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After a long series of investigation for a GI problem, I ended up
with an MRI scan of the liver, with an out-patient appointment 7 weeks
later. It seemed a long gap. Before the scan started, I asked the
radiographer if she would tell me what they found, knowing full well that
she "wasn't allowed to" -which she indeed confirmed, saying that I would
have to wait until the outpatient appointment to find out.
At the end of the process, a person whom I'd not met before said "Hello,
I'm Dr X, the consultant radiologist. You may not remember me, but...",
proceeded to tell me that I'd taught her some years before, and then gave
me a full explanation of what they'd found.
It felt as though I was being privileged as a result of where I work
(though maybe Dr X does this with all her patients); but I shouldn't have
been so privileged. Rapid communication cannot be other than beneficial;
what on earth would have been the point in my waiting 7 weeks? Who
benefits?
How to improve the system
After a long series of investigation for a GI problem, I ended up
with an MRI scan of the liver, with an out-patient appointment 7 weeks
later. It seemed a long gap. Before the scan started, I asked the
radiographer if she would tell me what they found, knowing full well that
she "wasn't allowed to" -which she indeed confirmed, saying that I would
have to wait until the outpatient appointment to find out.
At the end of the process, a person whom I'd not met before said "Hello,
I'm Dr X, the consultant radiologist. You may not remember me, but...",
proceeded to tell me that I'd taught her some years before, and then gave
me a full explanation of what they'd found.
It felt as though I was being privileged as a result of where I work
(though maybe Dr X does this with all her patients); but I shouldn't have
been so privileged. Rapid communication cannot be other than beneficial;
what on earth would have been the point in my waiting 7 weeks? Who
benefits?
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests