first impressions

Since I've been sick for the past... 10 months, I finally broke down and went to the doctor.  I was coerced into going by given the opportunity to get out of student teaching for the day IF I went to the doctor.  Weighing out my options, I chose the lesser of two evils and headed to student health.  I'm a little leery of student health because I don't know if the person touching me is really a qualified individual or just some kid who thinks they may want to be a doctor.  Well, today's visit didn't score any points for student health.  The nurse came into my room and did a quick run-down of my symptoms and medical history which is to be expected, but then this twelve year-old "doctor" walks into my room in her oversized blue plaid skirt from 1972, black sneakers, dirty lab coat, and greasy dandruffy hair.  Thankfully she did wash her hands before she touched me, but the mere sight of her made me feel more ill than I was to begin with.  Chewing on her pen, she runs down the usual list of questions and then starts the whole physical exam with the usual stuff, breath in and out, say ahhh, etc.  At this point she runs off a list of tests that I need to have to rule out pneumonia, mono, strep, and 14 other diseases I'm pretty sure I don't have.  Luckily, all these tests needed her supervising (real) doctor approval, who felt the need to examine me before she signed off.  I'm glad the real doctor had some sense, and a recent shower, which made me feel much more comfortable, and only felt the need for one quick blood draw and an antibiotic.  I don't consider myself too particular when it comes to physician appearance, realizing that outward appearance isn't always indicative of competence, but doctors of all people should appreciate the health benefits of cleanliness and be presentable when seeing patients.  I do realize I was in a university health clinic, but being a poor college students shouldn't qualify me for a lower standard of care.  I understand that everyone isn't afforded the same luxuries, but as a physician, or prospective physician, or twelve year old child prodigy, a shower isn't a luxury, it is mandatory, especially if you expect to be touching patients.  If you're well off enough to attend medical school, you're well off enough to bathe daily.  Period.  Did I mention she had a mustache???