To catch up on the past week

Things have been busy.

In a kind of a back-to-school flurry that I guess you also experience in public school?

But we've had to meet with the kid's advisor, turn in our curriculum list, go through the books and curriculum already in the book room, fill our paper work (and since I didn't get it done before we had to leave for Kayla's dr visit- another story to come) we're going back today.

After we return our library books before we pay enough fines to add our own wing to the place

Followed by dropping/registering JM at drop in daycare, going back to my dr to repeat the abnormal gizmo tests. (which would be nice if they could figure how why I have double vision with a simple gizmo test- way easier than all the other neuro tests)

Earlier this week, I had to go pick up my contacts (which I thought was simple pick them up) but no, you put them in, they do more gizmo tests to check fit, then you wait to see the optician to check fit.. and of course had the kids with me - who did surprisingly well and we went to chic fil a to celebrate (they have awesome milkshakes)

Saw another house and bid on it

Went shopping for Larry's birthday dinner and present

Went to Ikea (which turned into an all day event) to get more storage ideas and pick up more storage bins for the toys I keep stepping on.

Went to Chic fil a for free chicken nugget night (probably going tonight for free chicken sandwich night- I LOVE chic fil a!)

Went to the kids' school and took Kayla BACK to the peds because she STILL complains it hurts every time she goes to the bathroom despite treating for UTI's, pinworms, and vaginitis. We now have an ultrasound ordered. *sigh*

I went to the Dr to get a referral to 'do something' with our blastocytes. I'm not getting any younger, this year Larry won't deploy- this would be the time to do it.


Which brings to to a topic which is all over the news- national health care.

I'd like to invite to proponents of national health care to experience it before making any decisions.

We have (according to the propaganda) "the world's best health care for the world's best military"
I'd hate to see the worst.

To be seen- you have to call the appointment line.
You will wait on hold listening to the message that they practice "hero centered care" and how honored they are to be able to provide our care. You will be sick of the message and music by the time you are on hold 15 minutes.
It is never under 15 minutes of hold time

Then you'll get the marine on the end, give them your number, person's name and you'll either get an appointment for whoever you get (don't even bother asking for a particular provider) or nothing will be available.

If nothing is available for a routine visit, you are told to call back on the date that they open the next month of appointments to get an appointment - they open scheduling a month or 2 in advance, then fill that up and on a said day open the next 2 months up.

If it's an urgent care visit, they'll put in a message to the primary clinic nurse, you'll get a phone call back at some point and you will probably get an appointment with someone. You will not have a choice as to time, provider, etc. You will see an nurse practitioner or an intern. I know real dr's work there because Larry has seen them and worked under them. As a common patient, you won't see them except maybe for passing in the hall. Or in internal medicine. (but you don't want to go to internal medicine, trust me)

If they run a test and you don't hear back, you have to call the appointment line, wait on hold, push #2 and wait again, finally leaving a message for a 'nurse' to call back who will then transfer you to the appointment line to get an appointment.

That's just to be seen.

Then once you are seen- if you need something - plan on spending the entire day at the hospital.
Don't expect the dr to actually *listen* to you or your complaints. Particularly if you're an adult being seen in internal medicine. Peds isn't AS bad and so far family practice was better, too. Internal medicine was absolutely hostile to having kids with you.

And waiting in the bare exam rooms, it's a no-eating or drinking policy, so you have to try to get the toys you pack to look more entertaining than the computer keyboard and screen that is pretty much the only thing there other than the sink and hand sanitizer dispenser- you can't hand out fruit snacks, cookies- nothing- so it's a joy waiting.

The pharmacy system is a 'ticket system' take a ticket, wait for it to be called, they call you up, check your ID, put your Rx into the cued system to fill the Rx (while you are waiting). Give you another number and wait for them to call number #2.
If you're in uniform you get sent to the front of the line. Larry has changed into uniform and met us there just to avoid the 1.5 hour wait for civilians. not a typo- 1.5 hours. The only time we didn't wait that long was on a holiday weekend waiting for a rx from the ER to be filled and that was because the only RX's being filled was the ones from the ER.

So you'll sit there forever waiting for your number to be called. If you've already been there 2 hours with your kids, they will be tired, hungry and fussy- particularly if they were sick which is WHY you were there in the first place.
There is standing room only and the only entertainment is fox news on the TV in the waiting area.

And your prescription will be from the formulary list- no exceptions. They don't have it otherwise and they won't get it. If the formulary drug(s) doesn't(don't) work, you're SOL.

If you need an Xray, you'll go to xray, give your ID and wait there

If you need an ultrasound, you go to xray give your ID and wait to schedule it

If you need labs- go to the lab, give your ID and wait (and wait) and then someone who just learned yesterday how to draw blood will attempt to draw it. If they know how to draw blood, they've been promoted from the lab to the battlefield, BAS or elsewhere where they would need those skills.

If you need a referral you wait at home for 3 weeks for the piece of paper to come with your approval and an incorrect/outdated number to call to make your own appointment within the given time frame.

If you need to make a return visit, you go back home and call the appointment line.

If you're out in the civilian world your dr will need to get pre-approval for every follow up visit so when they say they need to see you back, you'll go home and wait for that piece of paper to show up so you can call them up and make the appointment.

But we don't pay a dime for this. It's "free"

But they're pretty smart- I'll sit on hold a good long time debating if I *really* need to go in for said problem before jumping through the hoops to go in.

OR.. alternately.. you realize you can go the ER and be seen, have all needed tests done, and wait in the pharmacy in about the amount of time it takes you to wait on hold, get the appointment and be seen, thus saving a few hours of waiting in the traditional medical system. It's scary that the ER is an appealing alternative. Especially to a seasoned healthcare provider.

But the guy in the "welcome desk" at the hospital hails everyone who comes and leaves with an "ooh rah!" I guess that makes makes up for all the other deficiencies.