“My doctor is wonderful. Once when I couldn’t afford an operation, he touched up the X-rays.” — Joey Bishop
A R E A L G A M E C H A N G E R
This week’s Wednesday Challenge on partner Susan and my alternate site, WEEKLY PROMPTS, dealt with the words WIND BLOWN.
The COVID virus has changed the medical landscape as far as patent waiting rooms are concerned. Appointment times are staggered, doctors consult with their patients over the telephone and there are plenty of face masks and hand sanitizer stations sprinkled liberally throughout the seating area.
Last year when I had my last yearly physical at this clinic the seating was scarce, the number of children running freely about the area was not too closely monitored and coughing and sneezing were not taken too seriously.
This year the only thing missing from my doctor’s office was a hint of desert sagebrush moving up and down the deserted hallways as the clinic doors open and closed to let the needy enter its hallowed premises.
As the above photo demonstrates controlled patient seating arrangement have been established and wearing a mask is now mandatory and not optional. Staff are wearing masks and even my physician entered the examination room wearing his white surgical mask.
I recently booked my physical examination last week and must admit that I was a bit concerned about entering this area in the short term. But I am at that age when a yearly physical is the appropriate and prudent thing to do. So I made the necessary phone calls to the office, determined that their patient protection protocols were up tp snuff and visited my physician.
My physical went well and I walked quickly through the waiting area. I did not want to tempt fate and prayed that I did not contract any type of nasty virus during my visit there.
I looked forward to next year’s physical and hope that the virus will have been curtailed by next summer.
THE MAIN AISLE (c) 2023 