Balls and Walnuts
more than you ever wanted to know
Work
I doubt many of you still check the Other Blog since I haven’t posted there in months. I haven’t posted there in months because that’s my place to bitch about work, and I haven’t felt the need to bitch.
Things are actually pretty good.
Today, I had two separate docs — one an internist, one a pediatrician — tell me they’re very happy with the feedback they’re getting from their patients. Both invited me to come talk to their groups. Not that I enjoy lots of extra work preparing talks, but educating one’s referral base is a useful thing to do, and it’ll be a great way to meet my colleagues (also known as the people who will one day vote on whether I make partner).
I’ve got back the first round of numbers from patient surveys. They grade you on a one to ten scale on a variety of questions. How well did your doc explain things to you, do you feel confident in his abilities, did he use language you could understand, etc. The Kize wants us to get 8.5 or better, and all of my scores except one were above nine. My one “low” score, which was still better than 8.5, was for the question, “My doctor was familiar with my medical history.” So now I make a point of dropping info to prove I’ve been snooping around their charts. Sneaky me.
They keep me busy. The schedulers overbook the day, figuring on a certain percentage of no-shows, so it’s a bitch when I have no no-shows. When I was in private practice, my patients didn’t often no-show because word had gotten out that I would discharge patients for repeated no-shows. Can’t do that at the Kize, of course, but I suspect my no-show rate won’t be that high, at least not for my followups. Most people like me. Anyway, I like it busy; the day flies by.
It’s taken a while, but I’m finally getting that comfy feeling I had back up north — the feeling that I know the ropes, I understand the system, and that I’m able to deliver for my patients. It’s one of the main things I hated giving up when I left private practice.
So life is good, which is great for life but crappy for humor. Which, after all, thrives on pain.
D.
When it comes to work, there’s nothing better than to know you’re doing a good job and staying busy so that the day just melts away.
We don’t get enough positive feedback from our colleagues, but when it comes, it does create that warm, fuzzy feeling that all is right with the world.
I like your last two lines.
Thanks, Sis.
I’ve bought your birthday prezzy by the way. Was going to mail it off today but then realized it’s a $%@!ing national holiday (though not for us). And THEN I got called back in to urgent care, and that ate up my afternoon.
You may not get the timeliest birthday present this year . . .