Let me complain about Dr. offices...

We spend a lot of time in and out of doctor's offices. Today we were in one. We waited a long time so I had time to think...

I have come to know the parking areas, walk-ways, elevators, bathrooms, waiting rooms, triage (or whatever they call the room before the room), and patient examination rooms.

If I ruled the world, or at least ran of doctor's office/building here is what I would do:

1. Valet parking, everyone should have valet parking. The parking lot for us to today was terrible, it is always terrible. There is a petition circulating at this office complex demanding more attention to the parking problem. This particular parking lot has brought me to tears before, made us late many times even when we have arrived before the appointment time and even been yelled at by a "sweet" old lady jockeying for a parking space.

If not valet, need more handicap parking (and people that actually needed could use it). I need space to get Brayden in and out of his wheelchair without being in fear for his life or at least knocking another car with the door or wheelchair.

Also, for those waiting for me to back out of my parking space, be patient. It takes some time to load Brayden in, get his feeding pump situated, buckle him and load his wheelchair. Staring me down or flashing your lights is NOT going to make me move faster, it will only get me flustered and take more time.

2. Walkways need to be that...walkways, not extra places to park nor places that mean speed up. For those driving they need to let people cross the walkways, remember pedestrians have the ride of way.

3. Elevators that have the doctor office listing inside it, so many get lost just riding the elevator. And please make sure those elevators work and do not creek...I cannot handle a creaky elevator.

4. Bathrooms...hmmm. I was chuckling to myself today when I was rolling Brayden into a "handicap accessible" bathroom. The door was huge and extremely heavy. I had to prop the door open with my bum and hoist Brayden in his wheelchair, over that awkward bump in the floor transition. Then coming out, well I almost took off my ankle with that heavy door.

5. Waiting rooms are never fun. Lots of people around and waiting. Most of the doctors we visit have a very strict policy of arriving for your appointment on time, if you are 15 minutes late, they will cancel your appointment (even if you have been driving in a terrible NoVA ice storm and it has taken 2 hours to get there). They will cancel it. Rescheduling for the specialists are at least 3 months out. So why doesn't it apply the other way around? Today we sat and waited and waited 45 minutes after our appointment time. That is incredibly frustrating and happens more often than not.

6. Triage - where they do height, weight, temperature and blood pressure. I have one request...please get a scale for disabled children, ones that cannot sit up on their own, a scale that will hold them. I DO NOT enjoy standing on a scale, weighing myself, then weighing me holding Brayden to find out how much he weighs. Not fun.

7. Patient examination rooms are always boring and give a false sense of hope. Hope that is in thinking the doctor will be in soon. Finally you make it back from the waiting room and then sit in the exam room, waiting.

I am done with my complaining. I feel better. Till the next appointment.