I was awake at 7 a.m. writing this blog when a guest called with symptoms of a bladder infection.
Being American, her first question was: do I accept
her insurance. I explained that I didn’t, adding that there was an urgent care
clinic a mile away that would.
“I’d probably have to wait forever,” she said. “I have
meetings.”
“I’m definitely convenient,” I said.
“Do you bring the medicine?”
“I do.”
I wanted to finish writing and eat breakfast, so I
told her I’d arrive at 9 a.m., thereby demonstrating that, despite my wisdom
and vast experience, I do stupid things.
It’s a rule of hotel doctoring to go as soon as
possible. Guests who wait often reconsider, so I knew what to expect when the
hotel’s number popped up on my caller ID at 8:00.
“I’m feeling better,” she lied. “I won’t need to see a
doctor after all.”
“You won’t save much at the clinic,” I pointed out.
“They’ll charge extra for the urine test and extra for the culture, and you’ll
have to find a pharmacy and pay for the prescription.”
“Oh, no! I’m feeling fine,” she insisted. “Thank you
for your help.” She hung up.
When patients cancel, I console myself if the illness
seems likely to produce an unsatisfying encounter. For example, guests are often
disappointed when I can’t cure their respiratory infection. But urine
infections are easy to treat and treatment produces dramatic improvement. I hate to miss
one.
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