Honour your commitments with integrity.
~ Les Brown
This week, I had excuses to bail on a healthcare commitment I'd made for my mother.
People are most resilient during their reproductive years.
Not everyone has the know how or privilege to prioritize self-care. In an environment that places profit above population health, over time, people succumb to poor dietary and lifestyle factors and other environmental insults.
In Western countries, the frequency of doctors’ visits increase as people approach their late 40s and early 50s and begin to experience symptoms of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and other degenerative conditions.
Doctors then administer multiple medications and spend more time monitoring changes in health and managing disease. That is what they are trained to do. It’s a great business model for our medical-industrial complex. While this has prolonged lifespan, it does little for quality of life.
My mother, who is in her 80s and not very mobile, has to see her family doctor every three months. One week before seeing him, she must visit a lab for bloodwork. She finds these events very stressful.
Add to that specialist appointments that sometimes require more bloodwork. I believe this is inefficient and inconsiderate of the patient. Why not include all blood markers for upcoming doctor visits in one requisition form and lab visit?
Fortunately, unlike many, mom has five children who step in to help as the need arises, no matter how inconvenient.
I had recently committed to take her to a kidney specialist appointment, even though I thought this was unnecessary, given her kidney function has not changed since 2018. I monitor her bloodwork.
But, maybe the family doctor knew something I didn't. They insisted my mother go. Mom had had an ultrasound recently. I had no access to the results.
The appointment was scheduled for 3:15 PM Monday, June 12th.
I messed up
Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you.
Never excuse yourself.
~ Henry Ward Beecher
Last week, rather than my coming to the city, my daughter and her family came up Wednesday evening to stay through the weekend. Thursday and Friday, I looked after our granddaughter while Mom and Dad worked remotely.
Sunday morning, I checked upcoming weekly commitments. I pulled up the details for my mother’s appointment.
The memo stated, in bold, that the appointment had been confirmed with me. But in finer print, it mandated that I call or email the receptionist within 48 hours to re-confirm.
I messed up. I hadn’t done that. We live 200 km away. I immediately sent an email apologizing and explaining my predicament.
It’s a long way to go should the appointment have been cancelled. I needed an answer before noon the next day to get there on time.
Monday was a rainy day, at times torrential. I began calling the doctor’s office at 9:00 AM when they were scheduled to open. At 10:30, I hadn’t reached anyone.
I called the family doctor’s office. The receptionist was kind enough to follow up for me. At 10:50, she called back to say that she had been unsuccessful but that I should go anyway.
Embrace discomfort
Wherever you go, go with all your heart.
~ Confucius
On that rainy morning, it would have been easier to stay home.
But, by 11:00 AM, I was on the road. At 11:15, I received a call from the kidney specialist’s receptionist, who thoughtfully encouraged me to come earlier if need be to avoid rush hour traffic later.
The doctor confirmed that there had been no need to see my mother. Indeed, nothing had changed since 2018 when we'd last been there. She asked that mom's family doctor not refer her for additional visits unless her kidneys degenerate. I was awash with gratitude.
The two-and-a-half-hour drive home was far from easy. At times I could barely see due to torrential rain. Yet, somehow I couldn’t help but feel good about having honoured my commitment.
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