Is there a Doctor in the House?

I'm so glad my son received the Flu mist this year. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about flu vaccines. Ethan had influenza A a couple of years ago and it was the most miserable experience for all of us in recent memory and I vowed to get my children vaccinated from that point forward. The flu mist is apparently a kinder, gentler vaccination. No shots, no bandaids . . . oh and no dead virus. Yeah, the flu mist contains a weakened LIVE virus I've since been informed. So pardon my skepticism if the flu mist (that they give out for free in the elementary school to keep kids healthy and in school) is a prime suspect in my household. One to four members of my household have been ill since November 10th. That is just three days after Ethan received the mist. He has subsequently missed 4 days of school and we have paid over $100 in office visit copays and I'd guess about that much in prescription and OTC medication, not to mention the $200 we'll likely be billed for Matt's chest X-ray to rule out pneumonia. Some free vaccine.

This morning we had another man down. Elliot, who appeared on the upswing the past week, suddenly came down with a fever. As Ethan had developed a secondary infection (ear) and Matt as well (bronchitis), I knew the routine. I called our family practice. Being Friday, they were unable to get me in until very late in the day. I took the appointment, but called the pediatrician who couldn't do much better. So, I decided to try our former family practice which we left last year when the doctor we liked left. Little did I know I was about to be scolded.

He already has an appointment with the family practice.

Yes, I know, I was hoping to get one sooner with you. How do you know he has an appointment?

Our practices are both owned by the hospital and the records are shared. I show you have an appointment this afternoon. You can't just jump around to different doctors.

So I'd have to have my records transferred back if I wanted him seen this morning?

That would be the only way to do it.

Okay, is there an urgent care clinic near by?

Yes.

So, I could take him to a doctor at the urgent care clinic who's never seen him before and has no records, but not to your practice where he has been seen before and obviously has some records on file?

That's up to you.

You're kidding. We saw a doctor there last year. It's not like he's seen the new doctor a whole lot.

I show he's been in 4 times this year.

Big brother now aren't we? So he had a diaper rash, it's not like he's chronically ill. So, if I wanted to transfer his records, do you even have an appointment available?

With the nurse practicioner.

Thank you, I think I'll call the urgent care clinic.

I knew there was a reason we left that clinic.

Perhaps someone could explain to me the difference between seeing a doctor within a practice who is not my doctor, because he is available, and seeing a doctor in a clinic owned by the same people that obviously has my records in their system? And who is working for whom here anyway? Isn't it my (and my insurance company's) money that pays these bozos? Why can't I just switch doctors lady? You still get paid, Miz Gatekeeper--NO DOCTOR FOR YOU!!!

So, I spent a couple of hours at the urgent care clinic, with a feverish child asleep on my lap, so they could tell me he has an ear infection and give me a prescription for an antibiotic. I could have told you that and saved everyone the trouble.

I was the last one to fall victim to the initial virus, and am the only one not yet in round two. Knock on something will ya?