Wednesday, November 4, 2009
My mass following! :)
Because I am such a novice with the blogging business I have no idea on how to tell my friends "how to" become a follower! I have many friends that enjoy my writings but where do you go from there? I have noticed one very lonely follower and I am hoping she will enlighten me !! thanks!
Skip the wait at the doctor's office!
I read this article online today and thought it was good enough to post..Most of this makes sense and is good advise BUT being in the field for close to 20 years , there is always that 'gray area' with my comments in red!
Skip the Wait at the Doctor’s Office.
Get better care and faster service with these tips:
You made an appointment to see your doctor weeks ago and arrived at her office on time. So why are you stuck sitting in the waiting room for more than an hour? "We have a broken system, and many doctors are packing their schedules to make ends meet," says L. Gordon Moore, MD, a family care practitioner and faculty member for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. and that is true. Seeing 30 plus patients a day will almost surely create the schedule to fail from the moment the doors open. Be aware that person before you with the "simple' cough could turn to an admission to the hospital and that 10 minute appointment just sent the doctor's schedule behind 30 minutes.
Even the most punctual among us are late on occasion, so waiting 15 to 20 minutes to see your doctor isn't a big deal. But waiting longer than that isn't just annoying; it could actually hurt your health. "Research shows that patients who spend too long in waiting rooms are less likely to seek the follow-up care that they need," Dr. Moore explains. yes, very true you find yourself not wanting to come back and deal with it and not only that, the patient is so annoyed and upset his pressure rises and he becomes angered and one of those 'problem patients', not quite fair is it?. While the key to solving the problem of long waits primarily lies in the hands of doctors, there are some things patients can do. Try these tips for speedier service:
1. Ask for the first appointment of the day. You will almost always be seen promptly if there's no one in line in front of you. very true!
2. Get your checkups in the off-season. When scheduling a routine appointment, ask the doctor or her office staff if there's a time of year that tends to be slow, says Martha V. White, MD, research director for the Institute for Asthma and Allergy in Wheaton, Maryland. "For some practices, summer is relatively quiet, but ‘seasonality' varies by location and specialty," she says. summer IS better
3. Call ahead. Before you head out, call the doctor's office and ask if he's running on time, suggests Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, MD, an internist in Atlanta. If you find out he's currently 30 minutes behind schedule, you can leave your home or office a little later instead of spending that time flipping through expired magazines in the waiting room. which can work for you or against you! Most large practices don't like to commit to that in case the doctor suddenly gets back on track then he wonder's where his patients are.Plus there are patients that complain about the schedule, decide to come in later because they assume the doctor is 'always ' late, then the patient gets a late fee because he was 15 minutes late or worse yet, a 'no show' fee because he didn't show up for 30 minutes and was dropped from the schedule! and of course the pressure rises again, the anger, you get the picture.
4. Always make an appointment. Some patients who feel sick just show up at their doctor's office, and many places will try to accommodate patients even if they haven't made an appointment. But without an appointment, the wait will be longer because the doctor won't be expecting you and will have to squeeze you in between other patients, says Robert Carr, MD, a family physician in Southbury, Connecticut. If it's really urgent, go to the ER. yes, chest pain, acute pain go immediately, but waiting in the ER for flu symptoms, and other primary care aliments you will find you will wait hours upon hours for an over tired doctor that doesn't know any of your history, and the charges are through the roof!. If its not life threatening, stick it out and wait for your personal doctor.
5. Find a new doctor. If your doc is perpetually late and you don't have time to wait-and really, who does?--it's probably time for a change. When shopping for a new doctor, remember to ask whether the doctor usually runs on time (in addition to all those important questions about credentials and bedside manner). One quick way to find this out, says Dr. Moore, is to ask the receptionist how essential it is that you snag the first appointment of the day. "If she highly recommends it, that's a bad sign. If she says it doesn't make a difference, that's good because it means the doctor is generally prompt all day long." good advise, but most receptionist's won't honestly know how to answer that question without feeling they will be giving a negative light to their practice. Word of mouth is usually the way to an honest answer!
And finally, be reasonable. While your time is valuable and an organized doctor should allow ample time in her schedule to deal with sick patients who need same-day care, emergencies do happen.all the time! "I'll never forget the man who, while I was on my knees working on a woman who had collapsed in the hall, walked to within 10 feet of me and asked when I was going to see him," says Dr. White. "Even if you don't feel well or you have pressing business, there may be somebody else who is even more ill or has more pressing needs." One of the most common statements I heard from patients was " My time is just as valuable" and in the big picture that IS true, but leave room for margins of error and you will be more peaceful. If you can't and life is just to hurried for you that day then schedule your appointments on a day off. Remember , you could be the one that collapsed and that urgent care could be saving your life..The golden rule!
Skip the Wait at the Doctor’s Office.
Get better care and faster service with these tips:
You made an appointment to see your doctor weeks ago and arrived at her office on time. So why are you stuck sitting in the waiting room for more than an hour? "We have a broken system, and many doctors are packing their schedules to make ends meet," says L. Gordon Moore, MD, a family care practitioner and faculty member for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. and that is true. Seeing 30 plus patients a day will almost surely create the schedule to fail from the moment the doors open. Be aware that person before you with the "simple' cough could turn to an admission to the hospital and that 10 minute appointment just sent the doctor's schedule behind 30 minutes.
Even the most punctual among us are late on occasion, so waiting 15 to 20 minutes to see your doctor isn't a big deal. But waiting longer than that isn't just annoying; it could actually hurt your health. "Research shows that patients who spend too long in waiting rooms are less likely to seek the follow-up care that they need," Dr. Moore explains. yes, very true you find yourself not wanting to come back and deal with it and not only that, the patient is so annoyed and upset his pressure rises and he becomes angered and one of those 'problem patients', not quite fair is it?. While the key to solving the problem of long waits primarily lies in the hands of doctors, there are some things patients can do. Try these tips for speedier service:
1. Ask for the first appointment of the day. You will almost always be seen promptly if there's no one in line in front of you. very true!
2. Get your checkups in the off-season. When scheduling a routine appointment, ask the doctor or her office staff if there's a time of year that tends to be slow, says Martha V. White, MD, research director for the Institute for Asthma and Allergy in Wheaton, Maryland. "For some practices, summer is relatively quiet, but ‘seasonality' varies by location and specialty," she says. summer IS better
3. Call ahead. Before you head out, call the doctor's office and ask if he's running on time, suggests Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, MD, an internist in Atlanta. If you find out he's currently 30 minutes behind schedule, you can leave your home or office a little later instead of spending that time flipping through expired magazines in the waiting room. which can work for you or against you! Most large practices don't like to commit to that in case the doctor suddenly gets back on track then he wonder's where his patients are.Plus there are patients that complain about the schedule, decide to come in later because they assume the doctor is 'always ' late, then the patient gets a late fee because he was 15 minutes late or worse yet, a 'no show' fee because he didn't show up for 30 minutes and was dropped from the schedule! and of course the pressure rises again, the anger, you get the picture.
4. Always make an appointment. Some patients who feel sick just show up at their doctor's office, and many places will try to accommodate patients even if they haven't made an appointment. But without an appointment, the wait will be longer because the doctor won't be expecting you and will have to squeeze you in between other patients, says Robert Carr, MD, a family physician in Southbury, Connecticut. If it's really urgent, go to the ER. yes, chest pain, acute pain go immediately, but waiting in the ER for flu symptoms, and other primary care aliments you will find you will wait hours upon hours for an over tired doctor that doesn't know any of your history, and the charges are through the roof!. If its not life threatening, stick it out and wait for your personal doctor.
5. Find a new doctor. If your doc is perpetually late and you don't have time to wait-and really, who does?--it's probably time for a change. When shopping for a new doctor, remember to ask whether the doctor usually runs on time (in addition to all those important questions about credentials and bedside manner). One quick way to find this out, says Dr. Moore, is to ask the receptionist how essential it is that you snag the first appointment of the day. "If she highly recommends it, that's a bad sign. If she says it doesn't make a difference, that's good because it means the doctor is generally prompt all day long." good advise, but most receptionist's won't honestly know how to answer that question without feeling they will be giving a negative light to their practice. Word of mouth is usually the way to an honest answer!
And finally, be reasonable. While your time is valuable and an organized doctor should allow ample time in her schedule to deal with sick patients who need same-day care, emergencies do happen.all the time! "I'll never forget the man who, while I was on my knees working on a woman who had collapsed in the hall, walked to within 10 feet of me and asked when I was going to see him," says Dr. White. "Even if you don't feel well or you have pressing business, there may be somebody else who is even more ill or has more pressing needs." One of the most common statements I heard from patients was " My time is just as valuable" and in the big picture that IS true, but leave room for margins of error and you will be more peaceful. If you can't and life is just to hurried for you that day then schedule your appointments on a day off. Remember , you could be the one that collapsed and that urgent care could be saving your life..The golden rule!
Monday, November 2, 2009
"This is it"
Well I saw Michael Jackson's "This is it" over the weekend. Wow, He never knew what a profound title that was. I sat mesmerized for close to 2 hours watching this master of talent. I thought "if this was just a rehearsal, I can just imagine what the real concert would have been like or should have been like"!
I wasn't a huge MJ fan but I certainly did appreciate his style. This movie captured his incredible showmanship and excellence. I never thought for one moment he was frail or sick. He danced around like a man in his 20's! There were a few times you could tell he was being helped through some 'lipsyncing' but he did say he was trying to 'save his voice' for the concert.
The thing that struck me the most was all the preparations going on for this elaborate show. The artists, dancers, musicians, decorators, fashion designers, producers and builders ..I sat there thinking the cost of all this and the way each and everyone had put their heart and soul into this man's talent. After one of these rehearsals Michael Jackson went home, couldn't sleep, took some pills, still couldn't sleep and then asked his doctor for his routine IV and went into a sleep to never wake up again. How very very sad. The whole thing kinda just made me mad ..I wasn't mad at anyone but MJ..Oh many have their opinions and rants about the doctor, and the 'yes men' surrounding Michael, and all the other reasons why he is dead, but plain and simple he was reckless with his life and the ultimate responsible person in his life that caused his death was himself. He had a great life to finish, many counted on him including his 3 young children and you can't just do whatever you want with your life and think that nothing will touch you..Cause and effect can be negative and positive and we make that choice for ourselves. We can blame everyone from his father to the doctor and everyone in between but Michael Jackson died because of the 'man in the mirror'.
The movie was great to watch to see his talent in action again, but very sad to know that behind the scenes, in his private world , he was suffering and it was his choice to shut out the people that could have helped him.
In a practical point, I hope the movie makes a boat load of money because watching that production take place I would imagine he left a huge debt and many out of work and out of income. I honestly don't blame the producers for making this movie to both honor the King of Pop and to recoup their money, it makes sense.
All in all, Michael Jackson was an incredible talent with a sad life and a tragic end and the movie honors his talents. The private side of MJ will most likely continue to be 'dishonored' by the tabloids , investigators and lawyers for years to come, and certainly not an honor fit for a King.
I wasn't a huge MJ fan but I certainly did appreciate his style. This movie captured his incredible showmanship and excellence. I never thought for one moment he was frail or sick. He danced around like a man in his 20's! There were a few times you could tell he was being helped through some 'lipsyncing' but he did say he was trying to 'save his voice' for the concert.
The thing that struck me the most was all the preparations going on for this elaborate show. The artists, dancers, musicians, decorators, fashion designers, producers and builders ..I sat there thinking the cost of all this and the way each and everyone had put their heart and soul into this man's talent. After one of these rehearsals Michael Jackson went home, couldn't sleep, took some pills, still couldn't sleep and then asked his doctor for his routine IV and went into a sleep to never wake up again. How very very sad. The whole thing kinda just made me mad ..I wasn't mad at anyone but MJ..Oh many have their opinions and rants about the doctor, and the 'yes men' surrounding Michael, and all the other reasons why he is dead, but plain and simple he was reckless with his life and the ultimate responsible person in his life that caused his death was himself. He had a great life to finish, many counted on him including his 3 young children and you can't just do whatever you want with your life and think that nothing will touch you..Cause and effect can be negative and positive and we make that choice for ourselves. We can blame everyone from his father to the doctor and everyone in between but Michael Jackson died because of the 'man in the mirror'.
The movie was great to watch to see his talent in action again, but very sad to know that behind the scenes, in his private world , he was suffering and it was his choice to shut out the people that could have helped him.
In a practical point, I hope the movie makes a boat load of money because watching that production take place I would imagine he left a huge debt and many out of work and out of income. I honestly don't blame the producers for making this movie to both honor the King of Pop and to recoup their money, it makes sense.
All in all, Michael Jackson was an incredible talent with a sad life and a tragic end and the movie honors his talents. The private side of MJ will most likely continue to be 'dishonored' by the tabloids , investigators and lawyers for years to come, and certainly not an honor fit for a King.
Friday, October 16, 2009
another day, another resume
Went out job hunting yesterday, it was awful! I was handing out my resume like it was candy on Halloween.. I even ran out! Maybe my costume was scaring people, ya know... haggered,middle aged , desperate crazy person! even went to the new Pet Supermarket by Beef O'Brady's in town, they plan on opening soon and were busy stocking shelves..Huh, what a riot...there were many others filling out applications that were at least 25 years younger then me, but all the jobs there were filled anyway, I just filled it out in case someone gets fired the first day or gets mauled by a cuddly Little bunny, hey it can happen, ever see Monty Python?!.YouTube - Monty Python Bunny Scene ..lol...I haven't filled out an application in 20 years...I doubt they would hire me anyway..tooo old!Its pretty bad when you can't even land a job working with a bunch of animals..After all ,I did work at a family practice for 15 years and that was a zoo! I thought about going to the nursing homes but changed my mind, they probably would think I was a new tenant and try checking me in, I saw myself screaming for help as they were wheeling my fat ass down the hall..not a pretty scene, so skip that , plus I hate nursing home smells! yuck! I saw an AD for a retail position at the Florida Mall at Frederick's of Hollywood but the reality of age has set in and even though it would be fun (to some degree) I could see the customers with looks on their faces of "you gotta be kidding "..not good for sales! I can't sell sex, I want a refund!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Find a job you like and you add five days to every week. ~
I went out today with a stack of resumes in search of a job. It is strange to get in the car and really not know where to go. I headed out to the medical office's I knew in the area and then just drove around 'looking'...Looking for what is the question. Surely there wasn't going to be someone standing on a corner with a sign that read " Stacy, this is it".
I have searched the wants ad' and craigslist and online job recruiters and there is little one can do once all avenue's have been exhausted. Most everyone I talked to said the same thing and it was either "we are not hiring right now" or "we are really slow right now but I will keep it on file" . Of course I walked out knowing that it was a huge possibility that my resume was tossed in the trash as soon as I left.
I have decided that middle age sucks..We might have great insights and wisdom, a lengthy resume full of experience and hard work ethics, we show a little wear and tear on the outside but our minds are sharp and because you're probably an empty nester you are no doubt available to work any day, and anytime..The problem is 'they ' just aren't into you'...The young, the beautiful, the strong, the slim and most of all the multi-lingual have the job in the bag..Heck, that usually ends up to be your boss anyway..
Well, I better get back at the hunt. Tomorrow is another day!
I have searched the wants ad' and craigslist and online job recruiters and there is little one can do once all avenue's have been exhausted. Most everyone I talked to said the same thing and it was either "we are not hiring right now" or "we are really slow right now but I will keep it on file" . Of course I walked out knowing that it was a huge possibility that my resume was tossed in the trash as soon as I left.
I have decided that middle age sucks..We might have great insights and wisdom, a lengthy resume full of experience and hard work ethics, we show a little wear and tear on the outside but our minds are sharp and because you're probably an empty nester you are no doubt available to work any day, and anytime..The problem is 'they ' just aren't into you'...The young, the beautiful, the strong, the slim and most of all the multi-lingual have the job in the bag..Heck, that usually ends up to be your boss anyway..
Well, I better get back at the hunt. Tomorrow is another day!
Friday, October 9, 2009
"I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaack!"
I have had so many people ask me where I have been lately. Well I had a job for about 2 months with a local Doctor. I had hoped that the job was going to permanent and my days of endless job hunting would be over..It wasn't to be. This was a small office with 2 doctors, one full time and one part time. There was 2 other staff members besides me..Why they wanted another person and why they hired me is still an unanswered question in my mind. I answered an AD from the doctor, had an interview with him at the local hospital and he called me and told me when to come in his office to start work. From my very first day of work it was strange. I walked to the front door and the place was closed and dark, I had to wait outside with the patients for the receptionist to arrive, she was late. When I told her and the nurse I was there to work, they just looked at each other with surprise.They had no idea I was coming, no idea why I was there and no idea what I was to do.....I should have turned around and run right then but I thought it was all rather funny and put my purse away and started in with getting to know the place. It was downhill from there....
All I can say about that job is that it turned out to be the most bizarre office I have ever worked in all my years of employment. And I have been working since I was 14 years old. I sometimes have to ask myself if I am a magnet for the strange and weird. Maybe I am. I worked in chaos, disorganization and strange everyday. I think back and wonder if I should have just stayed there and just overlooked all the bizarre around me for the paycheck, because being without work again is really horrible.BUT....everyone has their limits of what they can endure and eventually they had me working 5-10 hours a week, yep a week. And I ask again, why was I hired? I don't know... soooooo making 50 dollars a week was my final realization that this wasn't the best place for me. ..I did accomplish some necessary cleaning and straightening. I left the bathroom clean ,painted and decorated, threw away trash and broken down machinery, tried to arrange the patient charts in alphabetical order,( notice I said tried ) I cleaned the doctors office so he could walk in there and actually sit at his desk and work. I spent 2 days on my hands and knees, and hours upon hours shredding years of old records. I ended up hurting my left arm and pulling a muscle so badly that it still hurts today. Workman's comp?? lets see..........NOT!..This was an office that the doctor didn't even provide his staff fresh water to drink and a working refrigerator and you think he would have workman's comp?? so I suffer with this pain everyday as a constant reminder of my very strange encounter with a very strange office. The stories I could tell are hilarious to the absurd and everything in between. I don't want to insult anyone (much) so I will just leave it all to your own imaginations, but one day I had to take a temperature on a feverish patient and could not find a thermometer anywhere in the office. I was running around looking for one like a crazy person. The poor sick patient was probably wondering why I was such an idiot..Me too. I ended up borrowing one from the office across the hall..I knew from that point this was going to be a wild ride! Need I say more?? It just got worse after that....
So somewhere out there is a place for me (sounds like a song, ummmm) and I am at it again, checking the want Ad's daily. Today I found one that wanted a lady to sell sex toys..Oh geeez, I'm just to tired, my heart wouldn't be in it, I'm sure every time someone wanted a party I would get a headache and the sales pitch? I would fall over laughing!! "I'm fired" !!
All I can say about that job is that it turned out to be the most bizarre office I have ever worked in all my years of employment. And I have been working since I was 14 years old. I sometimes have to ask myself if I am a magnet for the strange and weird. Maybe I am. I worked in chaos, disorganization and strange everyday. I think back and wonder if I should have just stayed there and just overlooked all the bizarre around me for the paycheck, because being without work again is really horrible.BUT....everyone has their limits of what they can endure and eventually they had me working 5-10 hours a week, yep a week. And I ask again, why was I hired? I don't know... soooooo making 50 dollars a week was my final realization that this wasn't the best place for me. ..I did accomplish some necessary cleaning and straightening. I left the bathroom clean ,painted and decorated, threw away trash and broken down machinery, tried to arrange the patient charts in alphabetical order,( notice I said tried ) I cleaned the doctors office so he could walk in there and actually sit at his desk and work. I spent 2 days on my hands and knees, and hours upon hours shredding years of old records. I ended up hurting my left arm and pulling a muscle so badly that it still hurts today. Workman's comp?? lets see..........NOT!..This was an office that the doctor didn't even provide his staff fresh water to drink and a working refrigerator and you think he would have workman's comp?? so I suffer with this pain everyday as a constant reminder of my very strange encounter with a very strange office. The stories I could tell are hilarious to the absurd and everything in between. I don't want to insult anyone (much) so I will just leave it all to your own imaginations, but one day I had to take a temperature on a feverish patient and could not find a thermometer anywhere in the office. I was running around looking for one like a crazy person. The poor sick patient was probably wondering why I was such an idiot..Me too. I ended up borrowing one from the office across the hall..I knew from that point this was going to be a wild ride! Need I say more?? It just got worse after that....
So somewhere out there is a place for me (sounds like a song, ummmm) and I am at it again, checking the want Ad's daily. Today I found one that wanted a lady to sell sex toys..Oh geeez, I'm just to tired, my heart wouldn't be in it, I'm sure every time someone wanted a party I would get a headache and the sales pitch? I would fall over laughing!! "I'm fired" !!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
"IN YOUR FACE" !!!
Well I finally created a Facebook account..I have no idea what I am doing..Isn't emailing enough? I guess not.
So if you take a look and it seems pretty stupid to you , well I guess you have to consider the source. I had a tough enough time trying to load a few pictures in and then suddenly I see all these people on there that I don't even know!! Where the heck did they come from? and are they talking to me?? no, they are carrying on conversations with other Facebookies! I'm sooooooooooo confused!!
Ya see...you open a small door to the Internet and the whole friggin planet wants to come in..GEEEZ!!
I guess it will all come to me after I get instructed how to do it , probably by a bunch of 5 year olds no doubt!
Take care!!
So if you take a look and it seems pretty stupid to you , well I guess you have to consider the source. I had a tough enough time trying to load a few pictures in and then suddenly I see all these people on there that I don't even know!! Where the heck did they come from? and are they talking to me?? no, they are carrying on conversations with other Facebookies! I'm sooooooooooo confused!!
Ya see...you open a small door to the Internet and the whole friggin planet wants to come in..GEEEZ!!
I guess it will all come to me after I get instructed how to do it , probably by a bunch of 5 year olds no doubt!
Take care!!
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