Neeeext

I've been in Belgie almost a year now and decided it was time to go for my annual check-up. I stopped by the OB/Gyn office to make an appointment and only had to wait about 2 weeks. Not to make the appointment. For the next available appointment. This seemed reasonable since in the States, I believe it's more like 2 months. Or is that years?

So, the day of my appointment arrived and I check in at the reception desk. Surprise! There is a reception desk with a live receptionist unlike the Family Doctor we visited who was greeter and treater. The lab-coated receptionist told me to take a seat and before I could attempt to not read the signs around the waiting room, she escorted me to another waiting area further down a hallway. I sat on a bench and listened to rap music in the background, amused that rap music had made its way to clinic lobbies. In Belgium.

Within 2 minutes a non-lab-coated man about my age, called my name and I followed him to his office. This was the doctor I presumed. He closed his office door and asked me to have a seat. No lab coat with tongue depressors in the pocket, no stethoscope with a figurine clamped to it, nothing to indicate "doctor".

There were 2 chairs in front of his desk like basically any other office. On the other side of the room was the exam table, etc. All in one room. Efficient use of space I suppose. So I sat down. In one of the chairs.

I asked if he spoke Engels, forgetting that this would have been a more appropriate question to ask at the time I made the appointment. Naturally he said "yes, I speak a little" (translation: "yes, I speak it perfectly"). We briefly chatted about the reason for my visit, was I having any problems, etc.

WARNING: This is where it gets a little atypical so feel free to back out now.

Okay, for those of you still with me. . .

Keep in mind we are still in the "office" part of his office. Desk, chairs, pens and pencils. He says to remove my slip. Not sure what he means since I'm not wearing a slip as far as he knows. I ask if he means my skirt. He does. Okay, not perfect Engels. So right there I take off my skirt, etc. (leave it at that). Right there! In front of his desk! No curtain. No paper patient gown. No privacy.

He waves me over to the exam table.

After the exam, which included an ultrasound, I stroll, paper-gownless, back over to the desk chair where my clothes are draped across the chair and re-dress. He's still over at the exam table replacing the paper and preparing the area for the next patient. Oh, did I forget to mention there was no nurse? Yep, that's right. Just me and him. He's not the greeter per se, but he is most definitely the treater and the attender.

He explained everything perfectly and I felt very confident in his competence as a doctor (and a nurse for that matter).

So, while it was a bit atypical and I may have been a bit uncomfortable, it really made perfect sense. Efficient and economical. Those paper gowns never fit me properly anyway.

He handed my file to me, escorted me out into the hallway, and directed me back to the lab-coated receptionist where the entire visit (with lab work and an ultrasound) cost me € 88. Assuming I go for another year, that's less than 25 cents per day. Reasonable?

Good question.