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Attitude Improvement (April 12, 2002)Oh me of too much faith (in mankind's ability to understand and utilize technology): Deeply frustrated by my inability to secure any serious efforts on the part of the medical community to save what functionality remains of my left leg (or even better, restore it) I had taken it upon myself to make an appointment with a neurologist. When I asked my doctor to forward my records, his nurse called back and suggested that I really wanted their other referral, a combination neurologist/neurosurgeon. I got right on it. Merde! Voicemail Hell. "New patients and referrals press 3." <3> "I'll try that extension." Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, "Hi, this is Julie (and I am not going to tell you that I have quit.) Please leave your name and number. I will call you back within 24 hours." Merde squared! It's 72 hours and four more calls later. Finally called them and DID NOT press <3> but simply let the call forward to a real humanoid. She passed me on to "Laura" who is Julie's replacement. Laura is deliberate but thorough. Had to answer about as many questions as the old "Standard Form 57." Laura entered it all into her computer and then had to transcribe it to paper. (I suggested that a nice touch would be to have the computer print out the information, but apparently this is not an option.) Altogether, it took about 45 minutes but I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE THE NEUROLOGIST/NEUROSURGEON!!! Monday, April 22, 1:00 p.m. YEAH! As a warning to any others on First Health PPO, this provider is not well known to medical staffs. Be prepared to give them ALL possible information about how to communicate with First Health. **************************** Another interesting glitch in the present American health care delivery system is that little can be done to treat symptoms until there is a "diagnosis." I asked for a prescription for a lockable leg brace so that I could more safely stand. "Can't do that until we have a diagnosis." "What am I supposed to do for the two or three months that it takes to arrive at a diagnosis, drag myself around on the floor?" I pointed out that I am lucky to have "Faded Salmon" Floyd to locomote about upon. The voice on the other end of the phone line finally became convinced that a paralyzed knee is a self defining diagnosis. I got my prescription for a locking brace. Apparently the entire game is one of tenacity. Now to find an orthotist... Love, HobbleAlong Tenacity |