I have an appointment with my physician, tomorrow.
I am hoping that "third time is the charm" for this office visit; the first appointment had to be canceled because I had something sniffly that might be interpreted as "Covid-like Symptoms" and the second one was canceled because my doctor was out on one of her frequent extended hiatuses.
Normally, you wouldn't really think of rescheduling a doctor's appointment as "a big deal," but usually re-scheduling actually amounts to "we can fit you in in 90 days from now..."
So far, it looks like we're going to be "on!" Yay!
Anyway, our regional healthcare system is part of system that allows a lot of interaction and "Q&A stuff" to be done online... and — a bit like going on an airline trip — now you can actually "check in" for your medical appointment online, the day before the appointment.
So, I went to do precisely that, this afternoon... because why not save some paperwork time in the reception area?
This, of course, is where things started to fall apart a bit.
About ten minutes in, I found myself wondering why I was wandering through endless forms related to my entire medical history which has already been on file with that doctor's office since 2014, and is already in the system!
Are you just asking me all the same questions you've already asked to give the appearance that you are providing a service... or "doing something?" Or is this actually a very protracted "memory test" to see if I give the identical answers I last gave, 18 months ago?
Just to clarify, these were not questions related to "since your last visit," but medical history going back to when I popped out of the womb!
And just in case you were wondering, no this is not a "new system" that has to be "populated" with all my medical history. This is also not a "government bureaucracy," but actually private "for profit" medicine, USA style.
About 20 minutes later, I had put in all the requested information, and then they asked for "a photo of the front and back of a government issued ID." Fine. Whatever.
All done?
Well, I hope so... but the real "acid test" will come tomorrow at 1:40pm, when I actually show up for my appointment. Will I be able to just sign in and go directly to my appointment? Or will I be handed the prerequisite clipboard and have to answer more questions?
The thing about doing all this that just seems odd is the fact that all those forms had not a single inquiry about anything in my health status that might have CHANGED since my last appointment. That just seems like it's missing some of the point, and missing an opportunity to actually convey some relevant information to the physician, ahead of the appointment.
But so it goes.
And don't get me wrong... I do appreciate the intent behind having all this information in an online accessible medical record... but why all the redundancy?
Thanks for reading, and enjoy the remainder of your week!
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Created at 20220718 19:59 PDT
0611/1857
Any way to add a little more anxiety to your day, right?
I haven’t experienced this yet in Japan, but I had a hell of a time with the online airline check-in recently and trying to get fast tracked through the COVID screening.
Fortunately, in the end, the process was smooth and easy and, most importantly, worked. The online build up, though, and then wondering if I had done everything correctly afterward, was awful.
This new and improved world. 😉
Hopefully, all will go smooth for you tomorrow.
Since it's private health care, could you find another doctor with better service?
It's funny when Americans go on about waiting lists in socialist Europe. I can get an appointment with my GP the same week without any questions asked other than the purpose of the visit. Until recently, I could just walk in at certain times. The hospital even kept calling me to make appointments for breathing tests. The problem we have in the Netherlands is a lack of doctors in rural areas (and conversely, a lack of teachers in cities). Plus a backlog in non-urgent treatments due to Covid at the moment.
That’s a pain lol one thing that might have happened is your doctors office could have merged with a larger group and that meant the records may or may not have been transitioned successfully. Happens more than you’d know! Lol hopefully your appointment went without a hitch!
I recently filled out a lot of forms online for a dermatology appointment. They wanted pictures of the front and back of my insurance cards, but I couldn't get them to uploads. So I dealt with that at the appointment. And there was still more paperwork to fill out at the office. But I didn't have to wear a mask in there! Yay!