Can I Whine Now?

[CrazyCatWom]

/well, I should have done this whine last Friday, but Mr. Johnathon T. Fuzzibutt, Adventure Cat insisted on keeping me away from my computer and yesterday was all about grocery shopping day and fight with partner day, ya' know. Anyway, I had to go make a blood sacrifice for my primary care doctor. He is with one of the three health systems I deal with. And this system, I think, believes more in the STYLE of their clinic buildings than they do patients who do not drive themselves or have family members who drive them to their appointments. They arrive by a public bus system created specifically for the disabled, or by their insurance company's transport, or use Lyft or Uber. But once their appointment is over, they need to be picked up for the ride home. They have to wait outside, and because of the COVID 19 nightmare, going back in, then back out, then inside again, then back outside is not really permissable.

My whine?

These facilities by this healthcare system have nowhere for a patient to sit down. Nowhere where there would be shade. So I got to stand outside with the sun baking down on my head, having a really hard time seeing the screen on my phone so I could track the United Healthcare transport Lyft driver because it is New Mexico. Not Alaska. Not Washington State or Oragon where it might be overcast. NM no longer even gets a lonely cloud in the sky! Nor do they even plant a tree other than a Jashua Tree and you can't get shade from an over-rated cactus needle!

Oh! And because I'm right in the walkway to the entrance, I cannot pull my mask up or down so I could get a drink of the can of coffee I brought with me because I cannot drink coffee before the blood sacrafice! So I get to bake and get more and more PO'd because I have a CAN of coffee that I cannot drink through a mask!!!!!

[Tinker-Belle]

I love how you have written this. I felt like I was there with you! I would have been PO’d, too. Engineers and architects should have to consult with disabled folks to better provide environments conducive to everybody’s needs. It’s frustrating. Even so-called “handicap accessible” locations rarely prove to be entirely so.

[CrazyCatWom in reply to Tinker-Belle]

Oh, I know! I could see it if these were older locations where it might be really expensive to tear stuff down to make room fora bench with a shade canopy. But No! These are facilities that are less than 15 years old! Another health system I deal with has a bench with a shade canopy! Of course, I found out when I had to go there while in a wheel chair, they have a speed bump on the walkway just before the front doors! grrrrrr!

[Tinker-Belle in reply to CrazyCatWom]

It’s amazing. It truly is. We got a handicapped room in a hotel a while back. The shower was a roll in. Ok, that’s awesome. However, I couldn’t reach the shower wand, I guess they call it, to make the water actually hit me. I guess you have to have a caretaker in my example. Or, what about the accessible sinks but first off, the faucet is sort of hard to reach, the soap is too high, and the paper towels are at the other end of the sink.... I could go on and on. Like you said, you’d expect different for things built/designed recently, but nooooo...

[Tinker-Belle in reply to Tinker-Belle]

Or, how about getting into a bathroom stall in a wheelchair and then shutting the door. It takes some serious contortion!

[Tazmanian in reply to Tinker-Belle]

Bring a piece of string with you

[kdali]

I would have had to sit on the ground. I’m sorry, it sounds miserable.

[CrazyCatWom in reply to kdali]

The ground was all lanscaping rocks. I tried to sit on the concrete thing at the head of the parking slots, but I had a real hard time getting back up.

[Tazmanian in reply to kdali]

If I sat on the ground I would never get back up

[Yracy]

Oh how I feel you with the medical transportation, waiting for them is a sad day,and the precious buildings we can only enter once for them to collect their fees! Smh. And, that's only if the "cheapest" medical transport had picked you up for the journey! A 5min. medical visit can be a 5hour trip!!!

I dread it......

Whine all you need to, it's ok!!!

Stay strong and blessed...

[RoyceNewton]

What can we do to help us with this sort of problem? Who can we talk to? What can we do? where do we start? msAA can you help?

[twooldcrows]

wow this is truly a bs time having to stand outside and not be able to enjoy your coffee... wow i would of let someone know how i felt ...this is terrible i hope you are able to let someone know about this problem ...you should have asked for an ambulance for getting to sit in the sun for along time ,i wouldn't of done that too hard on us with MS...wow ...i would be making some phone calls to the company and insurance about all of us ...it is great that they provide the ride but about the time in between i would ask them...i am sorry ...i probably just added to your frustation..good luck ....love and happiness...to get so action for more happiness...

[Kenu]

My best friends wife can’t get into a vehicle anymore and has to ride in wheelchair 🦼. So the last two doctors appointment he set up with urban transportation. Was $4. For him and his wife round trip, cheap. But just like everyone else you have to wait to get back home 🏡. Luckily both places allowed them to wait inside with mask 😷 on. Both times were about 30 minutes. So with winter ❄️ coming waiting outside would really be the pits 😡. Bu he says for $4. It’s worth the wait. I think 🤔 reports to Medicare and Supplement insurance would be a great place to complain. NOT right setting in heat and cold 🥶. Ken 🐾🐾

[jimeka]

That sounds like a bit of a nightmare day, it’s enough to make anyone crabby, even without ms. You need to inform your doctor, as it’s not right for you to be subjected to such conditions. You have every right to whine, vent, complain, that’s what we are here for, to understand and listen. Let us know if you do report it and how you get on, I hope they listen to you. Blessings Jimeka 🤗

[BettysMom]

Valid rant, for sure.

[Ali_B62]

Designers never seem to consult with those who will use the facilities, do they? Unfortunately medical facilities don't think things through either. I share your frustration even though I don't have much physical impairment. Nobody thinks about even the elderly needing seating outside. I really hope you can get help with this. I'm afraid I would have had to get my caffeine fix, so the mask would have come off temporarily!🥰

[pamgarner]

here is the answer to drinking with a mask,a women shouted at me once because I pulled down my mask to take a sip of coffee,so I thought this will never happen again! i have 2 masks that i took small scissors ant cut a small hole in the center and carry a straw,so if i want to drink something i put the straw through the hole and sip,why did I ever have to think of this???

[pamgarner]

they need to set up a tent and some "socially distant" chairs to get out of the sun if they are going to make you wait outside

[hairbrain4]

That sounds like a whine was due, although you were very conservative and polite about it. I agree that it seems as if they only care about the perception of taking care of people. Making people stand outside in the heat is only asking for the patient to come back in through the ER door. I would have pulled my mask down to take a sip now and then. They can't arrest you for doing that. They can't make you wear a mask. That said they don't have to let into their building etc. But letting you take a drink to keep from passing out is inhumane. You should write a letter to the facility about your experience. If you don't get a response you can then put it out on social media and even the local paper. You might get a response from them then, maybe even get something changed.