R e – P e t e

Day 15: Health”care”

Yes, it says “right KNEE achilles…” even though my knee was absolutely fine. They verified later that they weren’t working on my knee.

When I was a kid, I had to go to the hospital a couple times for surgery. I remember each time that the nurses were very nice and I felt like they took care of me pretty well. Maybe it was because I was a kid, but health care these days feels more like car maintenance.

It started when my doctor’s office rescheduled my surgery appointment without telling me. I wonder how they would’ve done surgery without the patient. It was only moved a few hours ahead of time but it took my asking them (the day before mind you) to find out.

I show up to Pacific Heights Surgery Clinic which feels a bit like a dentist’s office. I’m used to actually being in hospitals. Everything feels a little cozy. Aside from a separate room for surgery, prep and recovery areas and pretty much just separated by curtains. It’s an assembly line!

They bring me into the chilly surgery room and I’m chatting with the anesthesiologist. Boom I’m out. Boom I’m up again and feeling punch drunk waking up from my surgery. I can barely open my eyes and I ask the kind nurse for water (which she’s giving to me because I’m not sure my arms will respond). A scant 10 minutes later she asks if I’m ready to go home. Umm I can barely keep my eyes open.

I ask for another 10 minutes. She goes off to lunch and leaves her coworker to take care of me. 10 minutes on the dot, new nurse says it’s time to dress me. I’m not even sure my muscles will respond. I’m surprised when they do. So now I’m dressed but definitely won’t be able to leave on crutches. They bring a wheelchair and I’m off! I swear I get more personal attention from my mechanic.

All in all, I thought things went well and the doctor and nurses I worked with were very nice. Yes, it seems like the operation was routine as well but I do wonder if this is the result of having such a business driven private health care system.