Went for pre-admission testing today. They need to know your health status before breaking out the carving knife. I had some blood drawn for testing, an EKG and an interview with the anesthesiologist.

This brings me to an important point, emphasized by todays visit. The actual medical care is performed very efficiently. The administration part of the care is slow, and sometimes confused. The medical care, including the consult with anesthesia amounted to less than 25 minutes of a 2 hour visit. 10 minutes was dedicated to the initial check in, leaving about an hour and a half of waiting.

I am not a patient person when it comes to inefficiency. OK, I'm not a very patient person at all.

I marvel at the efficiency of the lab; I was called in, immediately directed to a seat where they started drawing blood. The required supplies were either laid out or within reach and the lab tech was printing my vial labels as she drew blood. The EKG was at least as efficient.

Contrast that with the admission process. The same questions are asked multiple times (because they are on different forms), they have no idea why you might be there, requiring yet another description of the issue, which suddenly requires some more forms. FML.

All of us have jobs that require us to deliver a product or service in a timely manner. Well, obviously only most of us. It seems that the DMV, post office workers and hospital clerks, among others, work on a slightly different schedule.

I know that the information gathered is valuable and essential- that is not my complaint. It is the inefficient use of time that bothers me.

Then again, maybe I just had a bad day. My leg bothers me, not just with the pain, but with the damage I may be doing to it. It just worries me. And gives me reason to complain. Hey! Get off my lawn!