VZP - A master of complexity

Just when I thought I had the hospital all figured out I was thrown for a loop today.  Apparently as of March 1st our insurance company (VZP) has changed their rules for visits to the doctor.  Previously my visits to the hospital ear, nose and throat, (or ORL in Czech) went like this:

Step 1: Arrive at the hopsital and find a parking space.  This is more complex than it sounds since the parking is extremely limited and therefore often requires a longer walk from a distant parking lot.  If I'm lucky I get a spot close to the building.

Step 2:  Go to the Detske Poliklinika kartoteka (children's hospital check in) and take a number.  Once the number comes up, I go to the appropriate window and present the insurance card for whichever child is seeing the doctor and tell them ORL which, in turn, they correct my pronounciation with a loud Oh R(rolled r) Le.  They then go and find the file and tell me with five fingers held up "patek".  To which I respond with a smile and Dekuji (thankyou) and head to the elevator.

Step 3:  Arrive at the fifth floor and check in the with the nurses (Sestra).  The nurses only speak Czech so I fumble through with my hospital czech and then they ask me if I checked in downstairs.  I tell them yes and they tell me to sit down.

Step 4:  Wait, Wait, Wait (this step is occassionally short but it is highly unlikely)

Step 5:  See the doctor

Step 6: leave the hospital

Well, with the new VZP rules I need to add a few steps to the above.  I will list them below:

Step Pre-1:  Call VZP before the visit to the hospital to ensure coverage for the visit. (Even though I have an insurance card that says I have coverage through November 2010!)

Step 1: as above

Step 1A:  Go to the Foreigners desk, fill out a form and take the form with me to the Detske Poliklinka to check in

Step 2, 3, 4, 5: As above

Step 5A:  Bring completed form and doctor writeup back to the foreigners desk

Step 6: As above

I found this change today when I took the kids to their doctor appointment.  I had to call VZP while sitting at the foreginers reception.  (After figuring out in broken CZech that the lady at the poliklinika check-in was telling me to go to the foreginers desk.) The man from VZP told me that it makes the process easier and better for the hospital and for VZP to which I responded, "but it makes it more difficult for your clients!"  He told me he understood (of course) but this was the new way things were to be done.  There was obviously nothing I was going to say to change it so I just got off the phone with my approval for the visit.  The woman at the desk that was helping me told me that they do not like the new procedure either since it makes a lot more work for them.  They were happy when they didn't ever know I was in the hopsital.  I had to laugh since basically that meant the new process only makes it easier for VZP itself.  I have to question that as well since it means people will be calling VZP all the time creating yet more work for VZP.  The extra work created all around by this new procedure is astounding!  Oh well, here is to hoping that I won't need the new procedure again for another month.