(k) for purposes of disease management programs and services, information may be disclosed to any entity contracting with a health care service plan or the health care service plan’s contractors to monitor or administer care of enrollees for a covered benefit, provided that the disease management services and care are authorized by a treating physician or to any disease management organization that complies fully with the physician authorization requirements, provided that the health care service plan or its contractor provides or had provided a description of the disease management services to treating physician or to the health care service plan’s or contractor’s network of physician.
[The added “sticker” covering parts of (a), (b), and (c) was apparently the work of some very tall child.]
Here’s one for our amusement. And light reading. Being something of a purveyor of such (light reading) I’m interested in the craft. And one thing we’re taught in the craft is, unless there’s reason otherwise, keep your sentences short.
Especially if you want readers to stay with you.
You can imagine my amusement when, as Anne was getting a prescription filled at a local pharmacy, my eyes fell on a posting of “important information.”
As the poster was fairly high up and the print very small, I ventured to read just the last paragraph, labeled “k.”
I confess that I quickly began to lose track of what it was talking about. Was it my general attention deficit disorder, or just too much information to take in without a breath?
Then I realized: IT WAS ALL ONE SENTENCE! Who could follow it?
I glanced at the “paragraph” just above and noted that it ended with a semi-colon. So it too was part of the same sentence! Same with the one above that . . . and the one above that . . . all the way to the top.
Incredibly, every one of those eleven lettered “bullet points” of packed-in information was part of one long “cover all the bases till the end of the world” thought!
I’ve heard of run-on sentences; but this one could be in the Olympics.
I looked again at the title:
NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES . . .
PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
As I said, it was placed high up, the type was about 8 point, and anybody who would really take the time to read it “carefully” would probably still be there at closing time. Or subject to arrest for loitering.
I did notice that the rack for reading glasses was close by, so at least someone was thinking.
But I had to wonder, who is writing these things? Who approved this one? Who thought they were meeting some societal need in producing it? Where did they go to school? How much do they make per hour? Does it all somehow come into the cost of prescriptions?
For your information (and possible usefulness?) I’ve transcribed that final fragment at left . . . one-eleventh of the sentence. (Somebody should be sentenced!)
But don’t worry, this won’t be on the test.
Then again, who knows?
Maybe I’d better read it again.
“Carefully.”
Our Lives Together
Its About Life
5:37 pm
Such signs are ordered by the government. So they are written and formatted out of anger and frustration. An act of defiance, perhaps. Alan
6:33 pm
Funny!! Thanks.
7:30 pm
A lawyer or team of lawyers wrote it at the cost of $100-$500/hr which is carefully passed on to the customer. The is another reason why I am thankful I take NO prescription medication!
4:11 am
The ‘keep your sentences short’ rule is not iron clad, depending on the subject matter, mostly.
Take C.S. Lewis and The Chronicles of Narnia, for instance. The narrative flows well and clearly, but the sentences are not always short. Indeed, though I can’t find it right now, there’s at least one sentence in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe that’s an entire paragraph…though clearly not as long as your example!
:-)
Dave
8:09 am
I used to love “diagraming” C.S. Lewis’ sentences with my 5th graders way back when, and they could be lengthy. But when making an attempt to give the common man/woman information en route, are you kidding? I’m always suspicious of fine print. Who can see it, who can read it, and who can comprehend it? Point well made, Hyatt.
8:44 am
Perhaps the government pays at a per sentence rate and this author made the lowest bid.
10:52 am
Another prolific author of lengthy sentences, was the apostle Paul when writing his epistles. Sometimes, I have to read the passages out loud to understand the essence of what he is trying to say. Sure wish he would have had Hyatt around to teach him how to write elegant, short sentences.
9:19 pm
Welcome to my world, working in health care! Charlie Brown & Lucy had it right, “Aughhhhh!”
8:51 am
It’s all part of the CYOA requirement because there are way to many Lawers that need full employments. And a political system that is way to afraid of them to enact any real tort reform.
Example: Take any small Midwest town with one struggling lawer ….and second lawer and both law offices will do very well and grow.
12:39 am
WOW!! THAT IS JUST AWFUL!!!! I don’t even understand one bit of this! And I really tried to read it a few times?????!!!!!!!!!! You are so right!!! Who wrote this and why did they write this? And why why why????? Good one! If this was me finding this at the drug store, I would have really wanted to find out the reason for it from someone in charge! This is preposterous!!! Thanks Hyatt! :)