Doctors can be infuriating. The place I go to for psych and everything, I don't understand how it is they are exactly helping anyone. They've let go thirty employees, and some people who are in counseling at this place are being told they will no longer receive care.
This office has given be the run around so much since the beginning of the New Year, and while it's my fault I had to cancel one meeting (I was dying of food poisoning) they continuously waited until I was at the office for two consecutive meetings to tell me I was either late (due to their own mistake) or the doctor took a day off.
When I went there today, I wound missing a ride because the same doctor was running late. Sitting in the lobby, I discovered that either the whole world has gone insane and I'm the sole survivor of sanity, or I've lost my mind. People rocking back in forth in their chairs talking to God (not praying---conversing. Direct quote: "God, why did you make feet? You so crazy.") to a hyper active child who nearly tore down a secured door just because he was hungry and bored.
As for the doctors visit itself, I felt very rushed. While going into it, before I even sat down the TV (she's never there face to face, it's done by using a web cam) told me I had 15 minutes. I was lucky if I got 8, though. Every concern I had was dismissed, and other issues I had was rushed.
Apparently I've had a case worker who was supposed to be in contact with me this whole time. I didn't even know. So when it came time for me to set up an appointment with him, I discovered that he was one of the thirty employees let go. I was supposed to receive a call informing me of my new case worker at about 1pm. As of 1:am, right now, I've not gotten any call or anything.
Why is it the first medical field to be shortened is this one? The people left behind are so jaded with their jobs that its almost not even worth it show up, on either parties account.
What if I'd had serious problems I needed to discuss with her? Now, or in the future. Do I need to adhere to the 15 minute rule? Should I practice a dissertation, or present my problems and assertions in speech from like a politician taking stage during a press conference?
I know that in the future, as apprehensive as I was going into this, all the while I was supposed to have a case manager and um, counseling, but I know now that I'm in no way whatsoever, even by an inkling, any type of a priority--even when I'm sitting in the chair.
And it's not that I want it to be about me, me, me. There are people there with very serious problems. But I gotta think I'm not the only one feeling frustrated with the lack of even common decency from then.
The child I mentioned above was only twelve years old, and very obviously needed to be seen by someone, and I mean immediately. But do to bureaucracy, he had to sit like a cog in the system while they tracked down an approval from AHCCCS because it'd lapsed a few days prior. The only reason I know all of this is because the room is small, and it echoes, and his mother was distraught (understandably so). Also, I used to be her boss.
But for all it was worth, they could've seen that kid while they were waiting for the approval.
There was another guy who I guess fancied himself as some what of a Don Juan. He approached every woman, and I literally mean every woman--despite age, or anything otherwise, by saying, "Hey girl". And I don't know. I'm all about people talking to the opposite sex, and finding someone, except this guy was obviously the biggest creeper.
Since I'd been jerked around so much by this particular facility, I decided that they could come and pick me up and drop me off this time (they have a free ride service, which is pretty cool, actually). This guy rode in with me, and I guess he had some sort of head trauma, and he made sure I knew it.
But his personality drove me insane.
I make jokes, sometime their sex jokes, but it's nothing thats done so distastefully that it'd be considered sexual harassment. And I'm used to hearing a lot of guys say things I couldn't ever fathom being uttered outside of a porno set. Music venues, hanging out with bands or whatever, for the most part it's basically a boys club (isolate that), but even then you get the sense that it's only done in jest. But this guy actually made my skin crawl, and I'm a male.
On the ride home, the driver (who was really cool) and I got into a discussion about Blues, and Jazz. Apparently Creeper Connoley in the back is a big fan of jazz, because he inserted himself in such a way into our conversation that he completely cut me out of it. But after a while he realized he hadn't spoken in three seconds, and decided to address me. He asked who I'd seen that day, to which I responded.
"Oh, I would tackle that given the chance". And he stopped for a second expecting high fives, and double-gun pointing from the driver and I. Maybe I'm the weird one, but the idea of a stranger saying that to any randos....I just think thats extremely inappropriate, and I'm not exactly a subscriber to America's Puritan Standards and Practices.
When he didn't get the high fives, he continued. I had to just tune him out at that point, because I felt like I was going to say something. I'm really glad this extra for Chris Hansen's "To Catch A Predator" lives within a stones throw of my house. Really.
But sitting in that lobby was completely unnerving for me. I don't know if it's because of the medication, but lately I've been really stressed out and anxious, and I lost my temper so long ago I'm just not sure if I can find it again. But given that, I'm not a stranger to places that aren't exactly Eden. I've been in the room while people have done meth, I've had a memorable night in Harlem, and yeah...I've been in some of the less than pretty places in my life. But that lobby is the one that bothered me.
Asides from the guy rocking back and forth, shooting the breeze with J.C and God, there was a guy who refused to sit down the entire time he was there. He wound up standing right next to the receptionist desk, and he stared straight at me the entire time. And when I say entire, I don't mean he looked away here and there, or we would sometimes catch eyes. I mean he stared at me the entire time, and that stare is the stare of a prisoner thats recently been released, and is starting to get used to society again, but hasn't quite reached it. If I'm one thing, it's in most instances (minus with women) I'm observant. In being observant, I realized he didn't take shining to me, and we never said a word to each other, not once.
He kept walking up to me, within a few feet, and would check his reflection in the mirror. He did this once every five minutes, I counted. He would constantly go to the bathroom (which to get too, a button has to be pushed to allow you through) and he wouldn't say anything. He would walk up to the door, still staring at me, and then just continuously pull on the door, hard, until someone obliged him.
What I'm getting at is that, it takes a lot to make me uncomfortable with anything (minus girls). But this entire day, I really felt uncomfortable. Why there isn't a guard at this place in particular astounds and amazes me to know end. The one place where it is needed, it isn't there. And it's not like they are completely oblivious to this pending problem, otherwise why would they have the door thats locked, and has to be buzzed open? The receptionists sit behind bullet-proof windows that they slide open to deal with you, and the second the conversation is over, that glass window is slammed shut.
Theres so many issues here, and I really feel they need to be addressed by someone in a position to make an effect, because mental issues shouldn't be attended too in such faulty faculties. It's a delicate situation, and the problems facing this building in particular is a travesty, in my opinion. A lot of these people need help, and they are being shepherded into 15 minute segments, aren't informed of anything pertaining to their cases, and in some instances cut completely without the consideration of at least a months notice.
Anyway, that's enough of me talking about stuff no one cares anything about. On to exciting (!!!) news: Tomorrow there will be a guest writer for Days Gone By. I could tell you who now, or I could let the surprise speak for itself, although if you've read more than two posts from here I'm sure you can pick out who it is.
I'd actually like to do a week of guest spots, just to add a little bit of depth, and something fun and different. It isn't just the Aaron Hale show, starring and produced by HaleCo.
So make sure to check in tomorrow, and check out the awesome guest spot. It'll be so much better than what I do. Honestly.
Also, on a side note: This blog is dedicated to the memory of Barry Minnilow. Barry was Velvet's turtle, Yertle's adopted pet. You're swimming with angel minnows now, buddy.
Thats all I have for now. Make sure to check in tomorrow, damn it.
Until tomorrow.
Little, Big
3 months ago
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