Sunday, March 25, 2018

Patient with no patience

Cindy and I took her dad Ray down to have blood work done first thing Tuesday morning, Cindy went into the building that houses the doctor's offices and lab to check Ray in, while I brought him inside from the car in his wheelchair.

"I got you checked in Dad, and you are the first one here so it shouldn't be long now." Cindy told her dad as she sat down across from me. And only a few minutes had passed before Ray started looking around and said, "I wonder what is taking so long?"

"It hasn't been long Dad, we just got here." Cindy whispered to him. "Just got here my ass!, I should have been called back already!" Cindy's Dad is not a quiet man anymore, he is hard of hearing and refuses hearing aids, so with this said when he speaks everyone hears him, you know like when E F Hutton used to speak, every head in the room turns to look his way.


"If they don't hurry, I'm just going to leave!", "You can't leave without me Dad, just relax it won't be much longer." Cindy told him just as he was starting to get agitated again. "If I'm first then why am I still sitting out here? They are probably back there having coffee!"

"What time is it! I'm about ready to call a supervisor!" He shouted, "Shhh Dad it is twenty minutes after eight.", "So how long have we been here now?", "I checked you in at 8:06am Dad" "Bull s*#t, we been here longer than that!"", Shhh Dad."

Cindy gets up and walks up to the counter, more to satisfy Ray than anything else, we have been in and out of this office so often that the whole staff knows us well. Cindy asked if there was any way they could tell us how long it would be before Ray was called back, and after checking with the lab she was told that they were having a computer issue. They no longer hand write lab orders with our medical group, the doctors instead key the tests that they want ran into their computers, so whichever lab you go to simply keys in your name and voila there are your orders, that is unless there are computer issues.

"Computer issues!, what difference does that make! You don't need a computer to draw blood!" Ray shouts. And now that there is a crowd of patients gathering in the waiting room, they are all paying attention to Ray.

A man checking in makes the mistake of coughing..."Oh my God, now we have sick people coming in!" He says and the crowd nods their heads. Cindy moves over one seat and appears to not know us.

"Just write my name down with a pencil, the computer don't draw the blood anyway!" A couple of people in the crowd speak "Yeah really!" in unison.

The crowd is listening and nodding their heads in agreement to almost everything he says.

Cindy slides back over and pleads with Ray to calm down "As soon as they get the computer straightened out, you will be the first one called, now settle down Dad, OK"

"Ain't no computer issue, give me a break! They are having coffee, I tell you!"

More nodding from the crowd.

"It's cheaper for them to drink coffee on the company's dime than to have to pay for it! I bet you that's what's going on!"

I could  almost imagine the crowd of Ray's followers holding up their coffee cups and shouting "Dilly Dilly!"

"How long have we been here now, I'm seriously getting ready to leave!" He asks Cindy

"It is 8:30 now Dad, we have only been here about 25 minutes!"

"Oh, is that all...I wonder what's taking them so long?"

I was never so glad to hear the Lab Tech at that very moment open the door and call his name "Ray!"

55 comments:

  1. I can't wait to get that old and speak my mind. Oh wait, I pretty much do that already.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

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    1. I don't really have a problem with the speaking his mind part, it's the volume, I'm not so sure if he is aware how loud he is in public sometimes, but then again maybe he is...

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  2. I'm pretty sure they WERE having coffee. Funny how computers can fix themselves on the half-hour.

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    1. I suppose you could be right Val, the first thing we did before I retired was hit the break room for a cup of coffee upon arriving at work ha ha.

      Yeah those computers do fix themselves just at the right time sometimes...

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  3. Sometimes I wonder what if we stopped using computers and went back to pencils? Are computers really making things better, faster, easier? It seems there are so many things that can (and do) go wrong with them. What will happen if/when something truly widespread happens that throws computer systems out of whack? I'm keeping my pencils just in case :)

    You made me chuckle because I recognize Ray in my mom :) And sometimes my dad was that way, too, although not often. At least Ray had public opinion behind him!

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    1. Jenny you definitely make a good point, this really scares me to think what the upcoming generation would be able to accomplish if the computer system ever went down, I also wonder how many even know what a #2 pencil is?

      It was funny how many people were listening to him that day, I kept waiting for cheers from the crowd to begin.

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  4. I feel for you guys. It's difficult to deal with our elders when they get like that, though as the crowd of listeners observed, he made some good points!😂

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    1. He can be a handful sometimes Bijoux, especially when he gets worked up like this, at times I just have to sit back and laugh to myself and let him get it out of his system :)

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  5. Give 'em hell, Ray!
    Actually 25 minutes is a long time to wait to have routine blood drawn, IMHO. ..

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    1. Abby he is definitely good at that and obviously has no problem doing it. We usually have a longer wait than this at the labs but then again he was first in line this day and after 25 minutes should have already been out of there.

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  6. I'm laughing but I'm also remembering a lot of situations just like this when I was caregiving my dad. I got so I carried a deck of cards with me everywhere to distract him. We could each do a few magic tricks and in restaurants I'd help him play solitaire or we'd play poker. Next time, try lying to Ray and telling him Cindy made a mistake and got you there too early and you'll have to wait extra long. It worked with my dad because loved me enough to forgive me... LOL

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    1. Oh Lordy Jean, I can just imagine the look on Ray's face if we told him were there too early, he would forgive Cindy for sure but then again he would just be loud with a different subject and wanting to come back later...The card tricks you did with your dad sounds like a good idea, something to distract him from watching the clock. Thank you Jean.

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  7. Sounds like me sitting with my mother waiting to see a doctor but with the NHS in the UK you wait several hours not 30 minutes!

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    1. 30 minutes is actually a short wait here too Joey, but with Ray it seems like hours, I suppose that we all lose our patience as we get older.

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  8. Ouch. Been there, done that (and refuse to wear the t-shirt). Just the same, I don't think it hurts doctors/receptionists to hear just how frustrating the wait can be.

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    1. You are right EC, they do need to hear from patients on how frustrating the wait can be, our time is just as valuable to us and could be better spent than sitting in a waiting room.

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  9. I know it wasn't funny while it was happening but OMG Jimmy...it was hilarious over here.

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    1. Delores I forgot to mention in the post but you should have seen the look on one of the nurses face when she passed by and Ray yelled "Are you going back there for coffee too?"

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    2. LOL! I think I'd be silently cheering for Ray when he said that!

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  10. Poor Ray. He probably felt as if he was being held captive. He couldn't leave on his own and no one was understanding his frustration. Poor Cindy and Jimmy couldn't leave because they loved Ray and he needed this blood work done.
    All this frustration because once again "computer malfunction!" Instead of backup computers we need backup people to get the job done.

    Hope Ray is over "The Morning Coffee Break" Soap Opera and happy again 💮

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    1. I agree Jan, computers are good until the time they don't work, investing in backup people who know how to get things done without relying on the computer would definitely relieve a lot of frustration.

      Yes the Coffee Break drama ended really quickly and Ray is smiling again.

      It's good to see you Jan!

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  11. I don't blame Ray for being angry in the least having to wait like that, for I'd be angry too, especially if I knew I was the first one there!

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    1. Lon, It is bad when you are the first one and still have to wait.

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  12. LOL! As a veteran, I can relate to this because something always seems to happen at the Veterans' Clinic or hospital. Once you get back to the area, it's usually 1 of 2 things. A delivery and lots of chatting, or a shortage of people ready to stick us. I always bring a book, and I'm usually alone, so there's no one for me to actually yell at. (lol) Yet another adventure for you guys.(lol) Hugs...RO

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    1. It seems there is always a shortage of people whenever we go also, Ray actually had an appointment today and when we got him there we were told that they were running an hour behind, so with that said this afternoon was yet another adventure lol.

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  13. Thanks for the chuckle. However, I envy his speaking his mind. I usually have a similar dialog going on but it is all in my head. Then what gets me is when they do call you in, they put you in a room by yourself to wait the next half hour for the doctor or lab tech. Sigh.

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    1. That is so true Patti, after waiting all that time you always end up with yet another wait, in a room all by yourself...glad that you enjoyed the post my friend.

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  14. I think I am actually more patient as I get older...I hope there isn't a tipping point where that changes.

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    1. I think it all depends on the person Joe, I don't get upset myself like other people do when waiting, like you I am a pretty patient person where my wife and her dad are definitely not...maybe there is hope for you and I.

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  15. Im with Ray [holding mug in the air] “Dilly Dilly”
    Lisa

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    1. Can't you just picture the crowd yelling "Dilly Dilly" Lisa lol.

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  16. I tend to get a bit impatient too, I want to be in there getting things over with, so that's why I take a book to read while I wait. Trouble is, I sometimes get so involved in the story I get a bit annoyed when I have to put the book away and get in there getting things over with.

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    1. That is the same reason I stopped taking a book, I was never at a good stopping point whenever I was called. But otherwise taking a book is an excellent idea, I guess that's why we have bookmarks.

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  17. Yes, I get impatient as well. I hate being kept waiting so I usually spend time reading the magazines that are put on display especially to keep the moaners quiet. I don't mind so much if they tell us why we're being kept waiting.

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    1. Being told why things are running behind means a lot to me, I have no problem sitting back and reading the magazines while I wait, now if I could only get Ray and Cindy to do this...

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  18. Ok, first of all, I couldn't help but chuckle at your story. I didn't even have to close my eyes to see (& hear) the whole thing. 2 things though: I wonder if the staff makes sure they have all of the orders the night before, which would solve that issue. Makes sense, right? Only, what I see is everyone rushing out the door at quitting time, instead of assigning someone to check the orders. And #2 is, the receptionists are cringing and walking back to check if they've solved the issue. As a receptionist myself, I become as anxious as the patients when something happens and they have to wait. Then I let them know what's going on so they can decide if they want to reschedule. We get all the dirty looks and verbal sarcasm. Then when they finally get called, they're all smiles and sweetness.

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    1. Pulling orders the night before is a good idea except for with our doctors there are several labs you can use and usually a weeks time to get your blood work done, so the labs are unaware who is showing up until they do, so with this said they really aren't at fault for not having the orders waiting for the patient.

      Your job has to be tough because as you explained I can see how you catch the blunt end of everyone's attitude when the doctors are behind, kind of like it's all your fault, and you are right the patient is always so nice once called back.

      My hat's off to you for the job you do, Thank you for taking care of those who need you.

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  19. Pretty short wait really for something medical

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    1. This actually was a short wait Adam, but we will never convince Ray of that.

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  20. hahaha a very interesting story dear Jimmy!

    Here is a saying that "elderly people are tougher than little children"

    It was hard to not laugh over the Ray's guess about they were having coffee lol

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    1. Ray can be a handful for sure Baili, I think if they had at least offered him a cup of coffee then he would have been more forgiving. Ha ha

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  21. I love this! Ray sounds brilliant.

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    1. Liz, he is a brilliant man with strong opinions.

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  22. HA! I can just image you and Cindy squirming in your seats. I'm thinking that getting to that point in our lives might be liberating and infuriating at the same time. Gee, I can't wait...

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    1. I agree with you Pat, both liberating and infuriating at the same time for sure, care giving for a parent is a real eye opener...

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  23. Happy Easter to you and Cindy. ☺

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    1. And a Happy Easter to the both of you too!

      Thank you Sandee.

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  24. OMG. So sorry you all had to endure that. :(

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    1. It wasn't all that bad SW, typical day at the doctor's office for us anymore ha ha.

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  25. I didn't know I was so far behind on my blog reading and commenting. This was such a great post because it reminded me of taking my husband to the doctor. It didn't help that he could never whisper.

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    1. I believe as Cindy's Dad gets older he gets louder, I think this happens to the majority of us though.

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  26. There are times when I'm on hold on the phone that I'm convinced the other person just put me on hold to go on a coffee break.

    Glad Cindy's dad has an understanding daughter and son-in-law. :-)

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    1. You have to be understanding in these situations I believe, we have spent a lot of time waiting here lately.

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