I got a call yesterday from the Women’s Center telling me all the tests (from my annual exam last week) were ok, except for glucose, which is a bit high. (Duh, I had lunch right before going to the clinic ’cause no one bothered to tell me to fast and even the lab tech asked the nurse and they said to go ahead and draw the blood.) Anyway, they want to retest after I’ve fasted. No problem, I agree to be in around 10 this morning.

I go to work, then realize I’d have to leave within a few minutes, so I figure it’s better to get to the clinic early, since it wasn’t a firm appointment anyway. I get to the reception desk about 10 ’til 10 and there are three women ahead of me. About 5 after I finally make it to the desk. I’m already pissed.

The receptionist tells me she doesn’t have the paperwork. All I had to do was go back and get it from the doctor’s nurse. So I do. *grumble* Then I head over to the drawing station.

Well, the lab tech tells me that because of the form the nurse used, I have to have the hospital draw my blood, not the clinic. (The clinic is located within the hospital.)

Uh, whatever.

So I go across the hall to a hospital lab. I ask why the clinic can’t do it. and I’m told it’s because my insurance won’t pay for it unless the hospital does it. (Though insurance covers my visits to the Dr in that clinic. *boggle*) Then something hits me- what about the blood work done by the clinic last week. Am I going to end up getting billed for that? Regardless, the lab I was at is closed. So I have to go upstairs and a quarter of the way around the building.

I go directly to the lab, where I’m promptly told I have to check in. So I’m walked back out to a sign-in desk. After a wait of about 10 min, I get called to another reception desk. While going through that, I’m told they need to have a new copy of the lab request faxed up ’cause there’s a ‘bad code’ on it. Waiting for that takes a while. Finally, I’m sent off with a stapled pack of papers.

After sitting and watching “The Andy Griffith Show” in the lab waiting area, I realize it’s 11am.(I’ve already been at the hospital for over an hour.) I yank open the door to the drawing station and ask for a phone. I’m directed around the corner to the pay phones (certain I’ll be called as soon as I leave). I call Alex/the boss to tell him where the hell I am. I bitch, he sympathizes.

I get back to the lab. No, I haven’t been called and “Matlock” is on now. *whimper* After waiting a bit, I check the sign-in clipboard. Every name before mine is crossed off and so is every name AFTER.

I ponder screaming and just leaving.

The lab tech comes out, looks at the clipboard, looks at me, and asks, “Have you been seen yet?” I resist grabbing him by the ears and screaming, “NO!” in his face. He asks for my paperwork and says, “I’ve seen you here for a while, why don’t you come back (into the drawing station)?”

So, I sit down, he plays with a computer for a while (presumably trying to find me in the system. Then he calls someone and asks a few questions. As labels pop out of a printer, he explains that I wasn’t entered by the front desk. Shit. I sat there long enough, what else was there for the receptionist to do??

Anyway, he tries to be very friendly, apologizes a lot, and actually manages to make me laugh. He’s also one of the few people able to successfully draw my blood on the first attempt.

Only because of that tech (and my lack of a weapon) did people not die this morning.

I get back to work at 11:30. Just in time to go to lunch. *sigh*

Total down time: 1 hr, 45 min