November 15, 2022: Annual Checkup for My Prosthetic Hip Joint (1), Struggling Patients（人工関節の定期検診（1）、格闘する患者たち（1））

A few days ago, I went to see my doctor for an annual checkup for my prosthetic hip joint. On these days, I have always left home around 6:30 a.m. to reach the hospital no later than 8:00 a.m. It is because I would like to avoid taking a crowded train. But I have another reason for it. So, I want to check in at the hospital as soon as possible. The sooner I check in than other patients, the sooner I can have x-rays of my hip joint. If I arrive late at the radiology department, I will have to wait a long time since it is always busy. This time, I was the first to check in for the day.
The hospital has rarely seen patients fiercely struggle to check in as soon as possible. But I had experienced fiercer struggles at another hospital where I had my hip replacement. It starts with checking in. The hospital has only ten automatic check-in machines. So, patients have to queue before the start of check-ins. The later they start queuing, the longer they have to wait. The late checking-in has a grave consequence for me. I have to wait a long time to take x-rays and remain for a very long time there.

　数日前に、年一度の股関節検診に行ってきました。この日は、いつも朝の6時半くらいに家を出て8時前に病院に着くようにしています。病院まで電車を使うのですが、混雑を避けるため早く出ます。また、病院で一刻も早く受付を済ませるためでもあります。受付を早く済ませると、股関節のX線写真を早く撮り終えることができます。ここで遅れると、
長時間待たされることになります。今回は、幸運にも1番をとれました。
　今通っている病院は、それほど競争が激しくないのですが、その前の病院には大病院だったので、競争が激しかったです。競争は再診の受付をするところからはじまります。再診受付は機械で行います。この機械が10台くらいしかないため、遅く行くと長い列に並ぶことになります。ここで遅れると、その後のX線撮影も混雑し、病院にいる時間がどんどん長くなります。