European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 16, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 20 a the stars and stripes tuesday june 16,1992 f at Ann Landers dear Ann Landers your advice to complain directly to the doctor who consistently keeps his patients waiting was right on the Mark. After yet another Long wait i wrote a poem and handed it to my doctor on my next visit. I made my Point and my doctor enjoyed it. Now when i go to see him i Seldom wait More than 10 or 7 15 minutes. When he shakes my hand he says a i done to want to keep you waiting. You might write another we need doctors but they need us too. The next time your doctor keeps you waiting a Long time Tell him or her How you feel a but do it with humor if possible. Betty Balkwell North port Fla. Dear Betty your poem is wonderful. I Hope patients who arc kept waiting a Lonny nning time will mail it to their doctors. Here it is hey Doc remember me what sort of egotism causes doctors to suppose a to time s of Little value do they really think it goes without apology to let me sit All Day and wait for my appointment with a doctor who is always late today s crossword dear Abby dear Abby what a pleasure it was to read your column in which you urge your readers to pay their physicians and dentists. I have been a practising urologist in los Angeles for 13 years and during that time my office expenses have increased dramatically but my income has decreased because of severe cuts in reimbursements by medicare and other third party payers. I Start my Hospital rounds at 6 30 . Then 1 go to surgery followed by a Busy office schedule and postoperative evening rounds at the Hospital. I usually do not get Home to my family until 8 . A unless 1 have a late meeting then its even later. This does t leave much time for my family. The other Day a patient whom i was evaluating for prostate cancer was telling me about his son a the when i asked him what kind of doctor his son was he replied a ooh he a i asked him How old his son was and he said a a he a 43.�?� it seemed Odd that a 43-year-old doctor could retire until 1 Learned that he was a veterinarian. Apparently people have no problem paying the vets for their pets yet they can to seem to understand that physicians have to earn a living too. And never mind paying them on the instalment plan. Just try to offer your Auto Mechanic or plumber 30 percent of his Bill or an employee 30 percent of his paycheck quibble did you hear that noise or cxh6w.ey? it sounded like a division of in inv tanks. It came from Over there and a a h0hen1 us ill Pacofi age see the entire a Nev of Tiv coming that tree Well give them a couple of minutes then Call for a couple of nuclear strikes to Slou the. M do in. Kevin i think that Lue need to 5lou Ouw you training just a Little w00d 6-/6 if there s Good reason Why i wait like your Day s hectic Pace explain done to just ignore. Ill try to take it with Good Grace. And will you kindly Book appointments with a schedule you can keep then patients wont be herded like a flock of stupid sheep. Patients need a doctor who will see them As a whole and treat not Only symptoms but those fears within the soul. I m not a broken leg a Case of flu a skin disease. In a human with a problem that in a hoping you can Case. Id like to think you care about your patients and their Fate. Arc doctors still compassionate or is caring out of Date so when you set my broken Bone remember it s connected to All the rest of me. My whole being is affected. If you will just do unto me As you a be done unto i May become your biggest fan and Send my friends to you. C creators Syndicate if i sound bitter in a not. I am just frustrated because in a not Able to spend As much time with each patient As i would like to so they can ask me questions. My fear is that because of these time constraints there May be More missed diagnoses and More errors in judgment. This is a real problem for the patient and the physician As this May Lead to an increase in malpractice litigation. Additionally Why should Bright american students go through four years of College four years of medical school and possibly six or seven years of surgical training finishing at age 32 with $150,000 in Loans to pay off now All they have to worry about is How to earn enough Money to pay off the Loans. Abby if we Are destined to have socialized Medicine in this country or an increase in government control and rationing of medical services i doubt very much whether the american people will be very Happy. I realize that this is already much too Long for you to print but i Hope you will find it sufficiently important to run at least a part of it in your column. Thank you. One very frustrated . Dear frustrated your sobering message is one 1 think my readers need to hear in Tull. 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