You're Kidding..........

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

So we got a referral for a 600 pound man. At the hospital they have a special motorized lift and it still takes 3 people every time he moves. My admissions people actually considered admitting him! I don't have special lifts. I don't have a room that will accommodate a huge lift and a huge bed, I don't have any other bariatric equipment. Honestly he wouldn't fit through the door. And what if we had a fire? Are we supposed to drag 600 pounds down the stairs?

When will these people get it? We can't admit just anyone and expect a good outcome. I am exhausted from the daily struggle of admitting only appropriate people.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Ambulatory Care.

I feel your pain. There are buildings that specialize in morbid obesity.

You know it is trouble when the fax cover page says that the hospital will pay for the patient's stay at your facility. Stop reading and call them back and say "No, thank you"

But admissions brings it to you so you can read it and say "Really? Hep C patient hospitalized for chest pain after snorting cocaine and shooting heroine which was diluted with "boiled" well water and drinking a 12 pack?" My 90 year old ladies are going to love him

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

If the guy you described had Medicare, I'd be forced to take him.

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Admissions crises is what caused one of my DONs to walk off the job.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Believe me, the thought has crossed my mind. My corporate bosses want to know why we haven't filled all the beds with 'good rehab' customers. Well, let's see. Grandma doesn't want to be on a floor with detoxing alcoholics and criminals....go figure. The administrator made a rule that we weren't going to take alcoholics unless they'd stopped drinking for 30 days. That rule lasted less time than it takes one of those alcoholics to drink a 5th of scotch.

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Specializes in Med surg, LTC, Administration.

Why I love working for a non profit!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Ambulatory Care.
If the guy you described had Medicare, I'd be forced to take him.

He had no payer source which is why the hospital was willing to pay us to take him. I like when corp tell you that you should be the employer of choice. If you take residents like this you will NOT be the employer of choice. CNAs and staff do not want to care for 600 lbs or behavior problems or alcoholics.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

More than half my residents have a psych diagnosis and we are used to dealing with them, but the drunks are another story all together.

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I applaud you all for saying no to these admissions. I've worked in places where they take them. Yes..the very same type of residents that you described above. Scary.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Ambulatory Care.

Thank God I have a great administrator. Luckily my administrator agrees about alcoholics and alcohol related dementia. Not drinking for 30 days does not guarantee that someone does not have alcohol related dementia. They are VERY different from other dementias. The nurses and the CNAs can tell which residents have age related dementia or alz type dementia compared to the residents who have alcohol related dementia. Their behaviors are different.

BTW when our census is low my admissions person tells corporate that I am refusing all of the admissions and that I don't give her an answer in a timely manner. And our census is runs between 85%- 95%. I tell her if she wants to admit them she needs to be willing to leave her office and try to take care of them. I have on an occasion admitted someone who she insisted we take and we the resident required one on one attention for behavior and attempting to leave, the unit manager took the resident to the admission office so the admissions person could watch her and entertain her.:)

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Next time the administrator insists on taking a really troublesome patient, when they act up, I'll bring them to her office....oh....wait...she's never in the building....

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Ambulatory Care.
Next time the administrator insists on taking a really troublesome patient, when they act up, I'll bring them to her office....oh....wait...she's never in the building....

Wow that is the problem. I have work with administrators like that and will never do it again.

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