When we think about moving elsewhere we often pause because of medical care. After all, I can walk to my dentist, to my PT, to the bone scan place. My PCP is a mile down the road, other specialists are very nearby and excellent.
But. Today was a heads up of a sort. And, it’s starting to feel fucking typical.
My orthopedic surgeon’s practice has had two names, two portals, and three physical sites since I met with them less than a year ago. So I cut myself a little slack when on Monday I went to a follow-up appointment at the wrong building.
Doctor not available to reschedule until December, so I agreed to see his PA at week’s end (today).
Text chimed in at nine this morning: “electricity out in the building. We will call to reschedule.”
They called. It was a robot telling ME to call and reschedule.
I called to reschedule and after fourteen minutes of electronic selections was connected to a person.
And guess what? Now I’m seeing the PA on December 23. And, in the building I hate driving to. And, it’ll be rush hour.
So my husband was correct to wonder out loud: is this access to medical care so great?
Meanwhile, if the government weren’t shut down, this could be a telecall.
PS I object to AI. I really object to the energy and water it consumes. Hate its output. Hate what it’s doing to media, literature, etc. But over the weekend, I copied and pasted my MRI results into it and then asked for exercises and got two PDFs. Most were exercises I’m already doing but a couple were more focused on my spine and flank.
And lo! Since starting them, my right leg is feeling better. It’s the first improvement since the surgery in March. Not trivial.
So, my goal is to be asymptomatic by December 23.
(And I was half-kidding when I quipped, “asymptomatic and cancelling my appointment on December 22).
Everything is changing faster than I can keep up here as well. My very convenient dentist is now requiring that we pay up front out of pocket .. reason being they don’t feel confident in what the insurance will cover. Sometimes it’s hard to count one’s Blessings. Using AI the way you did sounds like what might just become the norm.
AI gets stuff wrong all the time. That’s a problem I didn’t even mention. But yeah, automation and the insurance landscapes sure are rendering our worlds unrecognizable at times.
Dee~ I so understand this teether to medical. Mine is to a big medical corp that is ‘not’ everywhere, but is right here. I can’t imagine moving these days.
Ah, the pains we have…I understand that too. I’m glad you found something that may help. I’m waiting for my foot to heal, then it will hopefully be back to some walking. It feels so slow. It was only early am on Monday, but I’m already tired of it.
My Sr Advantage plan, through my medical coverage has the worst dental…my dentist finally had to drop it, as he was barely getting paid back anything from them…so yeah, out of pocket. 🤞 my dental health holds. Most of the dentists don’t take these HMO plans. The divide just keeps growing for the haves and the have nots and the have nothings. It’s madding and so sad.
Lastly, my oncologist has had to reschedule a few times. The last time, this week…I got a voicemail saying we needed to reschedule, then a day later I got an email for a pre-visit questionnaire for my rescheduled appt. What? I had to call and confirm that I did indeed have an appt. on the same day, just later in the afternoon. Oh and her nurse, who I left 3 different messages with never did call me back! What a mix up. I will close by saying that her reasons for rescheduling are understandable and heartbreaking, so no worries…and my appt. went well, still NED…so more “no worries”. Thank goodness I have time for this stuff and I really do have good care. So I am grateful.
All of this blabbering to say, I get it. Let’s just carry on and dream of where we could relocate to that would align our hearts and bodies and other needs. xo
You remind me how complicated it all can be. No dental insurance would worry me no end but you may have stronger teeth than I do! Hope your foot feels better soon.