I am currently in my leadership rotation at the med surg unit at one of the hospitals in Chicago. Today an hour before my shift was over we got a new admission: a 90+ y.o male who was pretty much unable to see or hear anything. He wanted to call his friend to tell her he got into the hospital. He could not remember the telephone number and said he can only remember the numbers when he dials them. He was not able to see the numbers on the telephone though. We barely figured out the number together but when he called her he could not hear much (he said that his hearing aids do not work well). The gentlemen was almost crying and saying that he should have taken his special telephone with him from the nursing home because it has big numbers and he can hear well.
When I went to ask about the telephone for him, the staff did not know where I can get it and said they probably do not even have it at the hospital. I was just shocked. Isn't this against ADA? It's just a violation of the federal act. The RN whom I gave report to promised me she'll try to get him the telephone.
If you have a blind or deaf patient at your hospital where do you go to get all the necessary equipment? Whom should I contact just in case she did not get the telephone? I just hate to think that any of us could be in thi situation one day as the patients. It's unfair...
I think I would just call the department of justice and do my best to get it for you. If you have those at home, perhaps I would try to see if someone can bring them for you... I'd ask a PCT to assist you with food if needed meanwhile.
I'd be more than happy to be in charge of such a committee... or anything that lets me to advocate the most for those who need it the most
Olli - that's very nice of you, but what you aren't getting is that unless I'm being admitted during some emergency, I should already have those things available and should bring them with me.
The hospital should have things available for the commenest set of disabilities, not for every problem ever thought of on earth! For crying out loud, girl, it's not their fault my hands shake, why should they be penalized for it?:stone
You are right on in asking someone if they could ask me if I needed help with my food.
I think I would just call the department of justice and do my best to get it for you. If you have those at home, perhaps I would try to see if someone can bring them for you... I'd ask a PCT to assist you with food if needed meanwhile.
I'd be more than happy to be in charge of such a committee... or anything that lets me to advocate the most for those who need it the most
The way you worded your paragraph suggested you did not have the special utensils with you, which implies on some sort of emergency that brought you to the hospital or suggest you forgot them.. in any case I did mention that I would ask your family to bring it. So I don't think you should be saying "what you are not getting..." In case with the gentlemen I had, he did not have any family to bring it. Anyway, I located everything. It's in communication department.
I think I would just call the department of justice and do my best to get it for you. If you have those at home, perhaps I would try to see if someone can bring them for you... I'd ask a PCT to assist you with food if needed meanwhile.
I'd be more than happy to be in charge of such a committee... or anything that lets me to advocate the most for those who need it the most
You are going to be an awesome nurse. You are a true advocate for the patient. It is good to know that there are people who take disabilities and accommodations for them so seriously.
Provide services and programs in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities.
Make reasonable modifications in their policies, practices, and procedures to avoid discrimination on the basis of disability, unless it would result in a fundamental alteration in their program or activity.
Ensure that buildings are accessible.
Provide auxiliary aids to individuals with disabilities, at no additional cost, where necessary to ensure effective communication with individuals with hearing, vision, or speech impairments.
Here's my bet: Your hospital does have all the devices you mentioned, it's just that no one on the floors knows where they are kept. The admin types are always very anal about making sure they buy that kind of stuff, but when it comes to actually storing it, you know how seldom-used equipment gets shunted off to odd places.
I once worked in a hospital where there were exactly two TDY machines; unfortunately they were both in a cabinet in the ED med room. And I only knew about them because I used to stock it as a CNA.
Here's my bet: Your hospital does have all the devices you mentioned, it's just that no one on the floors knows where they are kept. The admin types are always very anal about making sure they buy that kind of stuff, but when it comes to actually storing it, you know how seldom-used equipment gets shunted off to odd places.
I once worked in a hospital where there were exactly two TDY machines; unfortunately they were both in a cabinet in the ED med room. And I only knew about them because I used to stock it as a CNA.
Exactly! I found everything I needed. I even discovered things I would never thought the hospital had. The problem is the lack of staffs' knowledge about where everything is located. It's a bit off the topic, but I found a bladder scanner at one of the units, so I can go there and borrow it when needed.
Here's my bet: Your hospital does have all the devices you mentioned, it's just that no one on the floors knows where they are kept. The admin types are always very anal about making sure they buy that kind of stuff, but when it comes to actually storing it, you know how seldom-used equipment gets shunted off to odd places.
I once worked in a hospital where there were exactly two TDY machines; unfortunately they were both in a cabinet in the ED med room. And I only knew about them because I used to stock it as a CNA.
Exactly! I found everything I needed. I even discovered things I would never thought the hospital had. The problem is the lack of staffs' knowledge about where everything is located. It's a bit off the topic, but I found a bladder scanner at one of the units, so I can go there and borrow it when needed.
Good for you, Olli! But I still maintain that it shouldn't be the hospitals responsibility to maintain equipment for each and every rare condition that there is.
The gentleman that you spoke of - yes, I can see that, and with mine, well maybe some basic stuff, but I think it should still be my responsibility to bring any specilty things I need.
By the way, I don't think the Dept. of Justice deals with disibilties - I think they're a criminal branch of the government?
Exactly! I found everything I needed. I even discovered things I would never thought the hospital had. The problem is the lack of staffs' knowledge about where everything is located. It's a bit off the topic, but I found a bladder scanner at one of the units, so I can go there and borrow it when needed.
Good for you, Olli! But I still maintain that it shouldn't be the hospitals responsibility to maintain equipment for each and every rare condition that there is.
The gentleman that you spoke of - yes, I can see that, and with mine, well maybe some basic stuff, but I think it should still be my responsibility to bring any specilty things I need.
By the way, I don't think the Dept. of Justice deals with disibilties - I think they're a criminal branch of the government?
They suggest on their website that you can contact them if you have any questions about ADA. They can always redirect you too...
But I still maintain that it shouldn't be the hospitals responsibility to maintain equipment for each and every rare condition that there is.
banditrn
1,249 Posts
Olli - that's very nice of you, but what you aren't getting is that unless I'm being admitted during some emergency, I should already have those things available and should bring them with me.
The hospital should have things available for the commenest set of disabilities, not for every problem ever thought of on earth! For crying out loud, girl, it's not their fault my hands shake, why should they be penalized for it?:stone
You are right on in asking someone if they could ask me if I needed help with my food.