Use Doctor's Office Masks With Care

I was appalled, disgusted, almost sickened by what I witnessed in a doctor's office this morning. I came back home and could hardly wait to share what I witnesses with all of you. Be forewarned. It is unpleasant.

I'm currently seeing several doctors. Most are specialists. Last night (Friday), I discovered I needed to see a doctor. My issue was not life threatening, but serious enough I did not want to wait until Monday for treatment. My primary care physician was not available. Neither was my nephrologist. The nephrologist on call suggested I visit an urgent care facility and then get back with my nephrologist Monday morning.

To make this tip more clear, let me tell you what would have happened had I been able to see my regular doctor. I would have entered the reception area. Before approaching the receptionists, I would see a prominent sign. The sign states that if you are experiencing cold or flu like symptoms, to let the receptionists know. You will be provided with a mask to wear during your visit.

Now, compare that with what I witnessed at the urgent care facility I visited this morning. I had made an online appointment last night. This was to ensure I would not have to wait. I did have to wait, a long time.

The waiting area was filled with people who were wearing masks. Most sounded as if they had a cold or flu, or at least sounded very congested. While I was waiting, I was thinking, 'A doctor's office is one of the best places to get sick'. And what I saw confirmed exactly what I was thinking.

During my wait, a man approached the desk. He was accompanied by two young girls, one about six and the other about nine. From his age, I guessed the girls were his granddaughters. The girls played with each other during the long time it took the receptionist to gather information from the man.

Both girls had runny noses and sounded very hoarse and congested. The older girl was constantly wiping her nose with the palm of her hand. A box of tissues was sitting at easy reach on the desk. Apparently, she saw no need to use them. What she did decide to use was a mask from a box beside the tissues.

She reached in with her mucous laden hands and took out a mask. She playfully wore it for a minute or two and then removed it. She then placed it on the face of the younger girl. The younger girl wore the mask for a minute, making faces at the older girl. Then she took the mask off and handed it back to the older girl.

The older girl took the mask into her filthy hand and promptly placed it back into the box. Both receptionists were quite busy and apparently did not notice. Neither did they notice what happened next.

A lady seated in the waiting area approached the reception desk, took that mask from the box, placed it on her face and returned to her seat. To make matters worse, the older girl took another mask from the box, wore it for a minute or two and then placed it back into the box.

I did not see anyone else use this second mask. I'm sure it was just a matter of moments before it was used.

Due to an unrelated matter, I left without seeing a doctor. I'm glad I did. I am not well. The last thing I need is to contract a cold or flu.

If you are contagious and need to be in public, it would be ideal to buy your own masks and put them on before leaving the house. They are cheap enough and available at all dollar stores.

If you are contagious, without a mask, and in a doctor's office, you will find most will provide a mask for you. For reasons described above, I think it best that you only use masks that are kept behind the desk and dispensed by a receptionist.

I wish I could get this tip to every doctor. While most are certainly more responsible than those at this particular urgent care facility, I dread to think how many people could have been made sick by those masks within a child's reach and what they actually did with them.