3.1.99
You should see me right now. I'm sitting behind the mission library table that I use as a desk at a jaunty angle, with my left foot resting on the corner.
Seems that yesterday, I decided to sprain the ligaments of my foot. The whole damn top of my foot is swollen, purple with haematoma, and when I move it just so, hurts all to hell. My trip to the emergency room, x-rays and the nice Jewish MD that told me that my foot was all screwed up cost me $7, and $2 for parking. I figure the same on the outside with "Traditional" insurance would have run closer to $250 to $300 after being informed that my suspected stress fracture was not indeed an emergency.
Isn't America great? Some would argue that HMO's deprive their members of proper medical care, and I do have to agree with some of their errors. I personally have not been maltreated, but can imagine how it might occur. Whenever someone sees me other than my primary care physician, Dr. Lum, I always make a point of describing whatever malady I might have in the most flowery medical terminology. An acneform pustule is really a zit. This way, the practitioner knows that he is not dealing with some amateur.
This afternoon, when Dr. Whazzizname walked in and asked "What brings you to the emergency room today, Mr. Campbell?" I answered "It's this huge ass haematoma on my left foot. I'd like to rule out a stress fracture."
His next question was "Where do you work?" and so forth. I received adequate and courteous care, most likely because he knew that I wasn't going to accept "Two aspirin and call me in the morning."
Yet, I have to defend my dear old Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Region. They were actually ranked as one of the best HMO's in the country. That's quite an accomplishment, considering that we exist here on the most isolated land mass in the world. I also realize the dangers of the uninitiated walking in off the street complaining of chest pain. Happened to a friend of mine.
This woman that I work for is in her mid fifties, smokes, is overweight, and has an extraordinary amount of stress in her life. Her gift is that she is one of the most amazingly giving women that have walked this planet. You simply can't not like her. One day, after single-handedly moving her household into new digs, (up a zillion stairs, I might add.) she became short of breath, and was having mild pain in her chest. Naturally, she shrugged it off, owing it to simple exhaustion.
The pain continued, and at someone's insistence, she was driven to the emergency department. "You've had a heart attack, and there is evidence of an old infarct."
Whoa.
They discharged her late in the day. (Oops!) Needless to say, she was happily back on their doorstep with the same symptoms. This time an angiogram was run, which provided the real story. 80% blockage. In case your math isn't so hot, that means that her heart is only receiving 20% of the blood that it ought to. That's bad. It leads to death of the heart muscle, resulting in what is called a myocardial infarct, AKA heart attack.
Now, it is a month later, and she is much, much better. Not yet back to work, but that is secondary. I'm more concerned with live friends than with dead employees.
Life...enjoy it while it lasts, because too soon it will all perish. Preserve your health. Have lots of sex.
Seems that yesterday, I decided to sprain the ligaments of my foot. The whole damn top of my foot is swollen, purple with haematoma, and when I move it just so, hurts all to hell. My trip to the emergency room, x-rays and the nice Jewish MD that told me that my foot was all screwed up cost me $7, and $2 for parking. I figure the same on the outside with "Traditional" insurance would have run closer to $250 to $300 after being informed that my suspected stress fracture was not indeed an emergency.
Isn't America great? Some would argue that HMO's deprive their members of proper medical care, and I do have to agree with some of their errors. I personally have not been maltreated, but can imagine how it might occur. Whenever someone sees me other than my primary care physician, Dr. Lum, I always make a point of describing whatever malady I might have in the most flowery medical terminology. An acneform pustule is really a zit. This way, the practitioner knows that he is not dealing with some amateur.
This afternoon, when Dr. Whazzizname walked in and asked "What brings you to the emergency room today, Mr. Campbell?" I answered "It's this huge ass haematoma on my left foot. I'd like to rule out a stress fracture."
His next question was "Where do you work?" and so forth. I received adequate and courteous care, most likely because he knew that I wasn't going to accept "Two aspirin and call me in the morning."
Yet, I have to defend my dear old Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Region. They were actually ranked as one of the best HMO's in the country. That's quite an accomplishment, considering that we exist here on the most isolated land mass in the world. I also realize the dangers of the uninitiated walking in off the street complaining of chest pain. Happened to a friend of mine.
This woman that I work for is in her mid fifties, smokes, is overweight, and has an extraordinary amount of stress in her life. Her gift is that she is one of the most amazingly giving women that have walked this planet. You simply can't not like her. One day, after single-handedly moving her household into new digs, (up a zillion stairs, I might add.) she became short of breath, and was having mild pain in her chest. Naturally, she shrugged it off, owing it to simple exhaustion.
The pain continued, and at someone's insistence, she was driven to the emergency department. "You've had a heart attack, and there is evidence of an old infarct."
Whoa.
They discharged her late in the day. (Oops!) Needless to say, she was happily back on their doorstep with the same symptoms. This time an angiogram was run, which provided the real story. 80% blockage. In case your math isn't so hot, that means that her heart is only receiving 20% of the blood that it ought to. That's bad. It leads to death of the heart muscle, resulting in what is called a myocardial infarct, AKA heart attack.
Now, it is a month later, and she is much, much better. Not yet back to work, but that is secondary. I'm more concerned with live friends than with dead employees.
Life...enjoy it while it lasts, because too soon it will all perish. Preserve your health. Have lots of sex.
One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble.
--Chess
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