Why I might spare my Doctor

@TheHorse (205581)
Walnut Creek, California
April 21, 2017 6:40pm CST
Yesterday, as I was picking up my late prescription, who did I run into, eating a Subway sandwich right next to my illegal snow peas? My Doctor! I invited myself to join him and sat down. I confessed growing the snow peas as a way of getting back at Kaiser. I told him how his Assistant had screwed up, leading me to have to drive 10 miles to Kaiser on two separate occasions. Finally, I asked him how many patients he has. He responded that he wasn't sure. About a hundred, I asked? He chuckled. More like nine-hundred, he replied. Nine-hundred patients? No wonder I'm treated like a number! I have a hard time remembering the names of 40 students! I decided not to invite him over for dinner. It's the system that's too big and impersonal. I just hope, if I ever need an organ operated on, that they choose the right one.
15 people like this
17 responses
Pat Z Anthony
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
22 Apr 17
It is true that we are just numbers. Doctors don't really seem to examine patients, do they? It's more like they look at a list of complaints and give a prescription that seems to fit symptoms.
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205581)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Apr 17
Yes, they use "algorithms," like computers.
Anna
@LadyDuck (457918)
• Switzerland
22 Apr 17
I have read horrible stories of people who have been amputated the wrong leg. Better to try to stay healthy.
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (457918)
• Switzerland
23 Apr 17
@TheHorse Having a brother who is a doctor I know how much we must avoid them. He also has about a thousand patients, I asked him how can you remember all of them, he replied "I remember the girls who are worth a second look", not very professional.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205581)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Apr 17
That's my intention! This morning, I've been sitting on my fatty acids a bit too long.
1 person likes this
@n.J
@Iam_jauntyjen (4951)
•
12 May 17
OMG!!!!
2 people like this
Always smiling
@allknowing (130066)
• India
22 Apr 17
Population explosion is what came to my mind when your doctor said he had nine hundred plus patients.
1 person likes this
Always smiling
@allknowing (130066)
• India
22 Apr 17
@TheHorse Gone are the days when we could trust these people without batting an eyelid
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205581)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Apr 17
@allknowing We're just pawns in their money making game.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205581)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Apr 17
Yeah, I thought of that too. But I think of the $$$ they're making when talking to machines masquerading as humans on the phone.
1 person likes this
divalounger
@divalounger (5849)
• United States
12 May 17
Wow--that many! How do they ever keep their patients straight?
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205581)
• Walnut Creek, California
12 May 17
I doubt they do, until they read their charts.
Marlina
@marlina (154166)
• Canada
22 Apr 17
Doctors sure want to have a huge list of patients these days. The have some investments to make.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205581)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Apr 17
I hadn't thought the number would be that high. I wonder if they ever suffer from burnout.
Bhem
@JustBhem (70555)
• Davao, Philippines
22 Apr 17
That is why I'd rather have check up in the center where I have my HD rather than going to my Doctor, because sometimes all I get is the same thing as before.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205581)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Apr 17
What is HD?
1 person likes this
Bhem
@JustBhem (70555)
• Davao, Philippines
22 Apr 17
@TheHorse HD stands for HemoDialysis.
Go Crossbones
@crossbones27 (48417)
• Mojave, California
22 Apr 17
Indeed, and get we need more doctors and nurses is what they always tell us, but they designed the system that way so they can max out profits. That is a lot of people to see. I do get people's professional rudeness at times. They give us way to much work in order to make a living these days. Would be much better if things were more balanced out and we focused less on profits. Money is not everything.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205581)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Apr 17
Yeah, I forgive those who are rude at "lower levels." But I'm usually able to get a smile out of them.
1 person likes this
Happy Lady and Freya the Catblog Cat
@Jackalyn (7559)
• Oxford, England
22 Apr 17
Doctors seem to be organised by their receptionists. It is as if you have to fight them to see a doctor.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205581)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Apr 17
The receptionists I've dealt with have been nice. But I get frustrated when Kaiser says "You can email your doctor!" But all said emails are rerouted to an "Assistant" who doesn't speak English and give nonsensical responses.
1 person likes this
Kimberley
@mom210 (9036)
• United States
22 Apr 17
my goodness that is a lot of people to remember. They must have excellent memories, seems like the kids Dr remembers them, but probably not really
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205581)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Apr 17
I remember someone once I see them. Maybe pediatricians' memories come back to them once they've reviewed the chart and see the kids.
1 person likes this
Courtney
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
22 Apr 17
No wonder my doctor stinks at helping me.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205581)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Apr 17
I reckon we live in an "it's all about the money" world.
1 person likes this
Angie
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
22 Apr 17
But when the doctor sees us they remember our faces and what we whine about
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205581)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Apr 17
Maybe our charts help them out a bit.
Scott Ganschow
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
22 Apr 17
Talk about overworked. It's a wonder you can get in to see him.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205581)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Apr 17
I reckon many of his patients are like me and don't see him that often.
1 person likes this
Riteesh Patidar
@riteeshpatidar9026 (504)
•
22 Apr 17
Yes you are right,some doctors are really impersonal. They are fake as well. Why did you went to the doctor.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205581)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Apr 17
I think I stumbled upon him after my previous doctor was fired for being too impersonal.
Ruby Hawk
@RubyHawk (99425)
• Atlanta, Georgia
22 Apr 17
I think doctors are allowed about 10 minutes with each patient. I can't trust our healthcare. I've had several surgeries and so far I've been lucky.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205581)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Apr 17
I think the specialists are better than the GPs. I had knee surgery 15 years ago (ACL replacement), and my knee is fine. It cost me something like $5.
Alfredo Rossi
@amadeo (111948)
• United States
21 Apr 17
You Got me on this one.Not sure what I am reading.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205581)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Apr 17
Well, I have a tendency to eat those who make me mad, kind of like Hannibal. My Doctor has made me mad, because he's so impersonal, but I didn't realize he had 900 patients to try and remember.
1 person likes this
April
@thislittlepennyearns (58119)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
21 Apr 17
Holy cow. I would of guessed maybe one hundred or two pushing it.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205581)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Apr 17
Yeah. Nine-hundred seems a like a lot. But of course, most of his patients only see him a couple of times a year, like me. I haven't stopped to do the math. I've just decided not to eat him with rice.
Kandase
@Kandae11 (53679)
•
22 Apr 17
Nine hundred is a bit much. He must be very good.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205581)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Apr 17
I'm not sure how to define "very good." If he were "very good," I'd feel like he cared about me, my cortisol levels would be reduced, my T-cells would be stronger, and I'd get sick even less often than I do.