After my doctor’s visit I received a thick document
Called the “after-visit summary”, but its contents
Appeared neither concise nor summarized
As I read through it I realized
That the actual instructions were hiding in between
General information about respiratory viruses that could have been
Easily eliminated from the papers handed out to me
The useful, actionable information was hard to see
Thinking I would remember the doctor’s instructions, I threw away
The document that was too verbose to be useful anyway..
*
A few days later I realized the doctor’s instructions I could not recall
Panicked, I had to place to the clinic an urgent call
Realizing my error- I had thrown the “brochure” of instructions away
Being overconfident in my memory that day
*
Of course I now preserve every piece of paper I receive
From the doctor, but I still find it hard to believe
That there is a purpose behind the bulky after-visit summaries
Give me short, easy to comprehend instructions please..
Passion...unbridled 
Oh gosh, yes! It takes my doctor forever to print out all the material I leave with. I throw it on my desk….and there it sits. It is too much.
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One of my doctors used to give handwritten instructions on an index card. I loved the idea but have been unable to implement it in my practice.
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That is kind of funny because I remember taking a paper rx to the pharmacy and hoping the pharmacist could read it. So handwritten notes to the patient would be interesting.
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Her handwriting was pretty legible-mine is not
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