"We're glad you're here today."

A few months back I blogged about finally giving in to being sick and going to the doctor, with what turned out to be a vicious sinus infection.

I had been sick earlier in the year and gutted it out, so I asked the kindly internist if I should have gone to the doctor back then. He looked at me in a kindly fashion and said, "I don't know, but I'm very glad you came today."

I thought that was nice.

Back when I had my annual exam in April we noticed that for the third time my blood pressure was higher when being taken before the appointment than it was 20 minutes later at the end of the appointment. My gynecologist decided that as not good and gave me a little card. I as to take it to the Health Education room at Kaiser three times in the next month and have my b.p. .randomly checked. Then I could fold the card over and have it mailed back to her.

I, of course, never did this, until today when I was going in for my mammogram. So I dug up the card and brought it with me. After my mammogram (what joy, what fun) I headed off to the proper office and presented my card.

And offered the same kind of lame, "I know I should have come in April, and I'm just coming now" hang-dog excuse.

The kindly lady taking my blood pressure looked at me kindly and said, "Well, we're just glad you came today."

Do you think it's a Kaiser thing? Or a coincidence. Could they be coached on how to treat guilt-ridden people who are poor patients?

Because it's really quite a nice response indeed!

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Comments

[Flea]

I'd be interested to know what Kaiser folks would say if by some standard, call it the "prudent lay-person standard", it was not a good idea for you to be in the doctor's office.

Is there any chance they'd tell you you don't need to be there?

I'm guessing slim to none. You are helping to pay salaries and overhead!

best,

Flea

[Elisa Camahort]

Well, I certainly never thought of it *that* way Flea!