They know me by name.

by Melissa
Remember the theme song from Cheers?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.

You wanna go where people know,
people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name.

Well, the place they know my name-- in fact my voice, when I call,is my Pediatrician's office. I like the think it is the sheer number of children I haul in and out of there (5) that makes us so familiar, and not because we are there way too often. (well, we are there way too often, but not with the same child... you know, my kids love to share things, germs included.) I dont' know my own cell number, but I can recite the ped's number by heart...

Because I am Bossy, I've come up with a few things to make your relationship with the Pediatrician extra special ;)

1. Become good friends with the receptionist by treating her like the amazing woman she is. This will make a difference when you have a sick child and the office is extra busy
2. Be On time. Call if you are running late. If your doctor is always late and you don't want to wait an extra hour, call them and ask if they are on schedule or if you can come 10 minutes later.
   
3. Listen to the doctor, express your concerns, and expect that she/he will have the thoughtful answers. After my vast experience in parenting (que laugh track) my doctor really listens to me when I've done my homework and can site specific examples about my concerns. (Most recently the broken arm that didn't seem broken unless he tried to catch his fall or put his arms through the carseat straps.)
   
4. Be interested. My doctor loves to tell me about her recent mission trips doing church work, her kids Halloween costumes (uber-creative!) and how she makes a perfect Thanksgiving Turkey. Becoming friends has been great, she is an amazing lady and a thorough doctor. She also has gotten to know me and trusts my maternal instincts.
   
5. Be ready with your concerns and don't take too long. She is on a schedule, and besides, who wants to spend any extra time with small children in a doctors office?
6. Follow up. When there is something that needs to be followed through with do it-- x-rays, blood tests, the entire antibiotic!!! Our doctor suggested a blood test for my 3 month old son for MRSA. Yes, MRSA! This was one of those times when I felt silly taking my Baby #5 in for a "diaper rash"... I was annoyed beyond belief. Disgusted that she thought I was a nasty housekeeper and didn't wash my hands (maybe a bit post-pardum hormonal too... and paranoid...) She was right though, he had MRSA. Thank goodness I listened to her and didn't brush it off. (he is fine now!)
   

See, I am Bossy, even if I just married in. Now I'm off to be nurse to my Evie who had her tonsils out yesterday.
(I'm a bit hyperactive with the thermometer... they told me to call if she hits 101.5 *and she has been 100.7* all day. Wouldn't you know it is Friday night. Don't all *possible* medical needs occur on Fridays???)