My weekend of rest and relaxation was a bust. Little Sister called me at 6:45 Saturday morning to say that Daddio was being loaded in an ambulance
again. His blankety blank artificial hip popped out for the second time in less than a week. He had to endure not one, not two-but
three anesthetized attempts to get it back in before they got it in a place where they could unceremoniously dump him into the back seat of my car like a sack of potatoes and send him on his merry way.
Twelve hours later and less than an hour after the last procedure and with no food, no fluids and no real recovery time he was put on the curb. Yes, I'm talking about you AGAIN
Calvert Memorial Hospital. We've had our problems in the past but this was a new low. Little Sister had begged and pleaded all day to get the old guy some help.With two hip dislocations in less than a week and an obviously failed prosthesis all you could say was that he didn't meet the criteria for even an overnight stay to recoup from this week long assault on an already frail body. We spent Saturday night in tears listening to his post anesthesia induced ranting and raging in between screams of pain as we tried to keep him immobile as per doctor's orders while at the same time trying to meet his physical needs of food and toileting. As careful as we were, we don't have the equipment they have in the hospital, the medications or the manpower to move a brittle and broken patient correctly. This level of suffering shouldn't be. Just shouldn't. All I know is that my dog gets better care at the vets.
.jpg-large)
Praying for your strength,. Hugs
ReplyDeleteThe problem seems to be that although the nurses and especially the doctors at Calvert Memorial gave dad great care while he was in the hospital, that was all they were willing to do - their part. No one seemed to have any knowledge or information of what or where to go AFTER. The Patient Advocate doesn't work weekends and the Case Worker who was supposed to come and talk to me never showed up. I asked several times about my meeting and each time I was told she was with another patient and would meet with me shortly. I don't know about you but I think 12 hours is a little much to have to wait. Now I have to admit I asked the very nice recovery room nurses before they scooted dad out if they had any information on at home care and they gave me the number of two organizations that could help. So by the end of this ordeal I am exhausted and my fight is gone and I shamelessly let them lead me out the door to no man's land.... So when I got back home and am feeling a little hopeful I call them only to find one number had been disconnected and the other said they were sorry but they have more inquiries than they have help at the moment. So thank you Calvert County for all your help.
ReplyDeleteShameful! I am so sorry. It is awful the way our elderly are treated-when my mom was in the hospital, I wouldn't leave her side for fear of what they would pull next! I hope things are better today......
ReplyDeleteI keep coming back to this. This makes absolutely no sense. Now that it's Monday, can you get his doctor involved? Hospital social worker. No one should be treated this way. My cousin's wife was told to just leave him in the emergency room when she couldn't get any help for him. She didn't, of course. but her level of anger and frustration matched yours.
ReplyDeleteso sorry. Here are a few ideas for you.
ReplyDeleteAt our hospital ANYONE can call a code HELP. It is what you do when no one is listening to you. you can also report the hospital to your JAHCO . Jahco's safety goals for 2014 are here:
http://www.jointcommission.org/standards_information/npsgs.aspx
DO make use of these patient oriented actions you can take!
Oh no! I hope things start turning around for you guys!
ReplyDeleteI am so frustrated for you and your family just reading your post. It just seems so logical/obvious you'd give someone the ability to truly stabilize with some rest and in patient recovery from such a week. Isn't that what we are allowed to expect from a Medical Facility? Anyhow, I don't mean to sound negative. I'm wishing you all some rest, health and strength, physically and mentally. I'm sorry things are so difficult.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear of your troubles. I thought in a more populated area such as yours you would have good health care. I know it's practically non existent in our area here in the middle of no where. At least you have good Vet care. We don't even have that. I sure hope everything gets better soon for your family. Wishing you the best....hang in there.
ReplyDeleteoh dear God, this is terrible. It is the insurers that rule the roost and the bottom line is always $. Not the fault of the medical staff, but the fault of a very broken horrible system.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry. Praying you get some help.
If he is Home Bound. He should qualify for some at home nursing care. He would in my State of Fl.
Home bound meaning he can only go to Medical appts or Church and at that the home care doesn't last very long but it can be enough to give you a small break and some peace of mind. Find out from his primary care Dr.