This was Janet’s first visit with the oncologist, Dr. O after the departure of Dr. Patel and her after her last chemo treatment. As first impressions go, it wasn’t all bad after waiting more than an hour.
During the initial phase of the appointment, Dr. O was sitting at the desk, noting the test results and asking questions about how she was doing, when she had the chemo, etc. Janet went into the appointment wanting to make sure that this new doctor knew she had things to do and places to go in December and January. When she thought Dr O was at a stopping point in the ‘interview’ phase of the appointment, she said: “Dr. O, I have a schedule. Before she could continue, he briskly replied: “But I just got here, I’m getting to know you. I like to get to know my patients. If I keep looking at my watch and hurry it along, my patients get angry. That’s what managed care tries to do, get doctors to see patients as numbers and hurry them along”…….Janet quickly said, “No-o-o, not now…in December and January.’’ It was an awkward, funny moment. However, I guess Nigerians don’t have the same sense of humor….he didn’t laugh.
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