“We’ll get you a script for antibiotics,” I told Sandra. “You’ll need some steroids, too, to open the bronchial tubes and make your coughs more productive.”
She flushed and looked down. “I, uh, don’t have insurance. Do you know how much…”
Liliana had given me the rundown on resources we could offer to patients who couldn’t afford medication.
“That’s okay. We have some insurance match cards that will get you a discount. I’ll send in the nurse with some for you. Do you have a preferred pharmacy?”
“The hospital is fine.”
I nodded. “Okay, get plenty of rest and fluids. Stay on the meds for the full prescription. You should start to feel better in a day or two, but it’s important you finish the entire dose.”
“I will. Thank you.”
I patted her arm. “All right, get dressed and I’ll send the nurse back.”
I exited the exam room and went into our joint office. Dr. Meadows was in with a patient, so I had to wait for his okay on the prescriptions.
I took a seat at the desk and updated the digital chart on my tablet with the details of my examination. Liliana entered behind me, muttering something about impatient old coots. She knelt to retrieve a few samples of insulin, her movements jerky with annoyance.
“You okay over there?” I asked.
She huffed. “This man just infuriates me! He won’t keep up with his prescriptions. He comes in every few weeks in rough shape. One day, he’s going to push it too far, and I just…” She made a frustrated growly noise. “I wish I could do more.”
“You’re doing a lot,” I said. “You care more than most people do.”
“It’s never enough,” she said with a sigh. “This stubborn man is gonna give me gray hair before my time.”
I laughed. Liliana was in her early thirties. She had plenty of time before she went gray. “But think of how great you’ll look with red highlights.”
“You think?” She patted her hair. “I might have to try that.”
“Hey, Lil, I know you’re busy, but my patient will need an insurance match card. Can you go talk to her about how it works when you’re done with Mr. Stubborn?”
“Sure.” She opened a drawer to withdraw the cards. “How many prescriptions?”
“Two, assuming Dr. Meadows signs off on it.”
I couldn’t work independently as a doctor until I was formally licensed, and that couldn’t happen until I finished residency. Dr. Meadows had observed me with my first three patients, then declared it was time to take off the training wheels. He still had to review my charts and authorize prescriptions, though.
“He’ll sign off,” Liliana said without hesitation. “This is pretty standard care. Dr. Meadows doesn’t really get fussed over red tape.”
“What’s this?” Dr. Meadows walked in. He was mid-sixties, with salt-and-pepper hair. “Are you telling tales on me, Nurse Garcia?”
She chuckled. “Only the good ones.”
“I knew I liked you.” He turned to me. “Have something for me to review?”
I handed him my tablet. “Case of bronchitis.”
“Mm-hmm. Yes. This all looks good. What would you recommend prescribing?”
I rattled off the generic antibiotic and steroid combination I thought would be most affordable and get the job done. He nodded.
“Good, good. Let’s give her a sample of the Prednisone, so she can start breathing easier immediately.”
Liliana opened a different cabinet and withdrew the packet and slipped it into her pocket. “I got you covered, Dr. Donovan. Your next patient is in Exam 4.”
“Thanks, Lil.”
