Because I loves me some irony, I thought I'd post about this

[taste_is_sweet]

My doctor's office, where both my son and I are followed by the same doctor, has apparently implemented a new thing where patients are informed of normal test results via sealed postcards.

So far, so good. I can see how a few thirty-five cent stamps are worth the saved time for a phone call, especially as the nurses almost never give 'personal' information such as test results to voice mail or to other family to pass on. (I use quotes because while I can definitely understand that there are some situations where you might not want other family members to know a test result, I do think the doctor's office is able to use either their own judgment based on A) the kind of test and B) if the patient has already told them she doesn't mind learning about test results from voice mail.)

As it happens, I got a pap smear and my little boy got his standard test for Iron deficiency anemia within a week of each other, and I'd already been called and informed that everything was normal with me. So when I got a little sealed postcard addressed to my son, I happily--and not unreasonably, I think--figured that I was going to find out that my son's iron levels are fine.

Except that on the inside of the card, in the blank space for the test results, 'Pap Smear' was written in warm, precise handwriting.

My favourite part--other than being able to tell my doctor's assistant how happy I was to learn that my son was safe from cervical cancer--was that the front of the card has a picture of a tree and the words, 'because we care'.

Not enough to make sure the test matches the patient, apparently, but I'm sure it's the thought that counts.

P.S.: The nurse called back and apologized, and my son is indeed fine, which rocks. But still, sometimes that place makes my eyes roll so hard one day they'll just fall right out of my head.

Comments

[lavvyan.livejournal.com]

other than being able to tell my doctor's assistant how happy I was to learn that my son was safe from cervical cancer-

That made me laugh so hard. *sniggers*

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It was a highlight of an otherwise pretty sucky morning, believe me. :)

go read my entry on "Remnant", damn it. It's funny.

[lavvyan.livejournal.com]

But I haven't watched the episode yet. :)

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Do you need me to send it to you?

[lavvyan.livejournal.com]

Nah, I downloaded it on Saturday. I'm just... very not-enthusiastic (I'm a writer, I can make words up) about SGA right now. It seems that almost every episode of season five I've dared watching up until now - and I've seen half at best - was a disappointment in some way or other, and not just the regular oh-SGA-will-you-never-get-it-right? way.

So I've switched to religiously watching Dexter, which actually tells me a story I can care about with some amusement, and Supernatural, because while that show is less than awesome it's still entertaining. And Merlin. Merlin has managed to make me count down the hours to the next episode because omg the preview. So really, these three are a lot more entertaining than SGA right now, car chases down abandoned Atlantis corridors notwithstanding.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

I remember reading that you'd all but stopped watching the show. I can understand why, but (in all selfishness) it saddens me to think that I might not get to read any more of your wonderful SGA fiction. It's so much better than the majority of the show!

"Remnants" is actually fun--McKay is smart, Woolsey steals the show (I love his character) and Sheppard gets whumped, if you're in to that kind of thing. The thing that ties in the separate stories happening to the three different characters is kind of dumb, but it was still an enjoyable episode. There's also a couple of nice mess hall moments, which we never get enough of.

[lavvyan.livejournal.com]

Oh, no no no, I'm still writing. I'm not sure I know how to stop writing, after a compliment like that. *g*

A good part of my stuff is AUs anyway, so not watching the show doesn't put me at too much of a disadvantage, I think.

I like Woolsey's character a lot, even though he kind of makes me sad. The writers try so hard to make us like him, what with all the little character moments, insights and background information. I know Woolsey better from the six or so episodes I watched than I knew Elizabeth from three seasons. It just seems such a waste.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

I'm very happy that you won't story writing SGA. :D

I get you about Woolsey, too. I think what they've done with his character is great, but the could have done that with Weir, and somehow never managed it. Maybe it really is because they don't know how to write women.

[lavvyan.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Except now we have Amelia-the-Gate-technician, who also does kickboxing and takes care of babies. Do we know anything about Chuck? ;)

[aldiara.livejournal.com]

Oh lordy. I also cracked up at your son being safe from cervical cancer. Always good to know! Makes you wonder how often that sort of thing happens :p

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :) These things are important to mothers.

Turns out it wasn't the nurse, but the doctor who goofed (she'd gone to work on the weekend to catch up on sending out test results, and I guess she just wrote down the wrong test), and she actually called me later in the day to apologize in person, which I thought was pretty chic. I have to admit I would have been less...bemused if I'd know it was the doctor from the outset, because I don't like the nurse much and have had to deal with general office screw-ups before. But the doctor herself is great.

[aldiara.livejournal.com]

Ah, that's a little more understandable than an office screw-up, then, the doctor's probably crazy busy. And it's very decent of her to call and apologise in person.