My 9:00 patient this morning called at 8:45. Said she was having "car trouble", and asked if she could reschedule to later in the morning. So we moved her to 11:15.
She shows up at 11:15, with her forehead and arms darkened, smelling strongly of smoke.
She apologized for not having had a chance to shower, but by the time she gave up on trying to put out the car herself, and the fire department left after doing so, and she found a friend to give her a ride here, she just didn't have time.
Two points:
1. I am in AWE at your devotion to me that you only moved the appointment 135 minutes, instead of to next week or month.
2. When the fire department is putting out your car, I consider that beyond "car trouble". I'd have been running in circles & screaming, and likely wouldn't have bothered to call my doctor about the appointment under the circumstances.
Wow...if only people were more like her and less like your other patients!
ReplyDeleteWhat a refreshing change!
Does this patient make up for five of your typical patients, or only count as 1/5 of a regular patient on the positive side.
ReplyDeleteOK, I'm not very good at math.
I love this level of dedication!
ReplyDeleteShe obviously values your time and hers. I like this lady, but she should be warned to not try to put car fires out herself.
ReplyDeleteCherish her, Doc. Those kind are soo few.
ReplyDeleteHey, if you get time between patients, pop over and check out my post for today. I know it's not your specialty, but you might appreciate the exchange.
http://edsfunnypages.blogspot.com
Wow.
ReplyDeleteJust wow.
She MUST work in some type of medical profession or something that involves scheduling appointments...!
ReplyDeleteDoesn't this seem a sign of some sort of instability? Her fear of authority and being late, superseded the rational response to a car fire.
ReplyDeleteShe is more concerned about her appearance and presentation than the events that happen in here life.
I hope she isn't seeing you for some intractable horrendoma.
ReplyDeleteNice lady.
Odd, but nice.
When I worked at a pizza place, I had a lady call up, and cancel her pizza order - because he husband was being taken to the hospital. I thanked her for wanting to save the multimillion dollar corporation 7 dollars, and then to get off the damn phone and be with her husband.
ReplyDeleteI think you should introduce her to Mr. Jackass...enough said!
ReplyDeleteThat was mighty considerate of her, and yes, "car trouble" in this instance qualifies as the understatement of the year.
ReplyDeleteI mean, that would be like John F. Kennedy complaining of a mild headache.
Too soon?
I was teaching a free seminar once and none of the students showed up, so I began calling them to remind them of the class. The second student I reached explained his reason for for not showing up, stating, "I had a heart attack a couple of days ago," and apologized profusely for missing his scheduled class. I did not have the heart to chew him out.
ReplyDeleteWow...that is so cool. I think that is fabulous. I guess it was inconvenient enough to have her car burn up...why have to reschedule an appt a month later? She wins Patient of the Year.
ReplyDeleteheh heh heh...guess what? your word verification is LATER.
Great patient, 1 in a million. Hope Mr. Jackass isn't still stealing the worlds oxygen supply!! Hope his BBQ went well, and he could hang on to his Heinicken ;)sarcasm sarcasm
ReplyDeleteBut she didn't have a GOOD reason for being late or a no-show. I mean, it isn't as if Micheal JACKSON died or her personal aura was red insteaad of blue today...
ReplyDeletePattie, RN
Maybe she'd arranged to take the morning off to see you and knew she couldn't move the appointment to another day without taking yet another day off.
ReplyDeleteI do think it's kind of amazing she had a car fire and got there at all.
Now that's someone that values your time. They are fully aware they are not the "only" patient you have in a given day, and they are extremely conscientious.
ReplyDelete