Tammi's World

Just give me the word and I'll make the calls we spoke of.

Know I'm thinking of you...

Tammi - if you don't see the doc in the morning - you insist on getting his phone number! Then you call him! If he doesn't answer you... You tell the nurses you want another doctor for your mother IMMEDIATELY - you want to talk to him and you want to know what's going on. You tell them to get a cardiac doctor in there who can tell you what is happening. (8AM is the latest any doc should be still making rounds. If he isn't there by 8am - he should be history.)

Next, ask to speak to the head nurse. Not the shift head nurse, but the floor head nurse. If the floor head nurse is not available - then tell them you want to talk to the supervisor! Tell her what you told us. If she doesn't fix it - and I mean right now - you head down to the Director of Nurses office. You tell them you have a complaint and you want your mother cared for - PERIOD!

This is just inexcusable - I don't care what they say. The fact that they don't bother to answer alarms... not good at all. The fact of no afternoon rounds... not so great, but is sometimes the case.

Unfortunately you often have to turn into almost a raving bitch to get anything done. But by all means, scare the hell out of them - you might actually get some service that way! God knows you're paying enough for this slipshod job they are calling "medical care".

Just wanting to give a hug to you & Mama Vi :-)

This is one time to uncork the bottle on "The Bitch" and let her loose. I have had to step on a couple of toes at the hospital in the past few years with my dad and my mother-in-law going into the hospital a couple of times. I have gone all the way to the administrator with one complaint about a night nurse that was too busy trying to get outside for his smoke breaks to check on my dad, who had just had a knee replacement and had been strapped to a machine to keep the knee moving in a bicycle like motion. I walked into his room just after the machine had fallen off the bed and my dad couldn't reach the call button and he couldn't yell because he has emphysema. Let me tell you, when I found out no one had seen his nurse for about an hour and didn't know where he was and heard other tales of neglect on his part, I let it rip. I kept my voice level and didn't yell, but I let them know in no uncertain terms that I was making notes and planning on calling in a suit the next day if I didn't get immediate results. I didn't leave Dad's room after that and everyone got really attentive to his needs all of a sudden. I heard through the grapevine the next day that they had let the night nurse go as this was just one in a long string of stupid stunts.

You have to watch everything when your family members are in the hospital. And don't be afraid to kick a hospital butt or two.

Will be praying for your Mama, Tammy. Hope all gets better quickly.

M

I agree strongly with Bonfire, Teresa and Bou. It's time to make yourself known in there and let them know in no uncertain terms that this level of care is not acceptable for anyone and it stops now.

If a doctor can't be bothered to see you and Momma Vi, let them all know that they are fired and that you want Momma Vi transferred to another hospital that will provide a proper level of care.

And that a suit will be receiving a phone call that afternoon if you do not see some quick and drastic changes.

Then let them know that a 5'8 brunette with a true Irish Redheads temper will be quickly approaching on the helipad (as she will fly her butt up there) and will proceed to join in the bitchfest...and they don't want two people WHO ARE REALLY REALLY GOOD AT GETTING MEDICAL PEOPLE'S ATTENTION WHEN REQUIRED!

Just let me know, I'm ready for takeoff!

First, I'm sorry to hear about your momma.
Seconds, people are a lot tougher than they may look.
Third, if a doctor is not visiting her, there are a few possibilities; they are understaffed; they feel there is nothing they can do; they are negligent.

Most of the time in the hospital, they make a diagnosis, apply a bit of treatment, then sit back and wait to see the results. That's the "observation" part.

Finaly, as I've experienced and written about - you have to take care of your loved one in the hospital. The hospital staff won't do it. I had to find water and food. I had to bring in meds. Before that I had to find nurses when it was med time. Every patient in the hospital needs a loved one to fight for them. It's.The.Only.Way.

Don't worry about being a bitch. Do what is needed. Nice people get ignored.

As for her condition, they probably don't feel that there is much they can do for her. If she has had a heart attack, then the damage is already done and they can't fix anything.

Most discharges occur on Friday morning. Ready or not. Prepare for it.

Tammi,
Sorry to hear that your mom fell ill. It's never a good time to get sick, but the holidays are always the worst. Sending good thoughts and prayers your way. Your mom is fortunate to have you by her side, but that is her reward for raising you right.

On the subject of the hospital and their "staff", it sounds like they need to be reminded that they are a BUSINESS and that their customer service is woefully lacking (i.e. SUX). If you don't get satisfaction from the nurses or doctors (if you ever get to see one), demand to see the head of the hospital (chief surgeon of administrator). Don't hesitate to let them know that you're more than willing to drop a line to the health department, local news papers, TV stations, AARP, or anyone else who will listen. If you haven't started already, keep good notes on everything that happens, in case you have to follow through. Sometimes threats are the only thing bureaucrats respond to.

Anyway, good luck and God bless. Keep us posted.

John