Canice
04-05-2005, 01:09 AM
I used to make it a policy that for every letter of complaint I wrote, I had to write one of appreciation. Since there is no shortage of unhappiness with medical insurance in general, HMOs in general, and -seemingly- my HMO in particuar, I want to say that I had the BEST experience today.
Sunday evening, as I was happily preparing for a couple of hours of soup and salad making, I pulled out my just-back-from-the-sharpeners 8" chef's knife and set to slice a head of garlic in half, around its "equator". Sha-ZAAM, I ripped through my left index finger, certain I'd detached the end of the finger, as blood spilled everywhere and I began to lose my peripheral vision. After two calls to "advice nurses" that they have on call 24/7, and a request to DBF to take me to the ER...I decided not to go, even though both nurses (and an advice doctor) had said to go have it stitched. It was pouring down rain on a Sunday night and I knew I'd never be a priority there. Instead, I washed and bandaged up, took 2 Tylanol, and went back to the soup.
I spoke to another advice nurse at noon today, and she said it was too late to stitch the wound, but that they have an "Injury Center" that takes same-day appointments. Big surprise: At noon on a Monday they were already booked - they could see me Tuesday, and I set an appointment for 11:45. "Just in case" they have a drop-in service from 5:30PM to 9:00PM.
Freaked out by my now-blue and quasi-numb finger-tip (oozing thick goo), I stopped by at 4:55PM Monday, and secured a 6:30 slot. The admin who scheduled me was the warmest, friendliest, most effusive person in such a position I'd ever met - she was like a favorite auntie, just helping out. She told me not to stray from the waiting area, as I might be seen early. I felt GREAT. The hospital/clinic is under 1.5 miles from my home and was recently rebuilt from the ground up: It's big but bright and airy and both professional and cheerful: Tons of natural light, and views across the city from waiting areas. I picked up a copy of The New Yorker (albeit at 14-month old copy of The New Yorker!) and at 6:10 --20 minutes ahead of schedule-- was ushered back by a warm and cheerful and helpful nurse's assistant. I swear, she seemed glad to see me! About 10 minutes later, an RN came in and examined the wound. She drew a picture of my injury and other, similar types, and explained how each would be treated. She said it may have been impossible to stitch my oozing "flap" even if I'd gone to the ER on Sunday, and did what she could to seal it. And then proceeded to ask about my soup, the recipe, and things I like to cook. Then she ordered a tetanus shot. I told her that shots tend to make me faint, and she thanked me for telling her, and sent her assistant back to administrate it. Unlike other nurses, who've laughed me off, they offered to let me stay and recline, brought me water, and were all-around kind and gracious. Sheesh, I only meant that I tend to be woozy - I truly don't want or need solicitous care!
Still, I walked out of that bright and fresh place, with its helpful and good-hearted staff, and felt incredibly fortunate to have that as my health-care provider. Granted I was there for but a cut finger, but perhaps that's the point: That's what I get for a small kitchen incident - so very much more than a lot of the world gets for much bigger afflictions!
Sunday evening, as I was happily preparing for a couple of hours of soup and salad making, I pulled out my just-back-from-the-sharpeners 8" chef's knife and set to slice a head of garlic in half, around its "equator". Sha-ZAAM, I ripped through my left index finger, certain I'd detached the end of the finger, as blood spilled everywhere and I began to lose my peripheral vision. After two calls to "advice nurses" that they have on call 24/7, and a request to DBF to take me to the ER...I decided not to go, even though both nurses (and an advice doctor) had said to go have it stitched. It was pouring down rain on a Sunday night and I knew I'd never be a priority there. Instead, I washed and bandaged up, took 2 Tylanol, and went back to the soup.
I spoke to another advice nurse at noon today, and she said it was too late to stitch the wound, but that they have an "Injury Center" that takes same-day appointments. Big surprise: At noon on a Monday they were already booked - they could see me Tuesday, and I set an appointment for 11:45. "Just in case" they have a drop-in service from 5:30PM to 9:00PM.
Freaked out by my now-blue and quasi-numb finger-tip (oozing thick goo), I stopped by at 4:55PM Monday, and secured a 6:30 slot. The admin who scheduled me was the warmest, friendliest, most effusive person in such a position I'd ever met - she was like a favorite auntie, just helping out. She told me not to stray from the waiting area, as I might be seen early. I felt GREAT. The hospital/clinic is under 1.5 miles from my home and was recently rebuilt from the ground up: It's big but bright and airy and both professional and cheerful: Tons of natural light, and views across the city from waiting areas. I picked up a copy of The New Yorker (albeit at 14-month old copy of The New Yorker!) and at 6:10 --20 minutes ahead of schedule-- was ushered back by a warm and cheerful and helpful nurse's assistant. I swear, she seemed glad to see me! About 10 minutes later, an RN came in and examined the wound. She drew a picture of my injury and other, similar types, and explained how each would be treated. She said it may have been impossible to stitch my oozing "flap" even if I'd gone to the ER on Sunday, and did what she could to seal it. And then proceeded to ask about my soup, the recipe, and things I like to cook. Then she ordered a tetanus shot. I told her that shots tend to make me faint, and she thanked me for telling her, and sent her assistant back to administrate it. Unlike other nurses, who've laughed me off, they offered to let me stay and recline, brought me water, and were all-around kind and gracious. Sheesh, I only meant that I tend to be woozy - I truly don't want or need solicitous care!
Still, I walked out of that bright and fresh place, with its helpful and good-hearted staff, and felt incredibly fortunate to have that as my health-care provider. Granted I was there for but a cut finger, but perhaps that's the point: That's what I get for a small kitchen incident - so very much more than a lot of the world gets for much bigger afflictions!