I do appreciate friendly efficiency as I think we all do. Today I got to enjoy a shining example. I was scheduled for a CT scan (just prepping for an annual follow up appointment with one of my doctors) at our local hospital. The directions, which were sent to me by email, text and my chart, told me that I should arrive at 12:30pm for my 1:45pm appointment. I knew I would get an injection of dye and assumed that was why I needed to be there so early. My spouse drove me to the appointment because we planned to go to lunch after and we arrived at 12:25pm. Assuming there would be wait time involved, we had each brought a book to read. I was checked in by 12:26pm and at 12:28pm they called my name.
The friendly nurse / technologist walked me back to a room where a machine was ready and waiting. No need to take off shoes or clothes, just lie down and put my arms up and back over my head. I was given a saline injection and then the dye; in less than a minute it had flowed through my whole body, an interesting feeling. Then I just relaxed as I was moved back and forth, in and out of the machine. A mystery voice gave instructions - "breathe in, breathe out, don't breathe, breathe." This was repeated several times, and then we were all done. Ten minutes, start to finish. My spouse was astonished, as was I.
Next month I will meet with the doctor who ordered the test. It will be interesting to compare the timing of that appointment to this one.
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