter. Perhaps the fish didn’t survive it? I always wonder how they manage.
    There is a fascinating documentary on a Koi seller who goes to japan to buy his koi.
    There are lots of koi farms in japan. And they can charge RIDICULOUS prices for rare ones.
    If you are interested it’s called What is it like to buy Koi in Japan. It’s on youtube.

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    • These are goldfish and they are very hardy. As long as I keep a bubbler going, they survive the winter in a semi-hibernation at the bottom of the pond. Koi take too much work and are too expensive especially if you have predators.

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  20. “…with suck-y parking”

    And therein is my biggest gripe with going to the doctors around here. The parking is limited + awkward requiring me to arrive about 15 minutes before the 15 minutes before my appointment that the doc, who is rarely on time, wants me to be in their office. I cannot even tell you how high my blood pressure goes because of the hassle i go through just getting to and inside the doc’s office. *snarl*

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  21. As someone who worked in healthcare and have been a consumer of it, the whole specialization thing is maddening. When I required a ‘specialist’ for serious injuries in a scooter accident, I discovered ortho has sub-specialties in it. My guy only did shoulders. I think they’ve divided the body up in quadrants (or maybe body parts)…based on how much for this, how much for that. 👿

    And because I volunteer at the hospital every month, I noticed our Starbucks coffee shop also closes at 3. Each floor seems to be run like a fiefdom including separate coffee stations. Those usually serve old swill. 😬

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  23. We have a couple blue heron that feed from the creek behind our house. Last year there was a baby one.
    Yes, health care is a big business these days. H and I were discussing that yesterday. There has to be a profit somewhere!
    Glad your SIL is on the mend, but it must be excruciating for her to have to sit and wait.
    Have a good week, Kate!
    ~Elle

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    • Since I take her to her appointments, I can see the discomfort of transferring to and from the car and managing her way to the actual office (which never seems to be near the elevators). Given my druthers, I’d pick docs that are not in mega medical building without easy access but sometimes you go to the best one for your condition.

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