The travel clinic is starting to aggravate me.<\/p>\n
I had an appointment this morning for 9:30 to get a typhoid shot (in preparation for the Haitian Vacation). I didn’t manage to get there until 10:30 because of a series of trivial and avoidable screw-ups. I was told that the doctor is totally booked until next week, and I missed my slot. Sorry.<\/p>\n
I pointed out that I didn’t need to talk to the doctor, really. I need to get vaccinated for Typhoid. <\/p>\n
The nice lady at the desk reminded me that the doctor is quite busy.<\/p>\n
I suggested that, since we already know the outcome of my conversation with the doctor (me getting a typhoid shot), maybe we could just do it in the reverse order. I’m happy to pay for the doc’s time, if that’s what’s required, but I’m pretty sure I know what’s happening at the end of the day.<\/p>\n
She asked if I had been here before. Didn’t we do typhoid then? <\/p>\n
I said that yes, I had been there before. A year ago, I went to China. For that trip, I got MMR, Hep A, B, and C, and a tetanus booster. I had all my paperwork with me from that trip. This<\/em> year, on a different<\/em> itinerary, I am going to Haiti. According to the CDC pages that I printed out (the same ones that the doc gave me last year, except up to date), typhoid is the only difference between those destinations.<\/p>\n She expressed confusion, because usually they do typhoid with the batch that I got.<\/p>\n I showed her the papers. She agreed that I had not been vaccinated for typhoid.<\/p>\n I went on to remind her that what happened last year was: (a) a med student walked me through her printouts of the CDC pages (which I had with me, with the shots I needed already highlighted). She read off the “suggested” vaccinations from the bottom of my printout. She then allowed me to make up my mind about what I wanted. After I came to the same decision I had already made, she wrote it up. Then, the doc came in, shook my hand, approved what had been done, and walked out. Then a nurse gave me my shots. <\/p>\n The nice lady said that I need to talk to the doctor to get the recommendations on which vaccinations are needed. That’s how it works.<\/p>\n I asked if I could have my primary care physician write a prescription for the shot and just have it filled.<\/p>\n She said no.<\/p>\n I asked if I could just write the check for the doc, and catch up with him on the next go round. <\/p>\n She said no.<\/p>\n I asked if maybe the med student was available, and I could shake the doc’s hand in passing. <\/p>\n She said no.<\/p>\n I asked if anyone else in town provided typhoid vaccination.<\/p>\n She had no idea. I could ask the doctor.<\/p>\n I accepted my revised appointment.<\/p>\n When I talk to the doc on Thursday next, I anticipate an opportunity to practice my virtues, like patience and kindness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The travel clinic is starting to aggravate me.<\/p>\n