Ken, my GGs were planted in two installments: First, three rather nice, larger specimens from Botany Shop went in up in the well-drained field soil where my primary tree seedling planting is going on. That would have been maybe four years ago. To tell the truth, I did not see these three on my visit, as they are in amongst lots of other rapidly growing pine, spruce and larch. Then two years ago, I put in three more but this time, downhill in a decidedly wet area, right adjacent to native Thuja o's. Those are the ones within which you can see such a huge difference. Who knows, maybe these are less well adapted somehow on account of being down in the swamp. I can't see why that would be so, but just thought I'd throw that in. I also have mentioned Chamaecyparis lawsoniana "Oregon Blue", of which three little guys were planted last spring. We also planted one of these at my son's house in Cedarburg, a town not far from whaas and TJ's area. All of these look toasted-a not-too-surprising outcome. Mine up north were snow-covered all winter until just recently, where the tips became exposed. If those tips indicate anything, these are in trouble. Son's looks probably dead. Of course, all are being left in place for now. I never had real high hopes for that particular experiment. I'd bet yours will go on as if nothing happened. This winter may have helped us mark a line on the map for that plant's suitability. For my part, I'm more happy than anything....to see the utter ease with which most of my stuff has made it through-Norway spruce, red pine, white pine, hybrid larch (I think!), uh what am I forgetting? Oh yeah, the Thuja o's! We're going to dig some more little ones if it ever warms up a bit and drys out, to be moved up into groupings in the main field planting area. All of those we've done previously have survived and thrived. Plus, most mysteriously, deer leave them be, completely. That's odd, but I'm glad of it, of course. Good luck whaas. +oM

EMRs - Electronic Medical Records. With the exception of many of the younger physicians I have yet to met a physician who honestly likes it. My DH now comes home after a long day at work and spends an additional 2 hours reading all the EMR's that are in his inbox. The cost to his practice to implement this system was over $250,000. Training was not only expensive but time consuming. The software is proprietary and when DH began his office conversion there was only one software program available to medical oncologists. Needless to say this was very expensive. Plus the cost of new hardware for the oncology nurses, techs and physicians. What really bothers him is that it interferes with his patient time. He allots 50 minutes for a new cancer patient. Now he spends the first 15 to 20 minutes asking the questions listed in his software program and typing in the answer. The program won't let him skip a question. Most of his patients dislike it too because they feel the doctor is too busy looking at his laptop rather than looking at them. It's not a good way to begin such an important relationship. In time it should improve. It will facilitate the transfer of important data - but as practices convert it's quite painful. My best friend's DH is simply going to retire when the conversion becomes mandatory. He's a solo family practitioner in a fairly poor urban neighborhood and he doesn't have the extra money nor the desire to switch to EMRs.

Texas_Gem, I will keep M in my prayers. And, yes, under these circumstances, I would report the resident. Calmly, and as concisely as possible, as Wanda, and others have said. Use the liaison at the first hospital, and walk through each step of care. I would also contact your insurance company, and explain why you went to the hospital you trust, instead of the hospital that they cover. In writing, as well as verbally. And DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT. It is bad enough when it is adult patients that they don't want to listen to. When it is a parent of a child, who can not advocate for themselves, it is worse. We had issues with an ER Dr. when my dad was in, before he passed away a few years ago. Dr. would not listen to him. My DB & I finally slightly raised our voices. And I do mean slightly, just enough to get his attention, not enough to disturb other patients. Told him to start listening AND hearing what dad was telling him. Not just what he thought was being said because he only wanted to deal with one thing. Insisted that dad had a UTI, when blood work ect. did not show it, just because dad couldn't give him a specimen on demand. Dad worked highway construction. At that time, a port a pot was not provided. You held it until there was a bathroom available. His body got used to going at certain times of the day, and that was it, except in the morning/early afternoon after taking his water pill. And it was NOT a UTI. Dad had been in repeatedly for heart issues, and was concerned because he was having the same symptoms as previous times. Dr. just didn't want to listen. Finally told the Dr. that if he didn't want to listen to what dad & we were telling him, he could discharge Dad, and we would take him elsewhere. He finally listened. And by that time, dad's BP was out of sight. Hope things improve quickly, and they can find the cause.

For dh's spot, I think a PCP could have done the biopsy and if the results are positive, then go to a dermatologist. It's a 45 min drive to the area of specialists we go to. I need to mention something else which is part of my question about PCP's. I've mentioned I have restless leg syndrome, and I've had it since my 20's. About 15 years ago I finally mentioned it to my late doctor, the one who did the biopsy on me, and he immediately gave me a prescription to take before bed. It was a life saver, because I had no idea a medicine would stop it. My new doctor let me continue the prescription but now I have to take a half pill more a day if I want to lay down to read during the day. My RL hits immediately, even when I'm not sleeping. At my appt. last week he upped the med by a half pill a day. Because I did a lot of research online about RLS I know there are other meds to take and I asked if I could try another one. I could tell he was looking it up on the computer and then he said to me, "I'm going to refer you to a neurologist because I'm not familiar with the medication." Then he continued to tell me they'd probably do an overnight sleep study/whatever. I looked at him and said I'm not going. Referring me to two specialists in one visit? Why couldn't he research the meds, or call his buddy the specialist where they make more money because of the referral and simply ask him what would be a good med for his patient? I'm not a doctor but I found that to be lazy on his part. He still referred me and I had to tell the lady no when she called.