I Am a Grown-Up?
I got home from work early today–two hours early! In fact, I wouldn’t normally be home for almost another hour. When I arrived home, the first thought that crossed my mind was: NAP! And, although I am, admittedly, lying in bed typing this blog entry, I decided against a nap. I’ve come to realize, since starting work in September, that week-day naps are not a good thing. Week-day naps just make week-night bedtimes later and the following week-day mornings harder. So, no nap.
Instead, I decided to make a few calls that I had been putting off for a while. Starting January 1, I was no longer covered by my parents’ health insurance and, instead, I began coverage under my own work-associated health insurance. As a side note, it’s amazing that I was covered by my parents’ health insurance for as long as I was (thanks, healthcare reform)! Anyway, under my new health insurance, I had to choose a Primary Care Physician, or “PCP” for those in the know. In December, I chose a random doctor’s office that is located walking distance away in the Narb-erhood. Fast forward to today. I called to schedule an appointment and found out that my designated PCP isn’t even a normal doctor’s office. Apparently the doctors have an office there, but spend their time visiting patients in nursing homes. Not exactly what I was looking for. What was most shocking to me was the realization I had while on the phone with the pseudo-doctors’-office’s receptionist.
Receptionist (we’ll name her Rita): Do you have your medical records?
Me: No.
Rita: Who was your doctor before?
Me: …… (*having a realization*)
Rita: Did you have a doctor before us? (graciously rephrasing the question she, perhaps, thought I did not understand)
Me: I didn’t have a doctor. My last doctor was my pediatrician. (*still having a realization*)
Rita: You haven’t been to the doctor since you were 21?
“Rita” wasn’t far from the truth. I think I’ve visited doctors twice since I was 17–i.e., the last time I visited my pediatrician. Once for whooping cough and once more recently to a lady doctor in order to get a prescription for birth control. That’s less than once every 4 years! What I realized was that, I am, by age, if nothing else, a grown-up now. It’s time to collect my medical records and move on–no more pediatrician for me. And so, that is what I did. Well, first I changed my PCP to a REAL doctors’ office, and then I scheduled an appointment.
Look at me go …after 9 years!
