It's been a long year of medical stuff for us, and over the past year, I've learned an awful lot.  In hindsight, it would have really been helpful if I had gone to medical school.  I think I would have been able to help us troubleshoot a lot of stuff if I were more medically knowledgeable.  Sure, I research a lot online.  And yes, I ask a lot of questions of our doctors.  But there are some things that are just hard to know without proper training.

That's why recently, when we were sitting and waiting for the doctor to arrive, I was really glad to see that they believe in a visual workplace.  This office had signs all over the place, the medical equivalent of post-its, providing handy reminders for loads of procedures and tips (including one handy one that gave the formula for converting Celsius to Fahrenheit - always handy!).  As I was reading the literature-laden wall, I saw one sign that I think gave very practical advice, seemingly delivered as an after thought.  The sign outlined the steps that should be taken when preparing a patient for transfer from our out-state hospital to one in the city.  It had probably twenty items to consider - the medications that the patient should receive, the stuff that should go with him or her, the people that should be notified.  And one last really important item handwritten at the bottom of the list in black magic marker:

REMOVE PANTS.

I don't know why that's on there, maybe there is an actual medical reason.  And although I really wouldn't want to see the repercussions of this, I think it would be kind of funny if this phrase were to appear in other places.

Like here.


Or maybe here.


Or even here, although this one you might not catch right away and only notice it later when you're back at home balancing your accounts.



I think this could really catch on.  Medical reason or not, I think it's a good idea.  I think we can all agree that it's more comfortable to be without pants anyway.