Friday, March 4, 2011

That Annual General Physical Medical Examination!

       Today I had the good fortune to have my annual general physical medical examination!

       Now I'm not a big fan of the annual general. I get it for two reasons. 1) It keeps the decibel level down a bit because Home Farm Girl is adamant that the annual mandatory. 2) Way back in the reptilian part of my brain is something that tells me the annual general might be important.

      Now I started with the disliked annual long ago and it's been done at least 25 years. I'm not sure that it has been of any value. So far they haven't found anything! Well maybe that's a good thing and it shows that I am very fortunate to have good health. Or maybe I am just lacking period. Now if they did find something , would I blame the medical for the problem.

     A few days ago a friend was taking two five gallon water jugs into her house. And a funny thing happened! Something went twinge in her back! She was telling a friend that she was getting an Xray on her back. Her friend's reply was don't get an Xray on your back! Get one on your head! A second friend was there and he said don't waste the time for a head Xray because there's nothing there! I feel like this sometime.

    Now I've had my Doc for about 35 years. He's been a good Doc and still is. But he's my age and I know that there are little pieces of the brain that aren't quite as sharp. I started to reflect on his performance and the state of our health care. Home Farm Girl has developed a nasty foot problem which really interferes with her walking. A toe is badly out of joint. One surgeon has 500 on his waiting list and will not take anybody. For another guy there's a two year time to get an appointment.

     When I think back to when my Doc was young things got done right on the spot. The Docs ruled the hospital. What they said got done. If you were referred it, was almost immediate. Docs were allowed to run things and they got things done. They were proud of their performance. Now the bean counters run the hospital and I'm sure docs feel unwelcome in the place. My Doc spends very little time at the hospital. He stays in his office shuffling patients in and out. Not a very satisfying practice for him as he is only involved in such a small part of medical care.

     So let the docs run things and we will be taken care of. 

     Oh yeah! Thanks for the 25 or so annual physical examinations and 35 years of medical care!