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

What a different view of resuscitation this gives. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18368186/site/newsweek/

I just finished the dumbest survey sent by Tenent about reasons I'd choose one hospital over another. Furniture?!! I could care less about furniture. Or most of the questions that they asked because they eliminated doctors' recommendation as a basis. Only one choice appealed to me and that was wireless access. It's not even multiple choice just "How much would (food) (furniture) (being called at home or work when they were ready for your procedure, etc.) affect your decision. Scale of one to five. There was no section for suggestions. I kept thinking of that jungle on my legs and how much I'd have appreciated a bit of help with shaving them when I regained my senses. I had soo much to suggest and no way to do it!!! I was fortunate in that friends brought high end moisturizers, gave manicures and pedicures, things like that. But they couldn't see the legs because of the pneumonic pump. But I felt them!!!

I'm so sorry you're going through this 58flyer. I can't believe your doctor hasn't picked up on your intense anxiety and stepped in to remedy this. What about the chief of urology at the hospital? It's worth a call. As much as hospitals want to project the image of satisfied patients, I'd be willing to bet TPTB would accommodate you. I wish you only the best. Please let us know. We'll all be worrying about you.

While I agree the OP is very compassionate, this could lead to a real sticky wicket down the road. This sweet lady could just be saying how wonderful you all are to her, and without realizing "spill the beans" about lunch. Then it will be a public relations nightmare. Some people are demanding, jealous and do cause problems just because they can.

What a coincidence! I just had lunch with a dear friend and told her. We get each other's calls all the time because there's only one digit difference. She's gotten two calls on her machine but they did say "This mesg is for..........Please call Dr. ............at.........". She promptly called the doctor's office and told them she'd gotten the message in error. Of course, she'd have called me if it was my name and she knows my doctor. I really hadn't considered that possibility before Judy mentioned it. This will make it much easier to tell him because it could be a mistake. I won't feel like such a tattler or worse because it could possibly be a teaching moment. The caller to Judy's phone identified for whom the message was intended and gave the doctor and phone number so she could call and let them know.

I'll have to plan my words carefully since he's not just a great doctor but a very kind person. I'd much prefer to go to the practice administrator, if possible, since I wrote a letter complimenting how the practice was run. This doctor's practice is closed to new patients and has been for a long time. They add a new doctor instead of overburdening the partners - new patients are scheduled for 1 hour, new problem for existing patients - 30 minutes and a return check - 15 minutes. The administrator told me "It's hard because of the pressure to increase volumn, increase revenue. But this group is young and idealistic. They want to have time to do well by their patients and still have time for their families. The revenue is not so important to them." What I'm hoping is that I'll have some credibility with him, having recognized the outstanding job he does and that he is the HR person for the practice. In other words, I hope the administrator is the one to do the couseling or terminating. I was pretty sure I should say something but was hoping her "problem" was limited to me.

My primary care of 5 years recently got a new medical assistant. Prior to her arrival, the office was exactly what you'd want - calls returned promptly, referrals done quickly and efficiently, lab and test reports telephoned to you as they arrived. The doctor is exactly the same, however other things aren't. I'm on medication with side effects of hyperactivity and irritability, so I thought it was my problem that she irritated me so. Recently he decided an MRI and PT was needed and said they'd set up the appointments and call me. I waited and waited. The referral coordinator is the same person who has done it for years with never a glitch. I finally called her after 10 days and absolutely believe her when she said she never got the orders. She called back in 20 minutes with the appointments. I told her I knew what happened and said she really needed to speak to him because while I KNOW where the problem is, some patients might not and it reflects on him. She said she'd gone to the practice administrator AGAIN as that's her "chain of command". So, I was in the office yesterday and he was going over the MRI results. There are 4 herniated disks with impingment in one cervical and one lumbar. I asked why it had taken so long for him to get the results. He said "You were called last week and a message was left for you to call and to increase the Ultram. I said "No." He said maybe my husband had gotten it and forgot to tell me. I KNEW that didn't happen but just let it go. Both my husband and I checked messages for the last two weeks and there is NO message. She wrote IN MY CHART THAT SHE CALLED! Do I tell him?

I was in (although it was Navy) and it was an incredible experience. Very hard to adjust to a civilian hospital afterwards though since you're so used to having the best equipment, the newest protocols, and a trauma team. This was years ago and civilian hospitals just didn't have those things. I suspect it's still the same- military hospitals are on the cutting edge. I do know Balad is just awesome. (have Air Force friends who were stationed there). Tazzi - you described the feeling better than I ever could! How'd you do that?

I found that strengthing the abdominal muscles by daily pelvic exercises helped me more than anything. When I let it slide for a bit, it starts again.

sshannon, that was my routine and it worked. I'd previously had the cortisone shots. They worked but wore off in about a month. I knew if there was a fire at night, I'd be doing the right thing by crawling out, 'cause I sure couldn't walk. Now I do the calf stretching every day to keep it at bay. Oh, probably not walking miles on concrete during a 12 hour helped, too. Thank goodness it's gone!