Men. Can't live with them. Can't live without them. Ever heard that one?
(Disclaimer: I promise this post really isn't about bashing men... I just thought this cartoon was really funny.)
Well... I'm feeling that way about DOCTORS lately. Very thankful for them. Really, really annoyed with them too!
This started a couple of weeks ago. I was at my sister's house. She had just gotten out of the hospital and things were clearly not quite right with her. We knew something was going on with her medications, but we didn't know what to do about it. We needed a doctor. But she didn't have a primary care doctor - only a whole bunch of specialists. SO, I set about making phone calls to find a primary care doctor for her. I was armed with a list of recommendations from friends... how hard could this be, right?
"You have reached blah, blah, blah... if this is an emergency, please hang up and dial 911."
"If you know your party's extension, please dial it now."
"Please listen carefully to the following options...."
Each time I finally reached a human being, I was then put on hold while I was transferred again.
My first call ended with "I'm sorry, he's not taking new patients."
Next, "Our first available appointment is in August." (Wow, THAT's helpful...)
Next, "You've reached the nurse's line for Dr. ______, please leave your name, your number and a brief message and we'll call you back." (I left a message - they didn't call back.)
After two days of no returned calls and no progress, we resorted to desperate measures. This time I was trying to communicate with one of my sister's specialists and was told that they couldn't talk to me because I was not 'authorized' on my sister's privacy notice. grrrrrr..... SO, I took my sister who didn't need to be out and about and loaded her up in the car and we went, uninvited, to this doctor's office! We marched into the waiting room, signed the appropriate paperwork so they could talk to me, and were told to take a seat and they would have a nurse come and talk to us. 30 minutes later, we were still sitting... no one was going to come out. We spoke with the receptionist, made it VERY clear that we needed at least a phone call some time that day, and left. They never called.... not that day, not at all....
This is how I was feeling after that little adventure:
Finally, her admitting doctor who she had a good relationship with, helped us find our way to the right doctor and we got the help that we needed - what a relief! But what a nightmare to try and get help from a doctor who doesn't already have you in their system!
Fastforward to today. While visiting my sister to check on how she is doing, my dad started to feel bad and two days ago he had a heart attack. Oh my. Really? So now HE's in a Columbia hospital. Thankfully, after having a stent put in to open a blocked artery, he's doing fine. Good timing. Good care. This time I'm not there, so there's not much that I can do on that end. But I'm trying to do some things on this end. Talk to his primary care doctor. Make an appointment. (Done.) Find a cardiologist. Find out where they do Cardiac Rehab...
SO,
My sister talked to a local cardiolgist office.
Then she talked to me - they needed insurance information.
I talked to my dad - got the insurance numbers...
Called Blue Cross Blue Shield and asked lots of questions - the cardiologist we want is in the network - yay!
Called the cardiologist. "Oh, I'm sorry, we don't take medicare patients." (We went a few rounds on this, but I lost the argument.)
Called BCBS back. Found out that I probably didn't use the right words and didn't know the right questions to ask the cardiologist. They tried to call for me - the office was closed. (of course)
Now I will start all of this again on Monday. Oh yay. But at least I know what to say now.
***sigh***
So at some point along the day today (driving Anna to gym, I think) I was thinking about all of this and had this "What is God trying to teach me?" moment... and it occurred to me that I am SOOOOOOO thankful that God, the Great Physician, is ALWAYS accessible. ALWAYS. There's no voicemail, no nurses to run interference, no "I'm sorry, we're not taking new patients," no waiting for an appointment, no lack of insurance coverage.... God is just ALWAYS there. Ready to listen. He has answers that we need. He gives reassurance and understanding. He's patient and concerned. All the things you hope for in a good doctor. :) And I'm thankful that He's been hearing me all along this process. Though there have been frustrating times, at just the right time, breakthroughs have come and I believe that has been God's hand walking me through with what I needed at just the right time. HIS time.
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
-- Romans 5:1-5
