A day at the clinic...

I spent last Monday at Moffitt Cancer center in preparation for another bladder surgery next week... I will do that Monday, June 21st- the longest day of the year. It is a minor out patient procedure that is pretty basic. Minimal down time...I call it a scrape and run... Dark humor I suppose.

I figure I have had 20 of these procedures since 1998. The doctor I use here is good...young, and moldable. He is my ninth Urologist. I guess I am not an easy patient. I expect certain give and take- communications from my Doctors. I have lowered my expectations concerning the Moffett Center however...

The Moffitt experience, in my opinion, is the preview of what we can expect when the government has more control of our health care...Socialized Medicine. Communication is minimal, things are done in isolated blocks- my Hematologist is not consulting with my Urologist-the blood test for surgery are not coordinated with my IVIG test needed in two days. The procedures do not seem very "patient" friendly... and more to the advantage of the doctors and staff. Arrival for an appointment means at leat a 45 minute wait to see the Doctor- or in many cases, his PA... I bristled last time I was relegated to the PA's assistant... I don't believe there is a price break when I see someone who cannot act without talking to the Doctor...Not that he is feeling the pulse of what is going on...I suspect my Hem Doc has no idea I will be there at all... and won't until he reads my file just before I see him in August.

I maintain my relationship with Moffitt for a very self serving reason. If my CLL kicks in, as it has in the past... the Direct Referral Center is excellent- the hospital staff- floor residents are excellent-Better than the local hospital--- not Ohio State quality- but okay for the Tampa Bay area.

My Hem Doc however has never stood bedside during my five stays- and the one time I spotted him in the hallway, he avoided me like he owed me $20.00. Ironically, I received an email while in Moffitt from Dr. Byrd in Ohio- just checking how I was doing.

There are more "procedural things at Moffitt than Ohio State, or Dartmouth for that matter. I need to stand in several lines and check in so I can be inspected and all boxes are checked and matrix's are satisfied. Doesn't seem to matter that I just gave the information to someone else on the second floor... procedures must be maintained.

I think I have a skull and crossbones appear when my records come up on the computer screen... I ask the question, "Why?", and sincerely expect an answer that makes sense. I am often disappointed. I have to be alert for what is going on- not just trusting that things are done for my best interest... I cancelled a CT Scan since that is not necessary for this surgery, and the radiation like 500 chest XRAYS each time you have one- I really don't care if it the "procedure" mandated... There are procedures to follow...and some to ignore... just like the government.

The really funny thing was when I needed a form signed by my Hem Doc for a disability break on my property taxes... The records department stated I was not his patient. I tried to be light hearted, and mentioned that I had just seen him last week- I said hello, he acknowledged me...in his exam room of course-file in hand. The genius on the other end of the line stated that just cause a Doctor says hello, doesn't mean I am his patient... Lowered expectations...

I did receive a bill several days later for a co-pay from that visit... that they get right.

I am just a crabby old guy, I guess...

God Bless,