How to Cope in a Busy Clinic

Dr. Ramesh Prasad

You might have noticed that the post-transplant clinics keep getting busier by the day. There are more and more patients who need to be seen, and sometimes clinics are overbooked. Waiting times in the sitting are can be very long, and that is after a long, expensive, and difficult commute to come to the clinic. You may be tired, thirsty, and hungry. The running television program is boring. There are no magazines lying around. Telephone visits are no longer a reliable option. What can you do?

Do your laboratory testing before the appointment, so it will be one less thing to worry about on appointment day. Ensure everything is set out for your appointment the night before, including paperwork, purse, clothing, etc... The less you have to run around looking for things at the last minute, the less stress you will have during your trip over to the clinic. Build time in before the appointment if possible to do something relaxing.

After you arrive, please don’t forget to check in at the reception. Often people forget to let the office personnel know that they are present.

Always bring something to do with you to your office visit. SMH has free Wi-Fi available so you can work while waiting. Clear your schedule on the appointment day if you can, so that the appointment becomes the only stressor you have for the day. Distract yourself in the waiting room with a novel or a game. Visit the learning centre right across the hallway, where you can peruse the brochures or use the computer. Write down the issues you wish to discuss if you have not done so already. Bring along a water bottle and a small snack, especially if you have diabetes.

During the appointment, be willing to take a breath and tell the nurse or doctor you need a moment to gather your thoughts. After the appointment, again do something calm and enjoyable. Don’t rush life if you don’t have to. There is more to life than increasing its speed.

As the wise man once said, “a visit to the doctor is never a social visit”. On our part, we will try to make this non-social visit as pleasant as possible.