So ... yesterday I had my first doctors appointment at Kaiser, my new health insurance provider. I called yesterday morning, was offered a slot mid-day and took it. That was easy. Really easy, as it turns out. I had chosen to use the Pasadena facility as my home center, based on my familiarity with the area, the fact that I am often working in that area, and some really good Yelp reviews. I arrived a few minutes early, and though the woman at the appointment center had given me every bit of information Id possibly need, I still went to the wrong Primary Care room. No line ... just one gentleman at the counter being helped ... a wait of about a minute. And the pleasant young guy working that counter, said Actually youre in he wrong place, but lets check you in anyway. So my medical record number was quickly fed into the computer, and I was on my way down the hall. No need to stand in any line at my proper destination, as news of my arrival had been relayed at light-speed. The huge comfortable waiting area contained three others waiting to be seen. My wait was about ten minutes. at that point a very nice LVN took me into a staging area, weighed me (165 in clothes and shoes), took my BP (perfect), and gathered a bit more info for my file. Then she walked me down the hall to await my physician. The room was about like any exam room, save for one striking detail. A wheeled computer cart sat in a place of prominence, its wide screen scrolling through a slick and welcoming presentation apprizing me of all the services and wellness options that were now available to me. (Id previously been told by the appointment lady about a range of things including Yoga and health-classes) Id seen these wheeled computer stations before when visiting a friend at Huntington Hospital, and had read about Kaisers role in the evolution of this paperless instant-access method for keeping your records clear and available to any doctor who might see you. By this time, I was feeling relaxed, impressed with the efficiency apparent everywhere, and kind of inspired - largely by the video presentation - to jump onto the health-train with both feet. So, I got my first exam - unhurried, friendly, encouraging of questions - and my doctor quickly fed a couple of directives into the computer. And then I was dressed again and being collected by my LVN, who first quickly gave my a free tetanus vaccination. She whisked me back to her cubicle where she gave me my options for the dermatologist (my doctor had alerted her minutes earlier by in-house memo), and phoned the clinic in Glendale that I had selected. A minute on the phone, and I had my appointment. A few weeks away, which I assume is about par for the course for specialists. (I have a couple of new skin-cancers to be dealt with) She also let me know - in her charming way - that I would soon be scheduled for a certain invasive test ... and that there was no use resisting. :) I had Kaiser insurance for a while when I was married, and was always impressed. I used to tell my wife that THIS was the model everybody should be following. Since Kaiser is both the insurer AND the provider, their business model incentivizes them to keep you well. If they can prevent you from needing complicated and expensive procedures, they make more money and expose themselves to far less risk. But when last I was a Kaiser client, computers were in their infancy, and the level of efficiency now in evidence, was a twinkle in the futurists eye. I made one last stop before I left the building. The pharmacy. Here I stood in line for about thirty seconds, showed my card to a smiling young man, and was told to wait and watch for my name to appear on the screen. Fifteen minutes, I was told. Finally ... a wait. These folks were human after all. I took a seat among the other ten clients (all tuned into their IPhones), and got comfortable. The scene behind the counter was like something out of a movie about really happy pharmacists. These folks were having way too much fun. At least twelve people were back there, filling orders, consulting computer-screens, ribbing one-another fondly, laughing, and incidentally filling my order in FIVE MINUTES. For five dollars. The whole visit from orientation until I left the uncrowded parking structure took under an hour. My appointment simply could not have been easier or more pleasant. Whatever trepidation I might have had about being back in the world of those who carry insurance and actually visit doctors when they get sick - evaporated into thin air. Even the very certain knowledge that these nice people will soon be subjecting me to a colonoscopy is not filling me with dread. Shucks, Im game. You want to snake a roto-rooter up my butt and video-tape my innards? Why not? Sounds like fun. Then we can all go out for pie and coffee. Love you guys! Call me!
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 17:23:52 +0000
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