You should see how my medical staffs treat me
I WILL NEVER FORGET how my doctor’s office treated me.
I had an appointment with my ophthalmologist. I visit him once a year, so I tried to remember what I had to do when the staff technicians tested me. Did I remain in my electric cart, or did I transfer to the chair by the machine with all the testing equipment? I couldn’t remember, and I was a little anxious about safely getting in position for my examination.
It started with the office receptionist. I go to Building 2 at the Toledo Clinic to see Dr. Michael Janowicz, my ophthalmologist.
I arrived at 12:48 for my 1:10 appointment. Traffic was a little congested, and I was a bit frustrated that I was not at the check-in desk a little earlier since there are forms to fill out. I did not need to worry since the receptionist told me I was fine in the time department. She was the first person I met in the office, and her calmness and friendliness made me feel right at home.
I had no need to be nervous. From the first moment I met anyone in the office, from the receptionist to the technician to my doctor, they helped me test safely by helping me adjust to the office equipment with their knowledge oftheequipment.Theymanagedtoget me in place for testing by asking me what I could do to position my cart so the technicians and my doctor could run the tests and examination.
The next person I met was Candace, an office technician. She would do my testing on the big eye machine. That’s what I called it, but I found out later from Laura, another technician, that it is called a slit lamp. A slit lamp is a microscope with a bright light used during an eye exam. It gives an ophthalmologist a closer look at the different structures at the front of the eye and inside the eye. It’s a key tool in determining the health of your eyes and detecting eye disease. I like my name better, the big eye machine, but I wasn’t going to question her. She does put all those eye drops in my eyes.
Before my examination, Candace asked if I could position my electric cart a little closer to the machine or, for another test, if I could raise my seat up higher or swivel closer to the machine. Well, with her direction, I was able to swivel my cart seat 360 degrees, and I could raise and lower it a few inches. I followed her directions, and she was able to conduct my eye tests on the slit lamp.
Candace was able to test multiple things on the machine; she checked my eye pressure, the macula. Dr. Janowicz came in, he looked inside my eyes and checked for cataract growth, the health and color of my optic nerve, glaucoma, any injuries, etc. The exam went well, and he asked if I felt safe sitting at an angle to the slit lamp machine as he tested me. I felt safe, but a bit weird since I was sitting backwards on my cart’s seat. Dr. Janowicz said he would work quickly. The exam was thorough, and I was lucky to have a great report!
Other health offices help patients, too. At Dental Group West, my hygienist, Kim Langenderfer, lets me drive my cart close to the dental chair in the exam room. She even drives my cart out into the office corridor while she cleans my teeth. Dr. Tracy Poole, my dentist, is also accommodating, letting me park in a special place close to the dental building, and is attentive to any needs I might have while she works on my teeth. They both help me by making me feel safe in the exam or dental operatory room—that’s where Dr. Pole can do restorative work like crowns, and other dental procedures.
From ProMedica Podiatry, Dr. Paris L. Malin, DPM, my podiatrist, and Rachael, the MA (medical assistant), are wonderful, too. When I come to their room, they allow me to stay in my cart and place my legs on the examination chair to examine and work on my feet. On one occasion, I was in the office parking lot and the ramp of my van would not deploy. I called the office and told them that I was in the lot. I asked them to come out to my van, and we were able to get the ramp down. Probably not a task in any one’s job description, but they just helped!
Dr. Karena Zapiecki, my primary care doctor at Mercy Family Physicians, is quite sensitive to my needs. When I am anxious about getting on a scale or about a future procedure, she offers advice on how to make the tests, procedures, or examinations more accommodating for me.
Medical professionals go through rigorous training and internships. So many professionals do their job well. I applaud those from my experience who go over and beyond medical tests. These professionals place people first, make them feel comfortable, and still are excellent healthcare professionals. What they do is bring a human awareness and consideration to all the clinical tasks they perform and with the machinery and medical tools they use to do their work. They truly place people first.
I try to do my part by telling the office as I schedule any appointment that I use an electric cart and might need some help during the exam. I also tell them how the staff and I solved the challenge at the last visit, and that helps.
Medical professionals are bombarded with government regulations, reports, and paperwork. It is a challenge for them to be personal sometimes as they face mandatory reporting. At one appointment, a doctor barely looked at me because they were writing notes into their iPad. So, I am grateful for my medical professionals who not only are excellent, but remind me that I am a person by treating me with respect, and concern.
Treating each patient as an individual is affirming. I think that can make everyone feel better and maybe heal better. For sure, patients might keep coming back to their doctors because they were treated well. Like a person! Sister Karen Zielinski is the Director of Canticle Studio. Canticle Studio is a part of the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, OH’s overall advancement effort and has a mission of being a creative center where artists generate works, products, and services in harmony with the mission of the Sisters St. Francis. She can be reached at kzielins@sistersosf.org or 419-824-3543. ✲
