E-mails (LB)

LOOKING BACK - Repeating a blog that I first published on October 27, 2008.

          A few days ago I received an e-mail with instructions for my job as an election clerk - in Fairfax County, Virginia.  It told me when to report, what to do, and told me that I would receive $50 for working half a day at the polls in November.  I replied that I could not afford to drive there for just $50 and that I was already serving as Judge of Elections here in Pennsylvania.  I also suggested that they check their e-mail address.  

          Every few weeks I receive messages like this for somebody else - get well wishes, announcements, bills, shipment notices, plans to visit us, etc.  Once I even received someone's password for a porn site.  Then, a few hours later, I received an e-mail from this guy's wife telling the husband that she was looking forward to being with him tonight.  So, I passed the information about the site on to her.  I often wonder what happened after she received it.  

          All of these wrong e-mails come to me because somebody probably forgot to add a required number or a letter to DBLK.  And, what a difference that missing letter or number makes.  And folks are careless with their e-mail addresses.  We invite parents in Awana to join an Awana e-mail mailing list to receive announcements about Awana.  About 20% of those that we receive are either incorrect or can't be read because of their carelessness.

         This all reminds me of one of my favorite stories.  A couple from Minneapolis decided to go to Florida for a long winter weekend to thaw out.  They planned to stay at the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years ago.  

          Because both had jobs they found it difficult to coordinate their travel schedules.  It was decided that he would fly to Florida on Thursday and his wife would join him on Friday.  

          Upon arriving, the husband sent his wife an e-mail back to her in Minneapolis.  But he missed a letter in her address and didn't realize his error.  

          In Houston, a widow had just returned from her husband's funeral.  The husband had been a minister for many years and was called home to glory after a heart attack.  The widow checked her e-mail for messages.  Upon reading the first one, she fainted.  Her son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the message on the computer screen.  It read,  To: My Loving Wife   Subject: I've Arrived.  I know you are surprised to hear from me.  They have computers here now and you are allowed to send e-mails to loved ones.  I've just arrived and checked in.  Everything is prepared for your arrival tomorrow.  Looking forward to seeing you then!  Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was.  

           P.S.  It sure is hot down here!

          So be very careful about using e-mail addresses!

1.     Lord, I care not for riches, neither silver nor gold;

I would make sure of Heaven, I would enter the fold.

In the book of Thy kingdom, with its pages so fair,

Tell me, Jesus, my Savior, is my name written there?

Is my name written there,

On the page white and fair?

In the book of Thy kingdom,

Is my name written there?

2.     Lord, my sins they are many, like the sands of the sea,

But Thy blood, O my Savior, is sufficient for me;

For Thy promise is written, in bright letters that glow,

"Though your sins be as scarlet, I will make them like snow."

Is my name written there,

On the page white and fair?

In the book of Thy kingdom,

Is my name written there?

3.     Oh! that beautiful city, with its mansions of light,

With its glorified beings, in pure garments of white;

Where no evil thing cometh to despoil what is fair;

Where the angels are watching, yes, my name's written there.

Yes my name's written there,

On the page white and fair?

In the book of Thy kingdom,

Yes my name's written there?

Medical Portals

Portal  - noun
1  a doorway, gate, or other entrance, esp. a large and elaborate one.
2  Computing - an Internet site providing access or links to other sites.

           
           Today the term portal has been applied to medical practices and their internet sites on which one can gather information about future appointments, summaries of previous visits, test results, meds and a variety of important information.  I use ours quite frequently.
          But there are some problems associated with medical portals.  A major one is that in many cases practices have their own portals and aren't linked to those of others.  For example, we have two portals for LGH, two for our family practice, two for our urological group, one for Women's and Babies practice, two for our eye doctor, and one for my foot doctor.   I think that is ten different medical portals, all with their own required passwords and information.  And there is no sharing of results with other portals and that is both inconvenient and sad.
           The best of our portals are those with Lancaster General Hospital.  Of course they have the money and many area practices are now under their umbrella.  We like it because it is fast, up to date, and complete.  For example, we can go to one of their main labs for blood work and sometimes the results will be posted on the portal an hour or two later.  In contrast, our family practice will often take four or five days to show the results.  My wife and I both had the same blood tests done recently but at two different locations.  We had the results on the LGH portal in two hours and on the family practice portal five days later.
            Several of the portals have links to our particular doctors and most times the doctors or their nurses readily answer our questions and give us advice online.  We have used this feature extensively especially in situations where we needed some quick advice when appointments were difficult to get. Of course one of our specialists refuses to do this because he doesn't get paid for it.  Last week we made three contacts with three of our doctors by sending messages on the portal.  We received answers from all three within two days, one on the portal and two others by telephone.
           The portals can also be very helpful in reviewing results and recommendations from previous visits and also for checking on refills of meds.  The same can be true about comparing previous test results.  In some cases you can even graph the results as a comparison.
          While I am bothered about the speed of some of the portals, the poor organization, and the lack of information on some, generally they work well.  However, I have really been disappointed with one feature on my favorite portal, LGH.  Future appointments are listed and you are asked to confirm them by going through four or five screens of information about you, your meds, your conditions, your allergies, your pharmacy, the reasons for your visit and other details.  I get particularly annoyed about a Medicare screen which continues to ask me about the date of my retirement which certainly doesn't change between visits.  And finally, when you approve each screen, you are then asked to submit the report and confirm your visit.  If you have 30 consecutive visits as I do with pulmonary rehab, you must do this for each of the 30 visits.  Now why couldn't some of the data, such as my date of retirement, be stored?   Oh yes, and when I finally actually check in at some of the the practices, I am often again asked the very same questions even though I had confirmed them online as requested.  What a waste of my time.
          I guess with any new use of technology there are pros and cons.  I generally like the portals.  I just wish they could all be combined into one portal and that they could be more efficient in the questions they ask and information they collect.
          I also wonder how folks who don't have computers adjust to these changes. And there are still many people who don't have them.  Of course, we are beginning to face such pressure since we refuse to buy a smart phone and more and more things require one.  But my $29 a month cell phone still meets our needs.  But with all the changes we may soon be forced to "bite the bullet" and change, even though that will be very difficult to afford on our fixed income.  But the wonders and applications of technology march on despite the financial challenges that some of us must face  
          However there are greater wonders than technology that we live with each day of our lives.

(1)    There's the wonder at sunset at evening

The wondrous sunrise I see

But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul

Is the wonder that God loves me

The wonder of it all

The wonder of it all

Just to think that God loves me

Oh the wonder of it all

The wonder of it all

Just to think that God loves me

(2)    There's the wonder of spring time and harvest

The sky, the stars, the sun

But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul

Is the wonder that's only begun

The wonder of it all

The wonder of it all

Just to think that God loves me

Oh the wonder of it all

The wonder of it all

Just to think that God loves me

Then There Was One

          Three in 2004 ... then there were two ... now there will be one ... hospital in Lancaster.  First we said so long to the Osteopathic  Hospital and in June it will be to the former St. Joseph's Hospital which will close and transfer some operations to a hospital in Lititz.  And over the same years the population of Lancaster has increased and the needs have expanded.

          How will this affect us?  Just like the recent merger of our family practice from Oyster Point to Lime Springs, it will likely mean more delays in getting needed services.  Profit seems to be the major focus.

          We have already begun to feel the results of limited availability even though the new crush hasn't yet happened.  Several times over the past few years we have had to wait in the ER or in holding areas until a hospital room opened up.  Then a few times we were discharged sooner than we thought was necessary, most likely to open a room for other paying patients who were waiting for a room.

          This week we had another challenging experience with the one ER which will continue to operate.  Facing some problems with high pulse rates and high blood pressure, I reluctantly headed to the ER midmorning.  Fortunately we found the last available parking place for ER patients.  Then we encountered the waiting area.  The only way to avoid this time wasting step, sitting with many very ill patients, is to come by ambulance.  Then you at least get to wait in a room until you are finally seen.

          After my vitals were taken we waited about 45 minutes until I was finally taken to a bed - in the hall, not in a room.  I was left there to wait and during the next 45 minutes a clerk finally came just to register me - they needed to be sure that I had insurance to pay the bill.  Finally I was hooked up to a monitor.

          Almost an hour later I finally saw a doctor.  She decided that I needed an EKG, blood work and a CT scan.  I also asked to have my magnesium checked since I have a major problem with those levels.  Now in all fairness, these tests were done very quickly and everyone was very kind and helpful.

          Then we waited, again in the hall, for over an hour until we learned the results.  And privacy was not really considered.  We heard doctors, whose desks were right behind us, discussing their cases.  We heard that one patient in a room near us had an abortion and was now bleeding.  Down the hall there was another woman who had taken oxycodone and was sick and in pain.  She began to throw up violently.  Then a trauma patient was rushed to a room across from us.  He had apparently been conscious when he was brought in but his heart stopped and they were doing CPR on him.  Not fun to watch.  Not sure if he made it.

          Finally the doctor returned to tell me that the only problem that they had found was with the mag test I had asked for.  Once again my level had dropped and might have been a cause of my problems with my heart.  I was told that they would give me some mag and then let me go home.  When this has happened previously, I was given an infusion and my mag level increased.  After another wait they surprised me by just giving me two mag pills to take - the same thing I take four times a day at home.  I was very disappointed and then they released me.

          Now all who worked with me were very kind and helpful.  But it was obvious that they were overworked and didn't have enough facilities to handle all of us who were there.  So what will happen to care when the second local hospital closes in March? How will they handle all the additional patients who need care?

          It appears that medical care won't get any better with limited facilities, shortages of doctors, and increases in insurance and prescription costs.  But somebody will continue to pull in larger profits.  I guess that is the name of the game today.

P.S. - An update. First the good.  On Feb. 11 my kidney doctor wrote to suggest an alternative treatment, although it will probably lead to diarrhea.  Then my heart doctor called to tell me that there is a shortage of mag infusion and that is probably why the ER gave me pills instead.  I was impressed that both took time to contact me. Unfortunately that is more than a few other doctors have done.  Then the bad - there is a shortage.  It appears we are becoming a third world country.

(1)    The Great Physician now is near,

  The sympathizing Jesus;

He speaks the drooping heart to cheer,

  Oh, hear the voice of Jesus!

Sweetest note in seraph song;

Sweetest name on mortal tongue;

Sweetest carol ever sung:

    Jesus, blessed Jesus!

(2)    Your many sins are all forgiv'n,

  Oh, hear the voice of Jesus;

The veil 'twixt you and God is riven,

  Redemption wrought by Jesus.

Sweetest note in seraph song;

Sweetest name on mortal tongue;

Sweetest carol ever sung:

    Jesus, blessed Jesus!

(3)     All glory to the dying Lamb!

  I now believe in Jesus;

I love the blessed Savior's name,

  I love the name of Jesus.

Sweetest note in seraph song;

Sweetest name on mortal tongue;

Sweetest carol ever sung:

    Jesus, blessed Jesus!

(4)     His name dispels my guilt and fear,

  No other name but Jesus;

Oh, how my soul delights to hear

  The precious name of Jesus!

Sweetest note in seraph song;

Sweetest name on mortal tongue;

Sweetest carol ever sung:

    Jesus, blessed Jesus!

(5)     And when to that bright world above,

We rise to see our Jesus,

We'll sing around the throne of love

His name, the name of Jesus.

Sweetest note in seraph song;

Sweetest name on mortal tongue;

Sweetest carol ever sung:

    Jesus, blessed Jesus!

Do You Remember?

          I have often shared here how things have changed over the years and if you are old enough you can easily appreciate that this has indeed happened - in your lifetime.  Recently somebody shared with me "Lost Words From Our Childhood" and I was amazed at how our language has changed.  So I thought I'd share some of these thoughts with you.  Remember, these words are gone as fast as the buggy whip.
         Mergatroyd!   Do you remember that word? Would you believe the e-mail spell checker did not recognize the word Mergatroyd? Heavens to Mergatroyd! 
         The other day a not so elderly (65) lady said something to her son about driving a jalopy and he looked at her quizzically and said, "What the heck is a jalopy?"   He never heard of the word jalopy!! Well, I hope you are Hunky Dory after you read this and chuckle.
         About a month ago, I illuminated some old expressions that have become obsolete because of the inexorable march of technology. These phrases included "Don't touch that dial," "Carbon copy," "You sound like a broken record" and "Hung out to dry."
          Back in the olden days we had a lot of moxie. We'd put on our best bib and tucker to straighten up and fly right. Heavens to Betsy! Gee whillikers! Jumping Jehoshaphat! Holy moley! 
        We were in like Flynn and living the life of Riley, and even a regular guy couldn't accuse us of being a knucklehead, a nincompoop or a pill. Not for all the tea in China!
        Back in the olden days, life used to be swell, but when's the last time anything was swell? Swell has gone the way of beehives, pageboys, of spats, knickers, fedoras, poodle skirts, saddle shoes and pedal pushers ... AND DON'T FORGET.... Saddle-stitched pants.
         Oh, my aching back! Kilroy was here, but he isn't anymore.         We wake up from what surely has been just a short nap, and before we can say, Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle! Or, this is a fine kettle of fish! We discover that the words we grew up with, the words that seemed omnipresent, as oxygen, have vanished with scarcely a notice from our tongues and our pens and our keyboards.
         Poof, go the words of our youth, the words we've left behind. We blink, and they're gone. Long gone: Pshaw. The milkman did it. Hey! It's your nickel. Don't forget to pull the chain. Knee high to a grasshopper. Well, fiddlesticks! Going like sixty. I'll see you in the funny papers. Don't take any wooden nickels. Wake up and smell the roses.
          It turns out there are more of these lost words and expressions than Carter has liver pills. This can be disturbing stuff!
          We of a certain age have been blessed to live in changeable times. For a child each new word is like a shiny toy, a toy that has no age. We at the other end of the chronological arc have the advantage of remembering there are words that once did not exist and there were words that once strutted their hour upon the earthly stage and now are heard no more, except in our collective memory. It's one of the greatest advantages of aging.
         Leaves us to wonder where Superman will find a phone booth...
         See ya later, alligator!   
         After while, crocodile!        
         Okidoki!

But not everything changes and at times we need to be reminded of those things which don't change.

1) Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;

The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.

When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

(2) Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;

Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;

Change and decay in all around I see;

O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

.

(3) I need Thy presence every passing hour.

What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?

Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me

.

(4) I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;

Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.

Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?

I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

(5) Hold Thou Thy Word before my closing eyes;

Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.

Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;

In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.