The Doctor Next Door by Elaine Holt

Author:Elaine Holt
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781633935761
Publisher: Koehler Books
Published: 2015-11-24T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

DON’T DIVE HEAD FIRST . . .

I hope I’ve been supportive

I’ve tried not to interfere

I never wanted to control you

With self-doubt or looming fear.

I ask though that you promise

This one request—don’t negotiate

Because if you ignore my warning

Regret may come too late.

Never, Never dive head first

Into a pond, a pool, a lake.

A moment of lapsed judgment

Could mark a life’s mistake.

To learn another way of living

It may be seemingly unfair

This will be your only choice

You’ll live your life out in a chair.

The quadriplegics I have come to know

Have accessed inner strength

But to reverse their injury

They’d go to any length.

These folks have touched my life

To see their struggles of each day

To function in the world we know

In their unique and altered way.

Their strength and perseverance

An inspiration to us all

It seems our inconveniences

Through their eyes seem so small.

So please just heed my warning

In your mind you’ll hear my voice

I don’t care whose doing what nearby

Please make the only choice.

Don’t dive head first . . .

***

I will never forget one of my first encounters with a quadriplegic patient. We knew in advance about his condition because the referring doctor had called me ahead of time and apprised me of some of his special medical needs. The patient himself had also mentioned his disability when making the appointment to ensure that he could access the office. The wheelchair ramp was assembled and the staff was anticipating his arrival. Nothing went as predicted after that, and I quickly accepted that I was not in charge of this visit.

First, he arrived alone. He rang on his cell phone and asked that someone open the door. Assumption number one was that he would have an able-bodied shadow of sorts with him to do mundane things like open the door or ring the doorbell. The receptionist hopped up quickly after receiving his cell phone call and, embarrassed, opened the door while apologizing for his need to wait outside while phoning us, sitting six feet away on the sidewalk. Graciously, he said it was no problem and that he was grateful for the human receptionist because phone trees posed a unique inconvenience for him.

Once inside he settled into the lobby, deftly maneuvering his chair. The receptionist reached for the clipboard containing the “new patient” information and stopped herself just before she handed him the clipboard and pen.

Registering new patients in the office had become a well-choreographed dance for her and this time, she was off the music. She stopped awkwardly and held the clipboard and pen close to her chest instead and said something on the order of, “We usually ask that new patients fill out this information sheet and sign the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) privacy form on their initial visit. Would you like help with this?”

He accepted and she took a seat beside him in the lobby un-buffered by her receptionist’s partition. He invited her into his personal space, asking that she find his wallet in his briefcase and locate his insurance card. Step by

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