Hell-thcare
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Can I just say that I'm as frustrated right now as I've ever been about the US healthcare system? I'm fantasizing about some good old fashioned socialized medicine right about now!
I went to visit my mother today in the nursing home that her insurance company has *allowed* her to go to while she's recovering from a broken hip and femur. I was gone all weekend and when I walked in I was expecting to see her, at the very least, in a wheelchair. But no. She'd been in her bed since Friday evening when I last saw her. Her hair was greasy and needed washing, but no, she couldn't have a shower until her stitches were removed, maybe "in one week" according to one nurse, maybe "now" according to another.
The physical therapist came in while I was there and was glad to see me there, as she wanted to know why RHD (her previous hospital) had outfitted her with a brace for her left calf and foot. OK, I know I'm smart but do I look like a Doctor????
You know, I was willing to give the staff at RHD all kinds of breaks when I'd approach them at the nurses station and they were all busy with forms and notebooks on each patient. Maybe that's why they couldn't respond to my mother's calls for help right away, as they needed to keep an accurate record of what they were doing with her.
But when the PT tells me that she's read her records from beginning to end and still doesn't know why she got this brace, and then asks me the reason for it, I just want to scream!
So I tell her that I don't know and if all they are going to do is keep her in bed in diapers, then she might as well go home as any of us can do that for her, she apologizes for another "ball" that has been dropped and promises to do better.
They'll test mother tomorrow (or someday soon) to make sure she doesn't have a blod clot in her leg, and then proceed with her PT.
After dealing with the healthcare community BIGTIME since my sister entered hospice care on July 26th, all I can say is if this (the US) is the best healthcare in the world, I'm saddened and sick about this tonight!
I went to visit my mother today in the nursing home that her insurance company has *allowed* her to go to while she's recovering from a broken hip and femur. I was gone all weekend and when I walked in I was expecting to see her, at the very least, in a wheelchair. But no. She'd been in her bed since Friday evening when I last saw her. Her hair was greasy and needed washing, but no, she couldn't have a shower until her stitches were removed, maybe "in one week" according to one nurse, maybe "now" according to another.
The physical therapist came in while I was there and was glad to see me there, as she wanted to know why RHD (her previous hospital) had outfitted her with a brace for her left calf and foot. OK, I know I'm smart but do I look like a Doctor????
You know, I was willing to give the staff at RHD all kinds of breaks when I'd approach them at the nurses station and they were all busy with forms and notebooks on each patient. Maybe that's why they couldn't respond to my mother's calls for help right away, as they needed to keep an accurate record of what they were doing with her.
But when the PT tells me that she's read her records from beginning to end and still doesn't know why she got this brace, and then asks me the reason for it, I just want to scream!
So I tell her that I don't know and if all they are going to do is keep her in bed in diapers, then she might as well go home as any of us can do that for her, she apologizes for another "ball" that has been dropped and promises to do better.
They'll test mother tomorrow (or someday soon) to make sure she doesn't have a blod clot in her leg, and then proceed with her PT.
After dealing with the healthcare community BIGTIME since my sister entered hospice care on July 26th, all I can say is if this (the US) is the best healthcare in the world, I'm saddened and sick about this tonight!
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