O brave new world . . .

[ex-khobar Andy]

I had to go in for a scan today at the hospital. Curiously I go to the Louisville Women's and Children's Hospital although I should make it clear, I am neither a women nor a children.

Anyway: they have installed these new self log-in screens. You go in, go to the registration desk, give your name and DOB, and they tell you to take a seat. I'm in their system from many visits over the years. I take a seat and after about 10 pages of my book they call me over.

A screen is free and they direct me to it. A nurse comes over. "Touch the screen where it says 'Touch here when ready'". I obey. "Enter your first name." She probably means me to do it in the little box which says 'first name.' "Enter your last name." "OK got it" I tell her encouragingly. "Enter your date of birth" she tells me. She probably means in these little boxes labeled MM DD YYYY. Like magic the blinking cursor jumps from MM to DD to YYYY. She stands over me while I sign my name or initials four times. Including acknowledging that she has given me the privacy HIPAA notification. (She hasn't; but I'm not one to stand on ceremony.)

After a few minutes I'm done. I'm not sure that this new system (I nearly said new-fangled but I'm glad I didn't) has saved any time, least of all mine. She prints out the little bracelet thingy with name address DOB and barcode and sends me down the corridor to the imaging office. Where they scan my arm band just to make sure that I have not become an imposter in that last 50 feet. The actual scan takes less time than the log-in - lie down here, breathe when the machine tells you to, and we're done.

Having said all that and raised a cheap laugh or two I have to say this. A couple of hours later I am on the weight machine at the gym. You know: the one where you try to pull bigger weights than the guy in the machine next to you. If you get your timing right and choose your competition carefully you can generally do it. My phone pings. "You have a new test result." And there is a message from my doctor telling me I am fine and they will see me in a few months. The healthcare system works in mysterious ways for those of us lucky enough to have access. Vote Kamala in November so more people can be taken care of.

[Burning Petard]

Amen, brother. snailgate.

[Big RR]

It's always nice to have a good test result,

[Sue U]

I go to the Louisville Women's and Children's Hospital although I should make it clear, I am neither a women nor a children.

Very open-minded of you.