Uncooperative Collaborative
Every day is an adventure at the correctional facility and
at times it is not from the inmates. Oftentimes, it is from the person I like to call
"The Lovely Doctor." I do not know why I call him that, but maybe it is because
it is the nicest name I can call him...yes! It is sarcasm at its finest.
One of the perks that has been rescinded while working downtown
is our prime parking spots. Due to intense construction and what some call
progress, the courthouse staff and medical staff have been relocated
approximately 2 miles away from the facility. The up side is, we still do not
have to pay for parking and we are being shuttled to and from the parking lot.
I always try to find a positive in a changing environment, and I have. While
we are shuttled to the building, I walk back to the parking lot which is a
great way to unwind at the end of a long, trying day and get exercise at the
same time.
Now back to the lovely doctor: One rainy day I decided to
wear a ball cap and I spoke to him when he boarded the bus. When we exited
the bus, I slowed my pace to match his. Clearly, he did not know who I was, so
I hastened my pace and entered the building. While I was preparing to see the
patients, he came to my office and asked, "Was that you in the hat?" I had to
laugh because I did not realize a ball cap was such a great camouflage
disguise.
My collaborative calls in sick at least once or twice every
other week; he informed me, "I know people don't think I have been sick." I did
not say anything to that. Back in the summer, my collaborative called in sick
because he went to an amusement water park. When needing to use the facilities,
he forgot to wear shoes. He stated, "I burned the bottom of my feet!" I asked,
"You didn't wear shoes?" He is a piece of work.
Two weeks after that call in, he called in and proceeded to
tell the secretary, "I had to pull along the side of the road and throw up." The
secretary said, "Ok, ok, that is a visual I did not need," especially since she
was pregnant. My Health Service Administrator says quietly she hopes this
nonsense won't last much longer, but it will because the corporate office has
not received any complaints. My collaborative states, "I have been waiting all
my life to find a job like this," and unfortunately he will probably be around
a long time.