Real Life Adventures by Gary Wise and Lance Aldrich for May 09, 2023

I had to fill out a detailed form for the anesthiologist for a surgery. Couldn’t they just give him a copy of the doctor’s file?

One time there was a seven page form. One time I was 31 minutes old.

I now have three apps for doctors. If I call my dermatologist they try to refer me to the their app. If I hang on the phone they run an endless commercial selling their cosmetic surgery.

And if you didn’t put the same info on the online form before you got there you need to leave and start over.

Not only that, the tech who takes you to the exam room will ask you some of the same questions you answered on the form.

I go once a year for wellness visits where I have to fill out about 11 pages of questions. Nobody ever looks at it that I know of. I guess they figure if you are healthy enough to fill it out, you must be well.

I’ve found that I save a lot of time on those forms if I take a pre-printed list of all my meds and the main procedures I’ve had over the years. They usually accept these without my having to write them out on the forms.

Last time I went in, the nurse/tech took the forms from me and wrote “See Chart” across them. Been going there for 40+ years. Gotta love her!

“Oh…and we need those filled out in triplicate…”

Back in my 50s, having really good insurance, I went to a series of doctors to find out what was up with various complaints. That was when I started saying to the desk personnel, “I’m not giving you my social security number.” They weren’t happy, but it turns out they didn’t actually need it anyway. Wish I"d started that sooner! Oh, and VERY satisfying.

And guarantee your co-pay.

Just LIFE kiddo…..