Follow-up with oncologist.

Had my follow-up appointment with my oncologist today. In a nutshell, the follow-up plan is to have alternating follow-up MRIs and mammograms every six months, starting with an MRI in April. And we all know how much my last MRI sucked, so I was a bit chagrined to hear that, but what the hell. I can suck it up. In addition, because of the history of cancer in my family in general and my relatively young (ha!) age he recommended that I speak to a genetic counselor, so I'll be making that appointment in the next month or so. Then I'll follow-up with the oncologist again in 6 months too. Woohoo.

Plus I had a real lightbulb moment today regarding my disdain for the lack of customer service in the medical industry in general. I was discussing my last MRI episode with the oncologist and I brought up the term "customer service" and he jumped on that immediately. I was explaining how I wish that they had told me just a couple of little things that would have made the experience so much better and he was really encouraging me to write a letter or talk to someone about it, his philosophy being that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Now bear in mind that for this, my THIRD visit to his office, I had once again been subjected to a one hour wait in his waiting room. So...........seriously???? He had the nerve to sit there and tell me to complain to the hospital when his office is no great shakes? And that's when my lightbulb moment hit.........he said that it's really all about "patient care" and I realized that, in the medical world, "patient care" and "customer service" are the same thing. But to the rest of us non-medical people, it's just not. To me, "patient care" and "customer service" are two parallel yet divergent things.

You see, I have absolutely no complaints whatsoever about the level of "patient care" I have received. Everyone has been competent, sensitive, informative and professional when it comes to the medical stuff. My surgeon was a veritable artist - my scar is barely discernible. Every nurse or other ancillary medical professional has been sensitive and competent. The radiation techs and radiologists were absolute experts at everything they did. That is top-notch "patient care". But what I have an issue with is their insensitivity to the fact that my time is just as valuable as theirs, that there isn't a lot of "common sense" being practiced in the "business" of the medical industry, and that a little honesty and organization could go a really long way. That is poor "customer service".

Now I guess that it could be argued that their business is only to take care of me and to make me well and, that, they did in spades. And, really, it's not like they'll never run out of "customers" - people will always get sick and always need medical help, so theres not really a lot of incentive for them to change. But, man.........the business-woman in me just can't shake this and it's driving me nuts. It's a sad thing to say, but I think I just may have to relent and lower my expectations about this. That's pretty tough for a "half glass full" kind of gal like me.