Not all heart doctors are created equal...and I hate to say it...but I'll never really know what one is "better" except to say that the one who does a better job selling is the one who will get to crack open my husband's chest!
This all started about a month ago when "Little Bob" started to really complain about shortness of breathe and tiredness. I told him he's getting old but he wasn't buying that. After a very long 18 years together I got to experience going to a doctor with Warren. Once is enough, Thank you!
Our first stop was Dr. A (names will be withheld...we do live in a small town). Dr. A was "nice" but the wait to see him was much longer than one would expect. Am I wrong to think that of all doctors, heart ones should hold tight to a schedule? Do you really want a stressed out patient? Dr. A looked at my 70 year old husband, put him on every prescription out there and confirmed he had heart desease. He sent us to see Dr. B, the surgeon of his choice.
Dr. B again, a nice enough person but unfortunately he too had a few strikes against him. One, the hospital he works for is horrible. I happen to have my 14 year old boy with me when Warren was going in for a simple procedure and "Mr. Security" walks up and ask how old Ben is. We politely tell, this unpolite person, he is 14. To which, Mr. Security says "you have to leave". I asked where did he think a 14 year old would be going on a cold day with no parents? To which, Mr. Security said "I don't care, he either leaves now or I'm calling security" (I thought he was security??). MR. SECURITY comes over (the real one this time--I think) and rehashes the whole conversation and agrees that Mr. Security needs to take a chill pill and allows Ben to enter (or rather stay in) the hospital but he needs to where a germ mask. This did provide a good laugh:)
Back to Dr. B...should doctors be made to go thru some sort of selling class? How to promote your skills and build confidence in your patients? Dr. B is telling us all about his great facility and glazes over the rude security. He moves onto himself and was doing a great job telling us all about his stats (they were excellent...or so I thought...I was still a bit green on this heart stuff). When he gets all done he says "Not that I'm any better than other surgeon, I just get lucky" Said in a matter of fact, not a joking, tone. One would expect that statement to be followed with a light laugh in an attempt to relax the poor guy you are about to split in two...but it wasn't! Well, if this guy isn't better...I want the best...luck is not always in my favor! Time for a second opinion...we find Dr. C.
Dr. C...addresses me by "Mrs. Tyler" from the very first phone call. Nice! Points on that! We show up and again...hello Mr. and Mrs. Tyler, didn't even tell them who we were yet! More points. Waiting room is gorgeous, nice colors...teal and brown with a beautiful leaf pattern. We sit down, we are about 15 minutes early, and before we can get into a conversation they are calling him in. Nurse is great...and jokes around. Asks the normal stuff, more joking. We are five minutes ahead of schedule here. Nurse leaves and says Dr. will be in a few minutes. Believe it or not...at exactly 3pm the doctor comes in...can you believe a doctor that works on a schedule? To good to be true! He boast in a nice way that he is the best...thank God for that...I really need the best!
I'll never know how the first doctors would have done and honestly I don't want to test the waters. Doctor C might not be the best but he has confidence and to me that is the most important element of making your patients feel good. I can't say I'm eagerly looking forward to the next week but Doctor C has certainly helped me relax!
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