pannie

As someone who is disfigured and lost 6 months of my life from MRSA, you can bet I'll be watching! What should have been a straight, perhaps fading surgical scar is now something very ugly. I really don't care about your ego. It seems the point of dispute is having to wear a button. Big deal. I wear this every day of my life. But make no mistake, I'm grateful I have that life! A button? ptttf! This whole thread reminds me of children saying "But he/she doesn't have to do it." I thank the infection control people who have spoken up, given statistics and tried to put it in perspective. I've given up on allnurses (but get e-mails because I posted on this thread a long time ago). To me, most have bruised egos. THIS IS OVER A BUTTON, for crying out loud!

Girlfriend gave me a "pre-hurricane" tip to add to my list -shave your legs and shampoo your hair!:chuckle

Chaya, I agree with you. Somehow there's got to be a way to impress EVERYONE how important it is. But the bottomline is that if I don't see the handwashing or someone using the sanitizer, I will say something. But for a long period, I wasn't aware or coherent enough to be vigilant. What then? Trust? That didn't work out too well for me.

As one who lost almost a year of my life and has the very nasty abdominal scar from MRSA, let me assure you that I don't find it demeaning to the healthcare provider to ask. My very disfiguring scar is proof that asking is much better in the long run. You can bet if I don't see that provider washing, I WILL tell them to. You being offended vs thousands upon thousands of dollars; you being offended vs my battle to live, just isn't going to impress me much. If someone is offended, I'd ask for another provider.

Please get back to me when you've torn tendons and have a fracture) in your ankle and have to wait a few weeks for definitive studies. Pt. not screaming in agony, minimal swelling, etc. IT HAPPENED WITHIN THE LAST MONTH! Well, she did get on a plane for the US so actually it was treated fairly promptly. It's OK IF it doesn't happen to you and yours.

It's not been my friend's experience to get an MRI in a timely manner......scheduled for weeks after the injury. She hobbled onto a plane. But then she's never been one to try to "pull rank" or use her son (besides he lives in another providence) or daughter-in-law for special treatment. She's a wonderful person! Yes, they can very well afford to pay for treatment in the US. I'm sure they do have a policy since they own a very big company that does business here. I'm sure their employees here receive health benefits. But the impression I'm getting from your posting is that you CAN get a speedy c-t or MRI IF you know the right people. Surely, that's not what you're saying, is it? The physician son is frustrated. Sometimes speedy care (not saying it's not expert care) is needed for him (as a rehab doctor) to have the best patient out-come. I did watch a program (60 Minutes? 20/20?) about a man with a brain tumor. Anyone else see it? He couldn't get the imaging done for 2 months! He went to a "broker" who got him into a neurosurgeon in NY. Within a week, he was diagnosed and operated on. It showed he and his wife talking about how to pay for it. I think the outcome is that he's suing the providence (maybe Ontario?) to recover the money. I believe they got a second mortgage. So, why would there be these "brokers" who find a place in the US for people to receive prompt care, IF the Canadian system is so great? You can praise the system there all you care to, but I can testify to the veracity of my friends. In many years, I've never heard them exaggerate anything. I'll take their word for it.

I just read back over the thread and noticed that Clee1's insurance is similar to the change I made. I pay the first $2,000 and then my coverage reverts to exactly what I had before. I'm feeling pretty heady over that decision because I've found out there's a 20% discount for cash. Also, I've learn to check with different imaging centers because their cost vary GREATLY. I just paid $125 for x-rays and that included the radiologist's fee. The first center wanted $195 for the x-rays and the radiologist billed separately at a later date. Hope the ortho also gives a discount for cash! We see him tomorrow to evaluate the fracture. I'm feeling some of Clee's POWER!

IF it's so wonderful, why do our Canadian friends come to the US for care? The wait for an out-patient c-t or mri is outrageous. And one couple's son and daughter-in-law are physicians! I love Canada and visit as much as I can. But for medical care, I'm very thankful I live in the US. I know Tony and his wife are fabulous, caring doctors (he's rehab and she's pediatric trauma) but as soon as the children are old enough, they want to emigrate to the states. Right now, they're pre-school and my friend is back-up babysitter.

I mostly agree, but there should be some accommodation if there's truly a personality conflict. I was the recipient of home health care for 6 months. There was one weekend nurse I just couldn't abide. Her first visit I told her of my extreme sensitivity to all but one type of tape (medipore). She let me know that SHE'S "an RN and work for a cardiologist. I know what I'm doing!" I guess I was just sick enough, and weak enough, that I didn't argue. The supplies that are brought into your house are never taken out, of course. So, there were numerous different tapes in the supplies. When my regular RN came on Monday, she tried so gently and so long to get that tape off. But my skin tore all around that huge wound. While she didn't SAY anything, I think she was near tears of frustration. The next weekend, sub nurse called (having missed the morning packing) about 9:45 pm and said "Haha. I'm in the lay-way line at (can't remember the store). I just have to have these gorgeous boots. Why don't you come down here and I'll do your dressing? Hahaha" My DH cleaned and packed the wound and got me to bed. He said she showed up a little before 11 pm. I called the agency and told them "Never send her back to my house." One Friday, the manager called and said "You're not going to be happy. She's the only one we could get for Sunday." Saturday, a friend called and said "I'm bringing tickets for the NASCAR race Sunday." I just couldn't imagine (much as I love NASCAR) summoning the energy to go. But he's a love and had VIP parking right in front of the suite. So, I canceled her on Sunday and had hubby do the packing. I heard she was PO'd. (do they get paid per patient??) and was going "to report her. If she's well enough to leave the house, she doesn't need home health." They reminded her I was private pay, who was she going to report me to? My doctors encouraged me to get out "as tolerated". Every other RN or LVN was welcomed and a joy to have in our home. I had 3 doctors (surgeon, internist and infectious disease) and every time I saw them, they asked if I was happy with the agency because they could change agencies. I was very happy with the agency and every nurse. but her. My regular nurse even packed a suitcase with surgical supplies when we made a trip to Boston (at my doctors' suggestion). There has to be trust and some level of compatibility.

What a horrific thing to happen. Our sympathy to all those involved be they victim, EMS, fire service or hospital personal. So far, only one confirmed fatality but just looking at the live pictures, that seems destined to change. My immediate thought was "shift change at 7" - I hope too early for medical workers to be on their way to work, and too early for the others to be on their way home. I hope that's true. Please let us know how you all are.....

I was director of a non-profit agency and applied for a grant to provide car seats. I was called by hospital staff if the parents didn't have a car seat to take the baby home. Our Fire/EMS would pick up the car seat and go to the hospital and show the parents how to correctly install the seat. It worked well since we have multiple fire/ems stations. The dispatcher could tell me which station wasn't busy.

On the other side of the needle - if a patient says a repeat attempt doesn't bother them, believe them. Those of us that are a hard stick are used to it. IT REALLY DOESN'T BOTHER US!

YEA!!!! There are many PCPs who DO go the extra mile for their patients and if yours is not willing to do this....find one who will. Or find out what system your hospital is affliated with and go straight to the top, to their PR department (where I live it would be Baylor, Presby, Tenent, etc.) and I'll bet they'd be competing to accommodate you.

I've always wondered HOW they get people to actually SLEEP in the centers. Please let us know.

I asked my PCP to testify for me if they ever find my DH in the refrigerator! LOL