One Doctors' Office Lunch Reform

While the politicians are pretending to try to fix the compromise of the average drawn upon the collective agreement regarding the health care (or something like that), one doctor took the initiative and revolutionized modern medicine.  Well... almost.  Dr. B., a gastroenterologist with the 12 year practice in Forest Hills, is taking control of his medical practice in a two step process.

First, he needs the office to work "better."  "We open at 8.  The first appointment is never before 9," Dr. B. says.  Why? According to him, it is important to let everyone in the office devote a portion of their morning to some customary a.m. ritual.  "I want them to dedicate some time to get the coffee the absolutely perfect shade of tan," said he, obviously pleased with his own joke.   Everyone sits in the waiting room and eases into the workday with breakfast, the update of the commute and parking, and general office small talk.

"I like this morning thing," says the doctor. "The problem is lunch."  Since they never had a set office lunch hour, the entire afternoon turned into a lunch-related activity.  What are we gonna eat? What time should we eat? Are you hungry now? Should I eat later? Do we have snacks? Where is Take-Out Connection book? Call them to see if Punta Sal is open? Do we want Dees or Uno's? Who is placing the order? "It's like the staff had no time to schedule appointments and do the billing," says Mrs. B, the doctor's wife and the office manager.  She noticed that at least one person is preoccupied with food at any given time.  "Our business should be your digestive tract, not ours." 

So, she called Ollie at Take-Out Connection.  He, together with his partners at QueensDelivers.com, put together a menu for her:  a salad, two different pastas, and a chicken dish;  seafood on Fridays.  Mexican Wednesdays;  drinks and utensils.  The girls contribute a few dollars. The doc and his wife pick up the rest of the tab.  Sometimes, they have presenters from medical supply companies, so they'll pay for lunch.  "The bottom line is that lunch is no longer a topic here.  It comes at 1 pm.  Big trays.  You eat, throw out the plate, go back to work.  End of story,"  says the doctor.  Do they have a way to measure the increase in office productivity? "Of course! The billing is done faster, lab work and referrals are up to date!"

So, Dr. B., what about that health care bill? "That's step two.  I already dropped Medicaid - too much crap.  We'll see what happens."