Austrian doctors

Within a few weeks of arriving in Vienna, I received my "e-card," which carries all my health insurance information around in one little chip. Since I technically work for the Vienna city schools, I'm on the insurance for public servants.

I've been meaning to get my blood tested for awhile, but haven't gotten around to it. Since I'm finally to the point where I need a prescription for my thyroid meds from a doctor, I decided to go last week. I stopped by the office of a doctor around the corner. There was only one woman waiting, and the nurses took my e-card, scanned it through a machine, and told me I could go see the doctor once the other woman was done. Within ten minutes, I was in the office, explaining my situation. The doctor printed out a sheet ordering blood tests, told me to go to the lab, and that was that.

I went to the lab at around 2 p.m. on Friday and it was surprisingly hassle-free. Unlike the labs on Long Island, it wasn't full of geriatrics wandering around complaining to the nurses. I just went in, peed in a cup, got called in to get my blood tested within three minutes, and that was it. I'll pick up the results myself today and bring them to the doctor so he can issue my new thyroid prescription.

Medical visits that are simple, quick, and pleasant? I might just miss this.