Blood Test

      My friend told me an interesting story about the trials of getting a blood test for routine physical examinations. His doctor always required him to take a blood test before the examination, to make sure that various levels of glucose, cholesterol, etc, were in acceptable range. The doctor’s office provided blood tests, but my friend preferred to go to a lab, because of the convenience—so close to his job. However, for a number of years, there was a conflict with the doctor’s offce and lab over these tests. The doctor’s office preferred to do the tests themselves, perhaps for financial reasons. Although they accepted the other lab, in principal, to do the test, the doctor’s office refused to give the necessary requisition for the blood test, insisting that the lab had the requisition on-line.
      This quarrel went on for years, but each time, my friend was successful in obtaining a written requisition from the doctor’s office, in spite of protests and denial by the secretary. The secretary insinuated that the lab was deficient and lazy, not doing their job, in looking up the requisition on-line. She said she had spoken with them several times about this very issue.
      The lab was run by an elderly, dark-skinned lady, who wore a large cross around her neck, and the secretary in the doctor’s office implied that this lab technician was not doing her job properly.
      Finally, it seemed that the lab and doctor office had reached a peace, because the lab technician finally found the requisition on-line. So, the next doctor visit, my friend did not insist on a written requisition.
      However, his confidence was misplaced, because at the next visit to the lab, the elderly nurse said that there was no requisition, posted on-line. My friend lost patience and said he’d cancel the doctor appointment all together, because of the wasted time, in coming from work, to the lab, when there was no authorization in place to do the blood test. However, he pulled out a year-old requisition and showed it to the lab technician. He pointed out the year-old date to the technician, but she said it was adequate to do the blood test. She wanted to make sure that he kept his doctor appointment and she said it was not right for patients to “get caught in the middle”.
      My friend would have been happy to cancel the doctor appointment, because he felt it was just a waste of time too But the blood test was skillfully done, by the compassionate, elderly lab technician.
      Back at the office,my friend called the doctor office. A different secretary, than usual, admitted that the requisition was not on-line. She admonished, “You need to call us, before you go to the lab—the doctor did not put the requisition in yet.” ( he had had 8 months advance notice to do that). It would not have mattered if my friend called their office, as the doctor still would not have done it. He was very busy.
      So,with all the squabbling, the actual cuprit was the doctor. Everyone had tried to blame the elderly lab technician. It was easier to put fault on her, rather than the secretary or doctor.
      We are thankful, that unlike us, Our Heavenly Father, sees the heart and does not rush to make judgments based upon age, skin color, profession or gender. Thankfully, He sent us a Savior, who provides a payment for sin for all.