Datebook
July 3, 2003
The Executive Health Program at Hopkins Hospital caters to
an A-list clientele, each year attracting more than a
thousand VIPs from across the country and around the world.
We tagged along with personal representative Janice
Walters-equal parts secretary, valet, and liaison-to see
what it's like as she escorts her clients behind
healthcare's velvet rope.
6:30 a.m. Walters hurries through the lobby of the
Outpatient Center, grabs a Wall Street Journal, and heads
upstairs to check on her clients' complimentary
breakfast.
7:00 a.m. Walters confers briefly with another
personal representative (there are three) about the day's
complicated schedule: shepherding five VIPs through
appointments with as many as 18 different departments
each.
7:10 a.m. Walters' beeper goes off; the first
patients of the day are here: Douglas and Peggy Hale, from
Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. "It's an excellent program; I've
been coming for five years," remarks Doug Hale, headmaster
of a prestigious private boarding school.
7:20 a.m. Walters takes Peggy Hale for a blood test,
then hands out menus and takes lunch orders.
7:30 a.m. Physician George H. Sack Jr., who launched
the program eight years ago,greets the Hales. Then Walters
is off to take Peggy Hale for her mammogram.
7:40 a.m. Doug Hale's preliminary physical. It's all
over by 8 a.m. Time for a quick breakfast before his next
appointment.
8:15 a.m. Walters greets the newest arriving
patient.
8:30 a.m. Time to take Doug Hale to Pulmonary, then
pick up Peggy from Mammography and drop her off at Nuclear
Medicine for a bone density test.
9:00 a.m. Walters escorts Peggy Hale to
Pulmonary.
10:00 a.m. She drops off lunch orders at the Tower
Terrace Restaurant on her way to the Wilmer Eye Institute
with Peggy Hale. Doug Hale is due at Wilmer at 11.
Noon Walters escorts the Hales and other Executive
Health patients to the Tower Terrace. Their lunches are
ready and waiting.
1:15 p.m. Walters drops by Express Testing to pick
up the results of the morning's tests. Then it's Doug Hale
to Dermatology, Peggy to Audiology.
3:15 p.m. The Hales meet with Sacks. They leave
weary but reassured: An army of Hopkins healthcare
professionals has determined they're both in great
shape.
3:30 p.m. Walters prepares entrance folders for
Monday's patients. Then she heads home, where she has a
different set of VIPs to cater to: Her youngest son leaves
for Australia in two days. -Patrick Tucker