Dear Diary:
A recent health problem led me to seek a cardiologist. On the recommendation of a friend, I called a Manhattan doctor to make an appointment.
In the process, I was introduced to his automated answering system — the name is slightly altered here — which left little doubt about the priorities typical in the health care industry today:
“Welcome to New York Cardiac Specialists. For the billing department, please press one. If this is a life-threatening emergency, please press two.”
via nytimes.com
From the Metropolitan Diary feature in The Times.