The Arrogance of Physicians

     June 23 was the date of my annual cardiology appointment.  After the office electrocardiogram, Dr. C. said everything appeared to be in order, and gave me a script for a routine blood  test.  When I was at the checkout (not really) window, I asked the rep if the test results would be  posted on the patient portal. She wasn't sure, but said if any of the results were not as expected, I would be contacted.  Indeed, a sign posted nearby said the same. She asked if I wanted to have the blood test then and there.  I said no, I would do it later.  I hadn't fasted, though they don't seem to care about that.
     July 14, after the 8 hour fasting period indicated on the script, I drove to the lab on Hoosick Street for the bloodwork.  It was a Tuesday, and by Saturday of that week, I had the complete test results.
     In the doctor-knows-best world of that cardiology practice, I would not have received the results until June of 2016, at my next appointment.  The doctor would not have contacted me as none of the results were out of the ordinary.  That is a good thing, but think about the downside of that protocol:   I might have spent time worrying about whether the results were abnormal, without any clue as to how much time should elapse before I felt secure that no call was forthcoming.  Or the test results  may have gotten lost or gone astray.  I have sat in an office where the doctor was unable to access any results. I have been told that a lab had dropped and broken my blood sample.  I don't  know exactly how test results are put into the office system.  Who would decide whether to file them in my patient folder, or alert the doctor that something appears to be abnormal enough to warrant notification?  I do know, in any medical office I have been to in recent years, the doctor looks over any medical reports in the office just before he speaks to you.  In this instance, should I have waited until about May of 2016 before having the blood drawn?  They were prepared to do it then, so the results would be a year old before my next visit.
     Common sense should dictate that any blood work the doctor deems relevant could be done a week or so before the office visit so that the doctor would have the recent results in front of him at your appointment.  As my old science teacher, Mr. McMorris, used to say, " There is no such thing as common sense. It should be called simple sense.  What is called common sense is really not very common at all."

Hoosick Street Crash

  A Troy Police car collided today with a car turning into the Massry Pavillion.  I don't know all the details, but on my numerous trips there, I adjusted my route to go through the Frear Park circle, turn right on Hoosick and then another right into the Massry Pavillion.  I would rather not be stopped on the Hoosick Street Hill waiting to make a left turn.  I wasn't so much concerned about police cars, but rather the tractor trailers streaming down the hill, at least as they do in the morning hours.

P.T.Finale

    Assessment today at 8:A.M. with Maureen.  Exercises and re-assessment form  for me to fill out, a duplicate of the form from the first day which rates difficulty and discomfort levels for a number of activities on a scale of no difficulty to impossible to perform.  I think I marked some improvement in most areas; why not? They do their best. And I was given some exercise bands which slip over the door.  Maureen demonstrated how to use them; you knot them and put the knot across the top of the door, and then close the door, securing the knotted band so you can use it to exercise the shoulder.  It worked fine, there, on the substantial door.  I suspect there's a good chance that the doors in my home may prove to be iffy.  Any part of the structure, the door or the frame,  could give way and compromise not only my shoulder but other body parts as well.  Anyway, I finished the entire course of physical therapy, third consecutive year.
    Maureen also handed me a form to rate the facility itself, including the staff.  I gave excellent rating to all except the outer office staff.  They are efficient enough, but almost all of them robotic to where the rating "friendly" could not possibly apply.  There are several  of those patient-take-notice postings in the office, the chief one advising patients to not use perfumed products out of consideration for the therapists as well as other patients, and of course the usual warning as to what befalls those who don't pay whatever is due.  But at least the wording as to approaching the window says to stand back only if there is someone ahead of you.  You are free to approach either of the windows if no one is ahead of you. ( Unlike the cardiologists' office!)  But there is a notice on the window that says do not knock on the glass; someone will be with you soon.
    I've never seen anyone rap on the glass, or try to eavesdrop on the person in front of them either, and of course I have no idea if anyone ever tries to skip out without paying their deductible or co-pay.  So one might conclude that (1) all those negative and patient-unfriendly posted notices are effective, or (2)  they're totally unnecessary.
     P.S.   Now that I am done with paid professionals being concerned with my progress, or lack thereof, I am on my own.  Nothing is more stultifying than that subject.

Ortho Uno Anniversary.

X-rays of both knees, as surveillance.  Dr. C. said they were "perfect."  Not sure if he meant the films or the knees, suppose he meant both.  He said he is glad I'm doing so well.  He asked which knee I liked better.  I waffled and said both, but probably the second which has had no pain at all.  I  still have some numbness in the bottom of my heel. which he said is "unusual,"  but it's not really bothersome. Checking flexion, he said the left knee is really good, and the right knee is better than the left. He asked if I can climb stairs,cycle, etc.  All good there.  I'm to return in one year unless there is a problem, as sometimes the bone attacks the plastic and deteriorates it or something like that.  I wasn't really listening; I just asked how I would know, and he said there'd be pain.  The usual instruction as to take an antibiotic before dental cleanings.  He said the risk of infection traveling to the knee is very low, but really bad if it does happen.  And so it went.
    My appointment was at 10:00 A.M. and I was home before 11:30.  It occurred to me on the way home  that I enjoyed the drive, through the city of Troy, over much of the same route as when I drove to graduate classes at SUNY Albany, or to work at the Education Department in Albany.  As I drove past HVCC, their sign reminded of registration for fall classes starting August 21.  And so that also will come, and go.

July 7--#9

Cory and the usual exercises, a lot of work with the bands, elastic not musical.    Some are uncomfortable, but not really difficult.  Ho hum.  I stopped at DD's on the way home.  Clerk was youngster who was trying to solicit donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, but couldn't pronounce it.  The women tried to help him, decided he could say MDA. Kind of funny...

PT Days 7,8

     Monday, June 29, Had to leave early for my 9:30 appt., to take Dave to his Dermatology appt., which is just across the parking lot.  A Police Car was parked at the Massry Pavillion with 2 officers overseeing therapy on the arm of an unhappy-looking man.  I saw Maureen today, and underwent the usual exercises.
    Wednesday, July,  9:30 appt. with Cory.  She is from Cohoes, and has twin teenaged sons,one  of whom just returned from field trip to Wash. D.C.   Turns out she knows the McKay family, some of them anyway.  Joanne's daughter, Amy, and Cory have children of the same age.  Oddly, she looks a lot like Joanne who was a Jannicelli before she married Roger, and Cory's name was Dushane, of French derivation.  I'd encountered ELO and son as we were checking in, and saw him as I was leaving.  He was working Sudoku puzzles as he waited, but wanted to talk.  He seemed interested in getting people to attend the Albany Light Opera in September.  I said I'd think about it , but it would depend on how light the opera is.
     I have one week of PT left, next week being week 5.  I'd been prescribed 6 weeks, but I'm not questioning it.  I think my shoulder has improved.  Time or treatment, who knows?
 

PT Day 6 + Post script-Dave's Procedure*

    8;30 a.m.  Saw Maureen today, Cory probably on vacation.  I didn't ask.  Accepted the pre-workout heat treatment, so everything did seem easier.  Usual exercises, though 20 reps for most now instead of 10.  No pain, but surprisingly tiring.  The TV is on the wall, usually news at that hour, so we have a running discussion as to when the Prison Escape will be on Lifetime, et al.  Cory sees Kathy Bates as Tillie.  I suspect they'll cast someone a little hotter, maybe Charleze  Theron.  She's played a believable murderess, is beautiful but can play ugly,so would fit right into  the part.  I suppose we'll have to wait until the escapees are captured until the movie though.
      Later in the day, I drove Dave to his primary care doctor in Cambridge.  Kathy, a nurse there, was a student of mine when I taught at Cambridge Central.  She was a delight then in tenth grade, and still is.  She calls me Miss Madigan. So sweet.  She said her class just celebrated their 44th Class Reunion.  Seems like made-up story somehow. She had a twin brother, Kerry, also a nice kid and a good student.  I saw him some years ago at one of the Troy hospitals, a nurse or aide.   I can see Kathy  sitting in first seat, middle row of my classroom, Room 203.  I have a vivid memory of testing them on "The King and I" and playing the sound track in the back of the classroom.  She hummed to herself as she wrote her essay.  The memory is clear, but who we were then is a surreal blur. Anyway, the doctor, assessing the input from other doctors, thinks that Dave should have one of the tests mentioned by the neurologist.  So it's scheduled for next week at Samaritan Hospital.  For all the good that comes from the barrage of tests, he may just as well be tested on "The King and I."
* Dave saw neurologist, Dr. Verdini  on July 26, for follow-up on the thoracic MRI which he had ordered.  He was told results were normal.  When Dave said he had seen his primary, told him that he (Verdini) had mentioned the possibility of a Video Swallow test, the primary said it might be a good idea.  The test was scheduled at Samaritan.  Dr. Verdini said he thought the test was not indicated.  Dave cancelled the procedure.