Fiorella thought she had her day all laid out, but it went to pieces on her once she got to Austin. Her doctor's parking garage was dark as a dungeon, and it was hard to find a space for her Miata what with all the ocean liners squatting in the spaces marked compact. She was finally able to shoehorn herself into a narrow space between two SUVs, but then came the voyage to the medical building while toting a tote weighed down with her computadora, her bolsa, her celular, and her lista amarilla. She rode up to the third floor and trudged down the hall to the doctor's office, slung her tote on the counter and announced herself to the nurse.
Shock. Her appointment was until the afternoon. How had Fio messed up this appt for the second time arround. Are they gaslighting her? No, Fio. Face it. You wrote down the the wrong date in su calendario.
Nothing to do but set up an appt for next week, reshoulder her tote and stagger back to the parking garage. Getting out was a lot easier than getting in. But what could she do with her time? She had to be back in Gtown for an INR appt at 1:00, but she didn't want to be half an hour early and sit in the cardiologist's office twiddling her thumbs. Nothing to do but find a Starbucks in Austin and write a little. Of course, she had to purchase something to rent a table, though. No problem--she loves Starbucks' chocolate chip cookies. The day was saved!
Except that Starbucks was out of chocolate chip cookies. All she could do was indulge herself in a cup of milk.
Some days, you just can't win for losing.
Showing posts with label doctor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label doctor. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Gestapo Mentality
Yes, it was horrible what United did, yanking a paying pasenger off a plane and beating him up when he didn't cooperate. Yes, the head of the airline has to take full responsibility for what happened, and he well deserves the angry condemnation he's been getting. But his underlings, the hired thugs who carried out his orders, are the most frightening part of the equation because without ordinary people, people who love their families and are kind to dogs, turning into monsters, the guys at the top can't get very far. Hitler couldn't do it alone. He needed armies of unthinking goons.
But this is America, and there were also heroes on that airplane, heroes who protested, then whipped out their cell phones and recorded every moment of the dazed and bloody doctor being dragged down the aisle, heroes who contacted the media and spread their videos all over the world.
Keep it up, guys. We can't let the goons win.
But this is America, and there were also heroes on that airplane, heroes who protested, then whipped out their cell phones and recorded every moment of the dazed and bloody doctor being dragged down the aisle, heroes who contacted the media and spread their videos all over the world.
Keep it up, guys. We can't let the goons win.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Stonewalled
Your intrepid reporter is being stonewalled.
Two years ago, her favorite cardiologist, a senior partner in his firm, disappeared into thin air. One day he was there, and the next day he was "no longer associated with the firm," and supposedly no one knew what had happened to him. Fiorella, being the loyal sort, decided to trace him down, but he had not opened his own office or joined another firm, was not dead, had not run off with a receptionist, and had not retired. He was just . . . gone.
The only clue Fiorella has came from her old PCP, who told her that the only time he'd ever heard of a disappearance like that, a lawsuit had been involved.
Bingo. It makes sense that the other partners would buy anyone out if he threatened a lawsuit, maybe about mishandling of money--and that they would present a united front of wide-eyed ignorance.
Except it's TOO wide-eyed. Fiorella has questioned two members of the firm, and they have both given her the friendly smiles now taught in med school, lifted their hands, and said "I wish I knew."
They know.
Two years ago, her favorite cardiologist, a senior partner in his firm, disappeared into thin air. One day he was there, and the next day he was "no longer associated with the firm," and supposedly no one knew what had happened to him. Fiorella, being the loyal sort, decided to trace him down, but he had not opened his own office or joined another firm, was not dead, had not run off with a receptionist, and had not retired. He was just . . . gone.
The only clue Fiorella has came from her old PCP, who told her that the only time he'd ever heard of a disappearance like that, a lawsuit had been involved.
Bingo. It makes sense that the other partners would buy anyone out if he threatened a lawsuit, maybe about mishandling of money--and that they would present a united front of wide-eyed ignorance.
Except it's TOO wide-eyed. Fiorella has questioned two members of the firm, and they have both given her the friendly smiles now taught in med school, lifted their hands, and said "I wish I knew."
They know.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Power Play
Fio has conquered the office bitch, the one who delayed her appointments and blamed it on the insurance carrier. And Fio did it through the use of the greatest power in the world--knowledge.
Fio didn't argue with the woman. Instead, Fio side-stepped her and called the insurance company herself. She called twice, in fact, to confirm that her treatment was authorized and that the insurance would pay for it. But when she contacted the OB, the woman told her she would have to wait an extra week for the treatment to allow ninety days to pass since her last visit. Fio got out her calendar and realized that those ninety days would indeed have passed by the date of the appointment she was trying to set.
Fiorella got her appointment when she wanted it.
Knowledge is power.
Fio didn't argue with the woman. Instead, Fio side-stepped her and called the insurance company herself. She called twice, in fact, to confirm that her treatment was authorized and that the insurance would pay for it. But when she contacted the OB, the woman told her she would have to wait an extra week for the treatment to allow ninety days to pass since her last visit. Fio got out her calendar and realized that those ninety days would indeed have passed by the date of the appointment she was trying to set.
Fiorella got her appointment when she wanted it.
Knowledge is power.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
In Regard to a Certain Office Staff
Do not cross the mighty Fiorella.
Do not screw around with her doctor appointments so she is running weeks late for treatment. Do not try to blame it on Fiorella's insurer. Do not lie to Fiorella about the date you called the insurer for pre-approval. Do not advise Fiorella not to contact the insurer herself because then the insurer would make her wait longer.
Fiorella figured you out, took notes each time she talked with you, and did contact the insurer, who then called you with Fio still on the line.
Fiorella knows the score now and so do you.
Do not screw around with her doctor appointments so she is running weeks late for treatment. Do not try to blame it on Fiorella's insurer. Do not lie to Fiorella about the date you called the insurer for pre-approval. Do not advise Fiorella not to contact the insurer herself because then the insurer would make her wait longer.
Fiorella figured you out, took notes each time she talked with you, and did contact the insurer, who then called you with Fio still on the line.
Fiorella knows the score now and so do you.
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Young Lady
In her checkered past, Fiorella taught at several colleges. Her first agenda item in each class was to learn the students' names. Names are important. Calling people by their names acknowledges them as individuals to whom you can relate in some way.
Fiorella recently had a disturbing experience with a new doctor. A bluff, hearty man, he continually addressed her as "young lady," probably thinking he was being cute or flattering. But since Fio is neither young nor a lady--she's always been something of a smart ass--she wondered if he was mocking her. Definitely, he was depersonalizing her: calling Fio "young lady" was an easy way for him to avoid having to remember her name or build a relationship.
Fiorella is in the market for a replacement doctor.
Fiorella recently had a disturbing experience with a new doctor. A bluff, hearty man, he continually addressed her as "young lady," probably thinking he was being cute or flattering. But since Fio is neither young nor a lady--she's always been something of a smart ass--she wondered if he was mocking her. Definitely, he was depersonalizing her: calling Fio "young lady" was an easy way for him to avoid having to remember her name or build a relationship.
Fiorella is in the market for a replacement doctor.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Let's Start the Day Over Again
The alarm, which Husband said he set for 7:30, didn't go off, or maybe Fio slept through it. Anyway, she awoke at 8:00. when she had a doctor's appointment forty-five minutes away in Austin at 9:25. By 8:30, she was semi-ready, morning pills in a plastic bag to take with water at the doctor's office after she ate a breakfast of graham crackers in the car.
But her car wouldn't start. The battery was dead. And no one else in the house was awake. And, although it didn't matter, her cell phone was also dead.
She trailed back inside and called the doctor's office to tell the medical minion who managed appointments that God had ordained she not come in this morning.
To top it off, despite two calls to the Statesman, the newspaper is STILL not making it past the mailbox and down the drive. And Fio, who is cane-bound, can't even drive up to get it.
But her car wouldn't start. The battery was dead. And no one else in the house was awake. And, although it didn't matter, her cell phone was also dead.
She trailed back inside and called the doctor's office to tell the medical minion who managed appointments that God had ordained she not come in this morning.
To top it off, despite two calls to the Statesman, the newspaper is STILL not making it past the mailbox and down the drive. And Fio, who is cane-bound, can't even drive up to get it.
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