Screwed up review

I returned to the polyclinic for a review (that's when the x-ray report will be out) last Tues. Frankly, I was expecting to see the same doctor. But nope, I was given another doctor. Anyway, I'm used to seeing different doc. If they have the records, having another doc to concur that I'm okay is even more assuring, right? As usual, the wait is long but this time round, it is accompanied with "live broadcasts" of the conversation of one ah pek and two ah sohs. Their interesting "long wait", "cut-queue", "lousy loc-tor/lor-koon" complaints, and other "no-basis-theories" in hokkien kept me very occupied and entertained. (Btw, one patient's long wait is because her file is not inside the room... tsk tsk tsk) But that's beside the point...

Guess what happen when it was my turn?

1. I went in to find the doctor with an empty file. How I know? Simple. I saw him wrote on a blank piece of paper something like this: No previous records found... etc. (It's a brand new empty file. No x-ray films. No x-ray results/reports. No whatever. Well done! I suspect my file is still with the last doc I see. No wonder he told me before I left during the last consultation: "See you on Tuesday")

2. With no records... I wasn't surprised when he asked me what's wrong with me. "I come for a review of my knee injury"... (Anyway, whether you know what review means, I don't know... I was told to come for a review and that's all I'm going to say... you jolly well go check and find my records. I'm the last patient before your lunch time... I've time and a lot of patience to play along.) He checked online to see the kind of medicine I was given. Then he checked my knee. Then he said something of this sort: "No problem. Wound has dried..." (What the hack, even a 5-year old kid can tell if the wound is dry or wet lor). Then he asked me not to peel the scab (I ignore him...) and he started to draw me a pic of the knee, wound, scab, etc... and tell me what would happen to the tissues beneath if I peel. (SO LAME! I am here to find out more about my x-ray results... not to attend bio lessons.) Now I know why everyone before me is so impatient about their long wait.

3. Then he printed me an MC. Frankly, if he's sending me off without any mention of the x-ray results... I'm going to screw him upside down. But luckily he asked, "Have you done any x-ray?". (*A little disappointed*) I replied (*not sure if it sounded a little sarcastic*): "Yes, and that was last Saturday. That's why I'm here for the review." Then he frantically went to another nearby PC to log in to check the x-ray film pics. But some doctors gave me the impression that they know nuts about PC somehow. On one occassion, I had to point out to a doctor how she should click on some options before my MC can be printed (I know because the error messages are there for obvious reason) This doctor could only manage to open up one x-ray pic but not the other one (too far away, not sure why)... anyway, he blamed the software for being user-unfriendly. Uh, that's your problem, not mine! Then, he called the x-ray department to say that he don't have the records of Miss So-and-So... and requested for a copy... I heard this word... maybe misplaced... somewhere... (Do they have any ISO checks, I wonder?)... And he went back to his useless numerous clicking of the poor mouse.

4. (knock knock)... There comes my x-ray report... He showed me and said, "The report says no fracture. No problem. You can go already. Make payment at counter 7."

Frankly, I give a thumbs down for this screwed-up review. (But I'm not sure why I couldn't be bothered to kick up a fuss...)

Does subsidised = compromised/discounted service quality?

I was quite impressed with the last doctor I see on Saturday. He slightly changed my perception of the polyclinic doctors (some really have that bo-chap attitude with no passion in their work... so much so that I thought they are not much different from the factory workers who plainly go through the QC of all the parts/components in the production line)... but this doctor puts my old perception nicely back into place again.