It was a little … um… uncomfortable for me the first time I did a yearly physical exam on Santa. I entered the room to find him sitting in the exam room chair with one of our ugly exam gowns on. His white beard was longer (he grows it out this time of year), and his red Santa hat was on his head. His red pants and coat were draped carefully over the other chair, his boots on the floor.
I laughed nervously. I’d seen him many times as my regular patient, but there was somehow something wrong with Santa sitting there partially clothed! He looked the part, as he grinned at my discomfort.
Later my husband teased me about “jingling Santa’s bells” and other such comments!
Over the next couple years, I took it in stride as Santa showed up for his physical. But insurance regulations had us making sure he was scheduled at least “a year and a day” after his last physical (Who would want physicals more than once a year anyway?) and eventually his physicals were in January or later. It was the end of an era.
Now that I have my DPC (Direct Primary Care) practice, I don’t answer to insurance regulations. So Santa, you can show up for your physical in full garb every year if you want! I’ll try not to get flustered!