Process, or, Why Health Care Costs so goddam Much Money
Today I realized at about 10:15 that I had missed my 10 o'clock pre-op appointment for my surgery next Monday. Fortunately, everyone at the hospital where I'll have the surgery was extremely nice and helpful and so, with Jack in tow (Sydney stayed home by herself), I went to the hospital and spent a fun-filled 3 hours there.
When I had the severe pain that ended up being my gall bladder revolting, I went to my primary care doctor. I had blood drawn at her office, including a liver function panel and all of the normal blood work. Then I had an ultrasound. When I went to see the surgeon, I filled out a questionnaire, which contained questions that my PCP would have been able to answer easily. Today, I filled out another questionnaire with mostly the same questions, had an EKG, had my vital signs taken, got blood drawn for another liver function panel and spent a LOoooong time waiting to see a surgical resident (who was single and charming, women of Boston) and the anesthesiologist.
So, why did I need another liver panel done? Because the system is so full of inefficiencies. And why do I need to fill out several questionnaires with the same information; information which is contained on page one of my medical file (current medications, previous surgeries, allergies, etc.)? Same answer. When I think of all of the people who are employed to develop, print, stock, read, review, enter and file all of the questionnaires that I've filled out, I realize why this country's health care costs make up such a huge portion of our economy.
Bad Jack/Good Jack
We went to the Y this morning and, again, it didn't go so well. I was stationed on one of the bikes right outside of the babysitting room following Lance up a mountain and I did that for about 12 minutes and they came and got me. I managed to get Jack calmed down again and left for another 12 minute sprint and then that was the end of it. He just hates it when I leave. There were several little kids there who were around his age today, too.
Sigh. I am planning to try again tomorrow.
At the hospital, though, Jack was so good. VERY good. We spent 3 hours cooped up in a little room with a few of his toys (Trotter the pony and his keys with a remote that are just like mine), two of his books (the beloved Baby Einstein Dog Book and the Animals Book), a TV that had no sound but that got PBS and a set of Legos from the waiting room. We waltzed, we talked, we read the books, we took Trotter's blood pressure, we washed our hands, we made balloons from the exam gloves and we ate cheddar bunnies, yogurt, pretzels and animal crackers. And fruit leather. We wallked down the hall and weighed Jack (28 pounds). We watched Zoboomafoo on PBS and every animal that came on, Jack announced "Ditsy [Sydney]! Dog!" since 'dog' is his new word.
Vocabulary
In addition to 'dog', when we came home from the Y this morning, Sydney greeted us at the front door and Jack announced "Ga Gul!", that is, "Good Girl!" and I was very excited at the duosyllabism.
A Little Story
A while back, I wrote about meeting the very old Asian couple who were with a baby I assumed was their grandson and the old man proclaiming, "President!" when he saw Jack. When Kevin, Jack and I were in the Public Garden in Boston this spring, we were sharing a bench with another couple and their baby. They were visiting from Europe. At one point, Jack ran away from Kevin and headed towards the Starbucks on the corner of Charles and Beacon and Kevin said to the man, "Guess he's going to get coffee." And the man replied, "No. He is off to conquer the world."
And he is.
9:10:47 PM 
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