Back in the day, I recall doctors talking to people face to face following surgery. Okay, I admit I haven’t waited around for people getting surgery all that often. Matter of fact, the only time I ever did was when my mom had 349 brain surgeries all within a 4 months span. Fine, it wasn’t quite that many but it sure seemed that way. The point is, afterwards, the doctor came out and spoke to us in person. That was my only experience with the surgical waiting experience.
This time around, when we left Theresa, they showed us where the waiting area was. We went to the desk and were given a pager. One of those pagers like you get when you go to a restaurant. It came with the same instructions. “The range of the pager is limited. Don’t go wandering off too far. Otherwise we’ll give your table to someone else.”
Now since we were there at the hospital for so many hours, we were hungry. There was a coffee shop just below the waiting area. We were told that’s within range. As we walked down, I wondered whether or not I should stand in the middle of the floor with my arm raised up sort of like an antenna. I decided it was more important to eat. Unfortunately, the hospital coffee shop didn’t have much in the way of decent food. Not unless you like stuff with mayonnaise – chicken salad, tuna salad, fake seafood salad… Ah, well. I would have been better off standing outside doing my imitation of an antenna.
Off we go, back up to the waiting area to wait. An hour later, the pager goes off and we go running to the desk. The receptionist points to a phone on the wall that’s ringing. It doesn’t sound like a regular phone ring. It sounds like something from a game show. I pick up the receiver and talk to the doctor. Naturally I didn’t think of any questions for him until after I hung up.
Then I walked downstairs to call my sister to let her know Theresa was fine. Everyone else seemed to have a perfectly good signal right there in the waiting room. Not me, though. For a company that spends so much money advertising about more bars, uh, I think they need to come look at my phone.
I walk in between 2 doors. Talking there didn’t work out too well. Every sound seemed amplified. I decided to stand outside, which was fine. Until I tried to get back inside. Who would have thought the doors would lock behind me? Lucky thing someone was passing and didn’t think I looked like an angel of mercy so he let me back in.
After my experience, I have a list of demands for the next time. Not that I want there to be a next time but hey, if there is one, this is what I want:
1. Pagers are fine to let people know surgery is over but if someone is cutting into my child, I want to see the doctor in person afterwards.
2. I want a couple of seconds to think of questions.
3. I want decent food. Damn, if you gotta be in the hospital for hours, have something edible!
4. Get something in there to boost my cellphone signal so I don’t get locked out of the building.
5. And while we’re at it, how about a TV in the waiting area. Or at least some newspapers & magazines.
I do think it’s outrageous that the doctor didn’t come to actually talk to you face to face. That’s part of his responsibilities — ya talk to the family.
Sigh.
I know it’s a minor point, but did Theresa survive the surgery?
Most doctors have a nurse call you when they are about done and then when they are finished they come to the waiting rooms themselves to discuss the surgery with you. He was probably late for his tee time.
My computer died today…..the one I just bought in January. I’m back on the old one which is so slow and with dial up I may need a sledge hammer.
Theresa survived the surgery but I’m not sure she’ll survive the recovery period. Apparently it’s boring being on the couch for days on end.
I’m assuming different hospitals do things differently but South Nassau has their beepers and phones, although I would hope for something serious, they’d do a face to face. It wouldn’t have been my hospital of choice.