A.I.T.A?

 There is a column called A.I.T.A. It means, 'am I the a**hole?' People post their situation, and people weigh in on whether they are just being an asshole or are they justified.

I had an appointment today, one that I really didn't see the need for, but hey. I headed back, driving 5 hours to make that appointment. It was a pre-consultation for a colonoscopy. That is a change from when it was done last. Back then, I received a call to set the appointment and then I received a packet of instructions in the mail. I did as I was told and showed up at my scheduled time, and the deed was done. 

This time, however, there was this 'pre-consult'. 

So I show up for my appointment. The first thing that kind of caught my ear was the receptionist was all in a snit, because someone else had assembled the paperwork, and things might not be in the order that she put them in. There were four sheets. Really. Even if they were in a different order, it wasn't the end of the world. I listened to her complain to her coworker about it. She then handed me the papers, complaining that they might not be in order because she hadn't done it. 

Four freaking sheets of paper. If she was so bothered by it, she could have taken a few seconds to put them in the order that SHE preferred them to be in. 

I said, "It doesn't strike me as that big of a deal, really. Every problem has a solution, don't you think?" I had a feeling that the two employees had a mutual coworker they were targeting. I've been in that position before and it is an awful spot to be in. Hypercritical people trying to magnify every single thing you do. They are not being helpful. 

She looked surprised but admitted that this was true. We got through the four sheets of paper with minimal additional drama. 

I was escorted back to the waiting room. 

I waited. 

I was escorted back to the exam room by a nurse who took my vitals and asked me the date of my last colonoscopy. 

I said, "I really don't know, to be honest. My doctor said it was time, so she set up the appointment."

He flipped back through his paperwork, and said, "It was in 2010." 

Now here's where things began to go south. They obviously had my records. They had that information. So what, exactly, was the purpose of the appointment? I waited quietly after he left, and it wasn't long before the doctor came in with a medical student. She asked if it was okay for the medical student to do the questions. 

"Sure," I said.

The doctor left the room.

The student fixed me with a cheerful smile and asked me how I was doing. 

"Fine," I said.

She said, "So, you're here to set up an appointment for a colonoscopy?" 

Internally, I was thinking, "...for pete's sake..." but I answered, "Yes."

She leaned forward with a broad smile and said, "So can you tell me why you want a colonoscopy?" 

This time I said it out loud. "For pete's sake! Does anyone come into this office and actually want a colonoscopy?" 

Her smile wavered a little.

I said, "I'm not trying to be rude here, but I'm a very practical person. I was told by my primary care doctor that it is time for a colonoscopy, so she made an appointment. This office set up an appointment for a preconsultation, and here I am." 

She continued on. "Have you ever had a colonoscopy before?" 

Once again, I thought, 'for pete's sake...' but I said, "Yes." 

"When?" she asked.

('for pete's sake...') "Well, according to the nurse, who looked through that little stack of papers you have, it was in 2010." 

"Oh, so you're here because it is time for one." 

('...for pete's sake') "Yes." 

She said, "Are you on blood thinners?" 

('for pete's sake...') "My medication list is right on top there. I take atenolol and a statin." 

She left the room to go out and get the doctor.

The doctor came in and said, "So you're here to set up for a colonoscopy?"

I said, "You know, I'm just going to say it. I don't understand why this appointment was necessary. You have all that information in your little packet. Your office told me when my last colonoscopy was. My vitals were taken which are not different from my appointment a couple weeks back. You have my history. You have my drug list. You know why I am here. The last time this was done, I received a packet in the mail. I followed the instructions. That was that."

I just hate waste. The fact of it is that we have an over burdened medicare and I really did see this as an unnecessary appointment. 

"Well, let's get you set up then." 

And so I was escorted down the hall to wait for the scheduler. She set up my appointment for April 26th. She efficiently said, "Now. Let's get you set up for your post procedure visit..."

I said, "Excuse me?"

She said, "Two weeks after  your appointment you come back in again to find out the results."

I said, "If there's nothing found, I won't need that appontment. If there's something wrong, I'd expect to receive a call to come in for a follow up."

She looked at me. I said, "We're not scheduling a follow up  now."

She just looked at me. "Okaaaaaaaaaaay...." she said. 

"We'll just wait to see if it's necessary." 

I walked out of there a bit dumbfounded. That was a $300 consultation. Yes. Most of it will be paid for by insurance, but what a waste of taxpayer money, don't you think? 

So...A.I.T.A?