Paperwork!
I've had more surgical procedures than I care to mention and now it looks like I have two more coming up - hip replacements.
These days, I think the paperwork and tests are worse than the operation. In the past, you were just told to be at the hospital on a certain day and all you had to do was turn up. Now it's turned into more of a legal procedure because the medical profession is trying to avoid being sued.
This is what has happened so far, ignoring the previous ten years of hip consultations:
- Saw GP, got written referrals to specialist & radiographer.
- Got hip X-rays.
(That was last week.) Today started badly with the car battery failing, resulting in a call to the NRMA for a replacement battery and me being over an hour and a quarter late for the surgeon's appointment. Then:
- Saw orthopaedic surgeon. Filled out three page clip-board questionaire. Agreed to have left hip replaced later in July. Got written referral to radiographer (because the previous ones didn't show enough leg). Got written referal to cardiographer. Told to have a dental check up (!!). Saw another health care professional to have the procedure explained again. Got asked more questions. Told about anaesthetist procedures. Got invitation to a hip replacement patient education programme. Got patient information sheet. Got glossy leaflet on hip surgery. Got an even glossier booklet on the latest "non-invasive" surgery method. Got two page information sheet from anaesthetist. Got a twelve page hospital admission questionaire to fill out at home. Got first progress questionaire on my current condition.
- Went to Cardiologist. Got another three page clip-board questionaire. Got appointment for 3rd July.
- Went to Ultrasound. Got yet another questionaire. Found out that the specialist also asked for chest X-rays. Got X-rays done. Got told to come back tomorrow for the X-rays.
That's five wretched questionaires (each asking the same basic information), two sets of hip X-rays, one set of chest X-rays, one cardiograph test and enough reading material for a month! Not to mention a mandatory dental check up.
Oh and a new car battery.