My teenager would not be cleared to participate in a sport by a drug-store clinic nurse practitioner. This child is involved in a number of activities which require physicals. My standard operating procedure is that when a physical is needed I get a same day appointment at this clinic, get the physical exam done, pay in full, and we're done. This was a reliable, high velocity system until today. I do a few per year and have done so for several years at the same location.
Today I fill out the papers as I always have noting a family member with a heart attack before 50 years of age. The NP tells me that she won't clear the kid for sports without cardiology saying that the ticker is okay. Last time out a cool NP mentioned it, but signed off on everything no problem. Today they are worried about children having undiagnosed heart problems on the sports field. She lets on that an MD could sign off, not necessarily a cardiologist. Of course there is no, "oh, you don't have a COVID-19 myocarditis injection so you should be fine...," moment.
We leave to the clinic and I get on the horn with the kids pediatrician and I tell her the issue. I have a healthy kid who needs sports physical clearance. Lady on the phone tells me about kids who had COVID and have heart problems... I tell the recepcionista that look, I need a doctor to sign off on a sports physical and I think it is absurd to take a 13 year old with no heart problem to a cardiologist. As an alternative I'd like for her primary care physician to do this. So let's be sure we understand all the parameters we are working within here and figure out how to make this happen...
Can I call you back while I check with one of the doctors?
How about I hold for you? I'm driving my daughter back to school and I'll be here for 15-20 minutes. Thanks... Several minutes later the receptionist gets back to me and says that yes, if my child can pass the physical with the doctor they can clear up the family history piece. Would you like to schedule an appointment for next week?
Naturally this is COVID vaccines fucking up vaxkins so now all kids have to go to a cardiologist. This will be a distributed denial of service attack on cardiology and actual heart patients will die because of a run on cardiac care. Honking intensifies.
My teenager would not be cleared to participate in a sport by a drug-store clinic nurse practitioner. This child is involved in a number of activities which require physicals. My standard operating procedure is that when a physical is needed I get a same day appointment at this clinic, get the physical exam done, pay in full, and we're done. This was a reliable, high velocity system until today. I do a few per year and have done so for several years at the same location.
Today I fill out the papers as I always have noting a family member with a heart attack before 50 years of age. The NP tells me that she won't clear the kid for sports without cardiology saying that the ticker is okay. Last time out a cool NP mentioned it, but signed off on everything no problem. Today they are worried about children having undiagnosed heart problems on the sports field. She lets on that an MD could sign off, not necessarily a cardiologist. Of course there is no, "oh, you don't have a COVID-19 myocarditis injection so you should be fine...," moment.
We leave to the clinic and I get on the horn with the kids pediatrician and I tell her the issue. I have a healthy kid who needs sports physical clearance. Lady on the phone tells me about kids who had COVID and have heart problems... I tell the recepcionista that look, I need a doctor to sign off on a sports physical and I think it is absurd to take a 13 year old with no heart problem to a cardiologist. As an alternative I'd like for her primary care physician to do this. So let's be sure we understand all the parameters we are working within here and figure out how to make this happen...
Can I call you back while I check with one of the doctors?
How about I hold for you? I'm driving my daughter back to school and I'll be here for 15-20 minutes. Thanks... Several minutes later the receptionist gets back to me and says that yes, if my child can pass the physical with the doctor they can clear up the family history piece. Would you like to schedule an appointment for next week?
Naturally this is COVID vaccines fucking up vaxkins so now all kids have to go to a cardiologist. This will be a distributed denial of service attack on cardiology and *actual heart patients* will die because of a run on cardiac care. Honking intensifies.
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