grrrr....

Oh, how I hate Irwin Army Health Center...with a passion.

I have had nothing but crap from there since we have been here...with only ONE notable exception (when I had my hysterectomy - they took care of everything in the OB/GYN clinic, which made my life easier).

Appointments? Never had such a hard time getting one as I do here. I don't make routine appointments...or rarely do. My kids don't get sick on command, you know. So when they ARE sick, I want them to be seen. Mind you, I'm not one to take my kid in at the first sign of a sniffle or cough or a bit of a temperature. But when it's been a few days of fever, I'm going to want to see a doctor. Used to be, you called in right at "opening" and were able to get a same day appointment. Any more, you have to practically be emergency room material before they'll grant you the privilege of seeing the "same day doc". And while I'm sure the appointment line people are only doing their jobs, I don't know when it became their job to "triage" patients. I know, I'm picking on people who do what they are told...and they probably have a list of "have and have not" symptoms. High fever for 3 days? not enough. Runny nose with cough and green mucous for a week? We can try to get you an appointment in a week or so.

What gives the SCHEDULER the right to triage? When did THAT become acceptable? Honestly, I know too many people are calling in with petty needs...those gangrenous toes won't fall off today, so PLEASE let me transfer you to the standard appointment line.....

That's been one of my big pet peeves...it took me close to 6 months of TRYING to get a routine appointment to finally get in. And believe me, I made sure that EVERY complaint I had was managed at that one appointment, even though there's a notice posted everywhere that says "please limit complaints to three problems per visit"...SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?!

And though Tricare (the insurance/provider) allows for "well child" appointments for kids up to age 6, IACH has altered their policy and will only do these types of appointments for children up to 2. Of course, at age 4, many kids need immunizations...but since they don't DO "well child" appointments, these immunizations often get overlooked, as was the case with Scotty.

But today. That was the straw that broke the camel's back.

On Friday, Scotty had an appointment (made back in late June) for his preschool physical. I knew he would need a few immunizations (see above) and I was SURE he needed the chicken pox booster (it's required by KS schools, anyway). So, we got there for his physical. They were actually quite efficient with the school physical thing. They had a solid routine down, as they have a lot of new kids (and again, KS law requires a school physical for all kids entering a KS school for the first time, including pre-schools that are operated by the school system). Our paperwork was screened, and sure enough, Scotty needed a few vaccines. We were seen almost immediately...had the weight and height screening (39 lbs - 75th percentile, 40 inches - 50th percentile...oh so typical of my kids, lol), had the physical with a doctor (perfectly fine), had his vision checked (20/20 both eyes), and we got to immunizations. We had to be somewhere and we knew that if we did shots we'd be too late, so we opted to come back. I asked if this would be okay. They told me it wasn't a problem. They told me to just come back on Monday and go to the Immunization clinic.

So that is what we did today. We went back. And were told that all immunizations are done by appointment only. With the exception of kids under 2. No exception for school physicals/school requirements. I explained that this was NOT what I was told at the Primary Care clinics. Too bad, that's how it works; I'm sorry. I explained that I'd driven all the way from Manhattan (15 miles!) and that it was not cost effective for me to keep driving back and forth. No dice, no sympathy. I asked if there was ANY way we could be seen today. "Well, I can take you back, but I can guarantee you that you will NOT be seen today...they're just SO busy"...(there was one family in the waiting room, another was doing the "mandatory 20 minute wait" after shots, and NO ONE in the two (possibly three) rooms used for immunizations.

I am so totally over this clinic. We are treated like chattel here. There aren't enough doctors...my PCM (primary care manager) changes more frequently than the weather. I get letters every few weeks telling me the name of my new doctor. I've been through at least 4 without actually seeing any of them, as they change before I ever need an appointment.

And the worst part is that I don't have the option to go elsewhere. The MTF (military treatment facility) makes the decision as to whether I can go "off post" or not...it it subject to their rules and regulations, not Tricare's, though Tricare DOES have the option of doctors in the community. The MTF here (IACH) doesn't regularly allow you to use civilian care. If you choose to do so, you must switch from Tricare Prime (which is the best possible coverage) to Standard (which is a Point of Service plan, including deductibles, co-pays, etc). That's not what we pay for. And yes, we DO pay. Medical care for military members may be "free" but for the family, it comes out of the soldier's paycheck.

I have already filed my complaint with IACH, though it will do little good. The last time I filed my complaint (regarding the fact that it took me 6 months to get an appointment), I requested a reply....I'm still waiting.

The mother of all RAK's....

RAK: Random Act of Kindness. A term commonly used in the online scrapbooking community. Got something you don't want or need? Send to to someone else who might need it, randomly. Or not so randomly, sometimes (many online scrapbooking groups have lists for RAK's...kind of takes the fun out of it sometimes)

RAK's consist of anything from a strip of stickers to stamps, cardstock...heck, sometimes, RAK's don't have a thing to do with scrapbooking, but just what you love - like CHOCOLATE!!! Whenever I send an RAK, I really enjoy putting it together, working on what the person might like and hoping they enjoy it. I always enjoy receiving RAK's too.

I got an RAK this week. Mind-blowing.

Some background: Many years ago, I "met" a woman online by the name of Kim M. She had just started a yahoo "club" (back when they had both groups AND clubs) for military wives scrapbooking. I had thought about starting the very same thing, but she beat me by about an hour! I was the 1st person to join her group, and she made me a moderator. We worked well together, transitioning into a "group". I became a moderator for another group she owned, Army Spouses. We had a lot in common. She was in Bamberg, Germany...but she left just before I was ready to go. We have NEVER met face to face, though.

Kim is an awesome military wife - she provides a lot of information that new spouses really can use...she's well informed. She's a great mom, a great scrapbooker...just a wonderfully great person. When I was preparing to move to Germany, she made the awesome decision to open an online scrapbooking store. She asked me to be a designer for her. I was one of the first she considered. I was honored, and I said yes. But I had no idea what to expect. I was in the process of moving and was worried that I wouldn't be able to do what was needed. Kim was great, giving me the leeway that I needed (my supplies were still in transit) and working with me. She was familiar with my work and gave me product she knew I would use. I designed for her website for just about 2 years. I believe I am one of only 2 who stayed throughout the entire time she had her store open.

In January, she made the decision to close her store. Her husband was deployed, and she wanted to be able to be there for her boys. She not only gave up her online store, but she also gave up a job at home, too. I was sad to see the store go. But we all agreed that she needed to do what was best for her family.

Last week, she emailed me, telling me she was going to send me a package...a few leftovers from the store that didn't sell. I expected a small box, a few sheet of papers, some embellishments. What I received was NOT expected.

This box weighed about 40 lbs...seriously! Packed to the top, bulging, LITERALLY, at the seams.

There was so much stuff in there!

Basic Grey (one of my favorite lines) boxes, paper, letters, monograms, tags....there were idea books, embellishments, fibers, stickers, paper, paper...just TOO much to single out! There were layovers, vellum and a color wheel....just incredible. Kim told me I can pass along whatever I can't use...though it's going to be hard NOT to keep it all. Luckily, there are duplicates of a lot of stuff...SO, that being said:

Tell me about one special person you have met online, but never face to face...and how this person has changed your life. If you're a scrapbooker, let me know. I will send a package of stuff from my RAK out to one person, selected randomly, from all those who comment.

Kim - there is no way I can ever thank you enough for all of this.