The International Center is as polished as ever. I draw the same consultant as before and she remembers the little mix-up from before. Information verified, we wait for the financial consultant.
In the Finance Coordinator's office, I introduce my Financial Advisor:Medical to Lucy. And it's like I'm 14 all over again. Lucy turns all her focus to Dad. They exchange cards and arrange their direct communication lines. "I'll just send it all to you, Joe, no need to bring Chris into it."
Hello? I'm in it. Here's the thing: I'm 40 years old. In September, my son will be a high school senior; my daughter, a junior. When will I be considered an adult?
John accepts the map from Bernice, our concièrge. My method of getting around is a little too dicey. He's concerned that I won't be with them to "recognize a piece of concrete and know to go left." Bernice escorts us to our first stop in the pre-op process.
Welcome to the paperless hospital. I complete the medical questionnaire online. We go to the next stage. Julie begins the online admission. The Resident does a physical and enters the data. My newest itinerary shows a psychological assessment...we all think this could be trouble!
Each member of the surgical team tries to cut and paste the info from one tab to the next. It's a lot of repetition. The team members are helpful and informed. Each patiently answers questions from all of us. Sydney, Teaching Team Leader, reviews the mechanics and engineering of the device.Ace surgeon, Dr. Bipan Chand, describes the procedure in great detail. He is prepared to spend as much time with us as we need. We discuss protocols and follow up. He quickly dictates a letter to my specialists at home.
For a paperless health care site, I've collected several copies of my itinerary for the day, a binder of instructions, some promo material, papers of I-don't-know-what...and I still have a couple stops to make.
It's a lo-o-o-ong walk from M-building to A, the final destination. We review it all again with the anaesthetic consultant - meds, allergies, history. She understands the cross-contamination/airborne allergy concerns. We reach the fitness part of the questionnaire. I've been indoors too long, so when she asks "Can you walk 6 blocks easily?", I respond, "Is that uphill?".
She leaves the office with my paper chart to discuss whether I'm cleared for surgery. The image of a person, sitting in a darkened office with walls of dark-tint glass makes me laugh. I ask Jennie to sell my case well, and suggest that if this person could only meet me, he'd clear me in a jiffy!
In a short while, she comes back and pronounces me Cleared for Surgery. It's 2:45 p.m.
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