Partner? I Don't Even Know 'Er!Odd incident in the office this week, which I recounted to two friends during an evening at the movies. They were vastly amused:
I saw a patient of mine a few days ago who had recently had back surgery. While in the hospital she was followed by the hospitalist group we're contracted with. (Yes, I do some hospitalist work, but the managed care plan for seniors has a separate hospitalist contract. Long story; don't ask.)
"So," my patient said, partway through this visit, "the hospital people said this doctor was your partner."
"Well, sort of," I qualified. "She isn't a member of our group, but she is one of the hospitalists who see patients for us."
"No, they said she was your
partner. In the vernacular sense."
I stared blankly, then I got it. "Oh, no. I don't think I've even met her." The patient shrugged, and we both laughed; there must have been some lapse of communication there, but I'm not sure what.
By coincidence, the movie my friends and I had just seen as I recounted this story over dinner was
this one. (I highly recommend it, by the way. Go see it if you haven't.)
posted by Dr. Alice at #
