By Paul Hogan
When I have someone injured in a motor vehicle accident, who has asked for my help, one of the first things I do is give them a blue bag. I tell them that I had these blue bags made especially for my clients. It is insulated so that they can put a cold beverage bottle in it when they go to any doctor or medical provider appointment because any time you go near a doctor or medical provider very seldom does it take less than an hour.
For example, on this Tuesday when I wrote this blog post, I had to go to the doctors’ office to have a blood sample taken for some tests. Now, I went to the same doctor’s office the week before to have a blood sample taken but not enough vials were filled to comply with the original request so I had to return for second visit.
On the first visit, I pulled out my insurance card and bank card to pay the initial fee required and was told, “oh no this is just for labs and we don’t need any of your cards.” On the second visit, expecting the same, they then requested a copy of my health insurance card which of course I did not have with me.
As I’m sitting, waiting for what in the past has been no more than a 5 to 10 minute max procedure, an older gentleman, who must’ve been very hard of hearing as he spoke very, very loud, comes out the door from the examining rooms and inform the receptionist he needed a blood sample drawn.
Next, another man came from the examining rooms and told the receptionist he also needed a blood sample drawn. Now there are the three of us in the waiting room for blood samples and we are the only patients there.
At this point it’s very unusual and I have been waiting about 30 minutes in the waiting room but finally –
hallelujah – the door opens and the nurse calls out the name Paul. I start to rise but a very loud voice says, “Here I am,” and the first older gentleman, also named Paul, walks into the awaiting open-door.
Some time passes the above scene repeats itself; door opens, nurse calls out the name Paul – hallelujah!!! (notice the triple exclamation) – it’s been 45 minutes and the second older gentleman, faster on the draw than I am, announces he’s there and ready to go. The nurse is looking at me in confusion and from her face it’s obvious she doesn’t know how to handle this.
Finally, (I’m living in the movie Groundhog Day) the door opens, the nurse calls out Paul, yada yada, and 10 minutes later I’m walking out after having four vials of blood drawn. All the nurses apologize and exclaim they’ve never before had three Paul’s in the waiting room at the same time.
Ha! I should’ve brought one of my own blue bags.