Practicing What I Preach

Earlier this week, I had a heart procedure performed by an excellent cardiac electrophysiologist at one of the leading hospitals in the Chicago area.  So, I further enhanced my credentials as the “Professional Patient!”  I am happy to report that I followed all of my own advice, which is set out in my upcoming book, Patient Confidential, Tips and Advice To Keep You Safe As You Navigate the Healthcare System.

My doctor performs various types of electrophysiology procedures, two of which are somewhat similar.  I wanted to be “double sure” my doc was about to perform the one we had agreed on.  When I scheduled in advance, I said to the scheduler, “Now, I’m coming for Procedure A, not Procedure B, right?”  I asked the same question of the nurse who was prepping me for the procedure.  The doc, who was one step ahead of me, arrived and said, “we are doing Procedure A.”  I said, “Right, and not Procedure B.”  He confirmed and gave me the consent form which I saw stated he would be doing Procedure A, so I signed it.  When I got into the procedure room, I listened carefully as the doc called the “time out,” which is explained in the section entitled “Patient Safety Procedures” in Patient Confidential. I heard him say for the recorded time out that he was going to do Procedure A on Mr. Richard Lang.”  All was well.