Where Has All The Clapping Gone?

Only a little while ago we were seeing reports of people opening their windows during the hospital shift changes. Hundreds, millions of people clapping, whistling, making music. All for the work that our healthcare workers, our first responders, our medical researchers were doing. What in the world made us go from celebrating to being severely critical? I am honestly beyond appalled.

Do you feel the “I am about to snap” feeling? Well, you would be correct.

The past two weeks I have had a few normal doctors appointments, simple routine check-ups. And I have never seen a shortage of staff like there is right now. It’s discouraging to see. Because when you have nine doctors that you at least see once a year, some more than that, you know the staff, the nurses, the environment. But when I have gone into my appointments lately, the only person I have known is my doctor/nurse practitioner. And the answer I am hearing the most, about why these places are short staffed, is because of the continuous complaining about things that are so simple. And honestly, I can’t blame them, it would rub me the wrong way too!

The real consequence of these actions, whether or not you have participated in the complaining or have participated in doing the right thing, is that the hospitals are at capacity. So if you have chronic health needs and you simply get a virus and need fluids, then you’re the one that fears the moment that you need the ER or urgent care, and there is simply no where that has even a stretcher and fluids for you. (this is happening!)

So I have come up with: 34 Years, 34 Lessons from the Clinic Waiting Room

NURSES: They are your key for getting your questions and needs relayed to the doctor/NP/PA. Have your questions written down and ready, and give them to the nurse who checks your vitals. They also appreciate a list of your medications 😊 Especially if you have a lot!
DOCTORS, NURSE PRACTITIONERS, PHYSICIANS ASSISTANTS: Fortunately I have grown up in clinics, and this fact was just in my brain. But as I started to help with my grandparents, I realized that there was confusion on how much time the doctor/NP/PA truly had with each patient. In reality, on most occasions they only have 15 minutes. Sometimes that includes time that they have been looking over your records. So the considerate thing to do is to be ready – make sure you have given the nurse all your correct information-meds, questions, any updated medical/job/living information. So that when your doctor/NP/PA comes in they can address exactly what you are there for.
TEACHING HOSPITALS, STUDENTS, RESIDENTS, INTERNS: I don’t know anything different 😊 I honestly like being at a teaching hospital. Nine times out of ten these students/residents/interns have new information, or it’s simply fresh on their mind. I’ve had some that I have taught a few things, crazy right?!? And some have caught things that the doctor/NP/PA haven’t caught! It sometimes makes the visit longer, but it is definitely a positive addition.
LAB TECHS AND IV SPECIALISTS: Oh good golly! Praise Jesus, Hallelujah! I have had my experiences… but when you get a wonderful lab tech, its a beautiful thing! I have no fear of needles or blood, but it doesn’t hurt to have a tech with a sense of humor! They have a difficult job, making sure people don’t pass out, trying to distract, I pray for them every time I am in the lab. And IV specialists… My paw-paw and my Lucy, only by God’s might hands making the hands of these specialists did they ever get an IV!!! I cried every time they succeeded!
RADIOLOGY TECHS: Oh boy, I know there are some out there with stories on me! God bless them! There was a whole team of them holding Lucy down for a CT, and to this day I can see their faces. True life savers. I will take a deep breath in and hold it hold it hold it and exhale as many times as you need me too! You have my respect!
FINANCIAL COUNSELORS WITHIN THE HOSPITAL: There are so many unseen scenarios that go on in the clinics and the hospital. I personally had a hard experience with insurance when my little one came along. The financial counselor was a true gift. These counselors are there, don’t hesitate to find them and talk to them!
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF: BILLING, INSURANCE, RECORDS: This staff rarely gets the recognition they deserve! It would be the last job I would want ever! So maybe that’s why I appreciate them so much! Filing claims, sending bills, documenting records…
FRONT DESK: Their job is to check you in, verify your information, check your insurance, get any forms filled out, and let the nurses station know you are waiting. They CANNOT control your wait time, they can’t control why your doctor may be running behind and another doctor is not, they also cannot make the seats more comfortable, or serve you a 10 course meal. ITS NOT THEIR JOB. They do have to make sure you are wearing a mask over your NOSE AND MOUTH, come on people, common sense 😔
ASSISTANTS: If you are with your doctors for as long as I have been, you find out that they have assistants. And those assistants make things happen. Like prior authorization forms, appointments that the call center can’t see. They are so awesome!!!
ERS: I do everything I know to do to avoid the emergency room. They make me anxious for real valid reasons. ERs are for EMERGENCIES! If whatever you are dealing with can be taken care of at a primary care or urgent care, please do so. There are others that need the ER for chronic and life threatening situations. Don’t be making them wait until it becomes critical or fatal.
URGENT CARES: Most all urgent cares now have x-ray machines. They have just about everything that can at least “patch” the issue, is non-life threatening, until you can get somewhere else. And you can see most wait times and check in online on your way!
MY CHART: I am not sure if all hospitals use my chart, but I am sure they use some sort of digital record keeping. Take it from someone who has a medical id # that has a spot in the basement of the clinics/hospital! This is a huge help! Use it!
VOLUNTEERS: They are there to HELP! Use them, don’t abuse them. Appreciate them!
MAINTENANCE: Take time to stop. Look at them in their eyes. And smile and say thank you. They are keeping you safe and well! Just as much as any medical staff!
MEDICINE: It works! Not every medicine works the same for every person. And not every person needs medicine. I personally have to have medicine to keep my diagnosis under control. Along with that I have to know my body, pay attention to what I eat, the weather, my sleep patterns, my environment, etc.
VACCINES: These work too! I’m not interested in debating. I am very firm in my stand on vaccines. Which is: There now are vaccines that my grandparents would have given anything for. There are vaccines now that my parents would have given anything for. There are vaccines now that quite possibly could have prevented some of my chronic daily struggles. But they were not available, and now they are. I believe that being vaccinated, is the considerate thing to do for myself and for others I come in contact with. Period.
PHARMACISTS & PHARMACY TECHS: They are also low on staff. I have to remind myself that they are human too. And they have a lot weighing on them, with all the protocols and shipping pressure. Be patient, submit your medications for refill at least 3-4 days ahead of time.
INSURANCE & INSURANCE AGENTS: I am the first to admit, I have a love/hate relationship with insurance. Although the love outweighs the hate. Gotta Have it! I was mislead one year and purchased the wrong plan/company. 31 years and I couldn’t see my doctors without paying out of pocket. Thankfully I have awesome doctors who hung in there with me and we figured it out. Never will I ever not have an insurance agent help me with my insurance from now on! I still get nauseous when I think about it!
MEDICAL NOTEBOOK: If you have more than one doctor/NP/PA, I highly recommend making a medical notebook. Nothing fancy. For example: Every time I go to a doctor, a “Visit Summary” is posted on my chart (you can ask them to print this in the office too), I print it and slide it into a sheet protector, each sheet protector holds one Visit summary and is labeled “Primary Care: Last Visit Summary” “Asthma/Allergy: Last Visit Summary” and so on. This helps you and it will help any family or friends if they need to reference real quick. AARP also has some awesome free printables- like “to ask the doctor,” “medications,” etc. Also include or at least let someone in your family know your login and password to your medical My Chart or whatever your doctor uses.
SIMPLE GENUINE KIND SMILE: It doesn’t take much, and they may not be able to see your smile right now, but your eyes can do the speaking. You could be making the day for everyone in the waiting room- it’s true!
LEARNED ADVOCACY: When you have sat in waiting rooms, gone to doctors appointments, been in the hospital, been with people in the hospital, you come to learn the word ADVOCATE. And you can choose to learn to be one or not. I would encourage you to learn to be one, for yourself and for others! Being an advocate DOES NOT mean yelling, demanding, being rude, being disruptive. Being an advocate DOES mean educating yourself on medicine, medical procedures, diagnosis, lab tests, insurance. It means trusting your gut, trusting your doctor, and making the right decision for you. It means if the test, procedure, medicine, etc doesn’t seem right for you, you ask more questions, and you have to right to say “yes” or “no.” It means when you don’t feel as if the correct care is being offered you respectfully speak up and don’t back down. You know you. Make sure who you are advocating for wants you to do so.
COMFY CHAIRS: The sweet sweet pleasure of a comfy chair in a waiting room or exam room. Very few, but when you find it… 💕
SNACK BARS – SNACK CARTS: When the children’s clinics were in the basement, volunteers would come around with snack carts! Talk about happy! After a long day of waiting and getting poked and prodded, a good ole candy bar… priceless!
HUMOR: If you know me at all, you know that when I get laughing about something I shouldn’t be laughing about, it just gets worse. Well, 34 years of waiting rooms, there are PLENTY of stories! If you don’t have your humor and your funny bone ready to go, you will never survive! Laugh until you cry and sweat and pee!
CONVERSATIONS: I treasure the people and the conversations we have had over the years. So many different life stories, lessons and wisdom learned. Open yourself up to these.
ICE MACHINES: Nothing like finding a good ice machine! An instant refresher!
ART! COLOR! So important! You can get quite depressed when everything looks the same and is all blah. It makes such a difference when there is an effort made! Recognize it and be thankful!
DIM LIGHTING: I really can’t stand fluorescent lighting. It triggers migraines and there is just something that makes my skin crawl. So when I walk into an office with dim lighting, it’s like there is hope for all offices!
GOOD BOOKS: Whether its coloring, word searches, puzzles, or just books to read, you develop an appreciation of a good book. How it feels, the softness of the pages… 😊
CUTE BAG/BOOK BAG: You have to have a fun bag! You are packing for anywhere between two hours to eight hours to a possible hospital stay. You have to have snacks, drinks, meds, extra clothes, books, notebook, pens, headphones, jacket, and the list goes on…
LISTEN & HEAR: you’ve got to be ready to truly listen and fully hear. Otherwise, you are wasting your time and theirs and the other patients!
STICK WITH YOUR DOCTOR(S): The best care comes when you get continual care from your same care team. Yes, I understand once in a while there is a doctor that you just can’t get on the same page with, been there done that. But believe me, doctor hopping is frowned upon, and will be taken into consideration in the action for your care plan.
BONDS BUILT WITH THOSE WHO ARE WITH YOU FOR THE “LONG HAUL” The people in my life who have been there with me, the appointments, the bathroom floor, the long sleepless nights, the tears and hugs. They know exactly what to do and when. Get a wet washcloth. Certain medicine. Grab my glasses. Pull my hair back. They know my prescriptions and what they are for. They know my doctors and what they treat. I don’t want to imagine them NOT being there, but I also know that they have been there this far, and they will continue to be there, and they have equipped me for when they may not be there. And I can rest in that. (I just hope it doesn’t happen😊)
MOST IMPORTANTLY, DO SOMETHING FUN: After you have waited, and have seen the doctor, you have a grateful heart for the care you have received, and you have opened you eyes to see what God has abundantly provided for you, go get something fun to eat or go shopping! Or both!

Life doesn’t have to be such a drag! Do today! Yes, today you must wear a mask in the doctors office. Im not a fan of the mask either, it is protecting us though, AND complaining ain’t getting us anywhere, but “short staffed.”

I am going to ask you to PLEASE consider getting vaccinated! Especially, for COVID! There are many people not being able to get the care they need when they are going to the ER, because beds are being taken by COVID patients. This week a pediatric unit closed so that it could be converted to a COVID unit. This infuriates me of course, because kids are being DENYED care. And on top of that respiratory viruses are on the rise for children.

One day, will we look back and see how arrogant we were about masks and vaccines and simple directions from those who have studied these things for years? I have a gut-wrenching feeling we will, I am disgusted now…

The complaining and nagging and bickering MUST stop. At this rate our children’s life expectancy is plummeting. Disgraceful.

It’s time to stand up and begin to respect ALL! The disrespect is not ok and has got to go!

ESPECIALLY FROM THE LIPS OF THOSE WHO CLAIM TO BE PART OF WHAT GOD CALLS “THE CHURCH!”

Life Book of the Week: “Nice Girls Don’t Change the World” by Lynne Hybels (just thought this one was fitting for today😊)