Today I went to a passport medicine doctor to get my ‘Yellow Fever’ vaccination, a required vaccination for travel to Uganda. I arrive at my allotted time of 4:15 and wait with Liam patiently while reading a magazine. Sitting in the waiting room are three people, one single lady who had that ‘missionary’ look, and a couple who looked very oddly paired. They we’re engaged in very loud conversation about their ‘Yellow Fever’ vaccination. Liam was peacefully sleeping until the outburst of laughter that rang through the air at a decibel level that would rival a jet aeroplane. He woke with a start and would not go back to sleep…. I started to get a little annoyed at this point as these people obviously had no care that I “had” a sleeping baby and that we we’re in a waiting room! Anyways, the single gal goes in and I’m left with the odd couple, turns out they are father-daughter, she was in college and on his insurance. They obviously felt uncomfortable at silence, because as soon as there was a lul in the air he proceeded to yell to the nurse behind the desk ridiculous questions of which she had no-idea about……like, “What vaccinations does the University of Tennessee require?”, Ok…….. how about you call the university!! And then after each question there was a round of laughter then more questions.
4:45: My name is called and I go into the room, have my blood pressure taken and prepped for the vaccination. In the next room over I hear loud laughing and a lot of silly small-talk, I could hear the dr re-iterating the yellow fever phamphlet in his own words to impress his patients…. and boy we’re they impressed….. they had questions! Meanwhile I’m sitting in the next room, twiddling my thumbs, pacing the room and trying to keep Liam calm as it was now approaching 5:30.
5:30 ticks over and I open the door and the nurse spots me, I kindly and in my pleasant voice ask her how long I will have to wait because I am due at work in 30 minutes (and I have a 25 minute drive), she says……. oh you’re next, only a minute. I go back in my room, pace even more, calm a ever more fussy baby Liam, and wait ten more minutes listening to the incessant laughter from next door and more questions……. all of which are answered on the bloody piece of paper they gave us about the vaccination!
Finally 5:45 comes, I’m mad the doctor knocks on the door….. He begins small talk and apologises for being late and expresses that he was “backed-up”. OK! He tried to begin small talk about my trip……. then I said very calmly and in a soft tone. “Dr. I am very late for work, I need you to jab me then I will run”, He looked up at me shocked that I was not engaging in small talk….. so he tried again “So, have you ever been overseas before?”, Again I re-iterated that I need to go, and all I need in my vaccination (which I’m paying for) then leave…… He got the point then exited the room, the nurse came back in, gave me the shot, I got my yellow book stamped then left and was 25 minutes late for work!!
All that to say. I don’t like inconsiderate people! Inconsiderate patients waiting to get “Yellow Fever” shots for their mission trip to Africa, inconsiderate Dr’s who make “paying customers” wait 1 1/2 hours to get a 30 second shot which can be administered by the nurse who checked my blood-pressure. I mean, all it takes is a small look up, notice your surroundings and put yourselves in someone else’s situation. I know when I am in public places, I take note of my surroundings and change my vocal volume accordingly, I don’t engage in meaningless chit-chat if someone else is waiting behind me, I’ll hold the door open for those coming in the store behind me. I found myself today at a boiling point as I waited in the room, right or wrong, I was mad…….. Why do we put up with this sort of behavior from medical Dr’s? If a waitress made me wait that long for food, I would have called the manager, If a manager saw an employee “chit-chat” for 45 minutes while other customers were waiting, they’d be fired! Your thoughts??
