My youngest daughter had a sore throat the other day and woke with a mild temperature elevation. So I took her in to make sure it wasn't strep. Everyone knows that when you present to the office for a sore throat, they are going to swab for a rapid strep and culture. The rapid strip takes 5 minutes for results. Why is it that we must continue the culture where the DR is the expert who I will have to wait for patiently. Can't we run an office where you walk in, c/o sore throat get swabbed by assistant, put in room for exam, when the "expert" comes in results are there, exam done out in 30 minutes.
Wednesday I waited 20 minutes to go to the back room, 40 minutes for Dr. to come in, 15 minutes for swab to be done, 10 for lab to give results, 10 minutes for Dr to come back in. That is 1 hour 35 minutes. How much is my time worth? How much is the exam room worth per hour? Why are we okay with the wastefulness?
My plan is to be an FNP, can I set up a protocol that says I want the swab done after the patient signs in? I want result on chart when the patient is brought back. I am in that room once and my patient is on their way home to rest. Next patient, next billing code, next reimbursement. Efficiency, rather than pomp and circumstance. What do you think?
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Didn't you know that our time isn't as valuable as theirs?. Seriously though, as much time as we spend focusing on time-management in nursing school, there should be an equilvelant in medical school. That is, on top of Handwriting 101.
ReplyDeleteMargarita,
ReplyDeleteThat is true you don't need to wait for the Dr. to see you before the rapid strep test but remember those staffer have a protocol to follow they can't just do it becuase you showed up with questionable strep. Like you said they need to change the protocol unless that is done, we will have to continue waiting for so many hours to see a doctor before anything is done. Just see how people wait in ER before they get treatment! We need change.
It sounds you will not only be a great FNP due to your obvious respect for patients as people and their time but will probably also be a profitable one. Efficiancy is the key to any successful office for patient's as well as the employees. Sorry that happened to you and your child. I agree with you, what a waste!
ReplyDeleteLana