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Finally HOME!
3 years ago
The VA hospital . . . nice place, the staff was SUPER nice and accommodating, and I couldn't ask for better care.
... but, they have the WORST coordination when it comes to discharging their patients!
I was admitted because of an infection in my foot, and they did and MRI (not doing THAT again if I can help it! I will bring my MP3 player if I have to do an MRI in the future!), and found the bone right behind the fifth metatarsal joint (that's right behind the little toe) was infected. Scheduled for surgery and they were really good in that aspect: never felt a thing, really good in recovery.
But, doctor's were treating me with antibiotics, and of course worried over my sugar levels, but they were certain I would be released to go home this past Friday . . . and, this is where things went felgercarb-hitting-the-fan.
Infectious Disease clinic had to coordinate with Medicine, who needed to make sure I got the right antibiotics for when I got home -- because of SIX weeks of IV therapy -- but they didn't get the Biopsy report from the Labs (they had to check the piece of bone they removed from my foot). Labs shut down around 5pm on Friday, so I had to wait over the weekend for the report on Monday.
Monday comes, and no word from the Lab.
Monday afternoon comes, oh, the Lab sent the report to InfecDis, but they were dragging their heels to get back to Medicine. Doctor's said they couldn't release me until I spoke to Medicine and InfecDis . . . on top of this, I needed to speak to a Social Worker to see how I was going to get home.
Because Podiatry brought me a knee scooter to get around on, and a bath bench -- to help me get into and out of my bath, without stressing my left foot -- which was STILL IN THE BOX. Not to mention the supply of dressings and wraps for the home care nurse to use to treat my foot. I can't carry all of this on the city bus, which was my only means at the time to get home.
So, come to Tuesday morning, and I finally spoke to Medicine. They said all the antibiotics for my IV treatment would be shipped to my apartment to cover the six weeks of therapy I needed to do. Still waiting for InfecDis to speak to me . . . and again, they said, "Still waiting for their doctor to come speak to me, please be patient." . . . . Suffice to say, I'm getting calls from my mother, my workplace and my boss "When are you coming home?"
Needless to say, by now I'm upset because I COULD have been let home Friday, so the nurses told me.
So, now today, I wake up at 7 after getting another call from a workmate (didn't reply because I don't always wake up in a good mood), and was given breakfast . . . again, I ask WHEN is InfecDis coming to talk to me?
"Just be patient, Sir, we'll have the doctor speak to them." (again!)
About 30 minutes later or so . . .wonder of wonders! A doctor shows up.
"Hi I'm from Infectious Disease . . . need to talk to you about the lab results."
Turns out, they were dragging because they needed to narrow down the antibiotics to the specific ones that would treat my condition. The doctor apologized for not getting word to me sooner, seems there was a miscommunication with the ward staff, yadda-yadda . . . so, he ultimately told me "We're going to get you out of here by 10am."
Joy! Jubilation and Haloy! I will go home TODAY!
Needless to say, it took me some time to get stuff together, get some final words from Podiatry and a FINAL confirmation about how my wheelchair is getting home. But, the transport person came and got me just before 10am, got me down to the NEW entrance of the hospital (not the old one closer to Bruce B. Downs blvd.) . . . boy rolling along on that knee scooter was a pull, but I made it.
About 30 minutes through morning traffic in downtown Tampa, I am FINALLY home. I need to get things sorted -- they delivered my IV meds about 5 minutes after I walked in the door! -- and then see about getting down to my job to speak to my Boss. I have to tell him about the treatments, the home care visits so that they can work my schedule if necessary.
But I can tell you this much, as I sit down to write this out while eating a home-cooked breakfast . . . it is GOOD to be home! And I hope the healing on my foot goes smoothly.
Sorry for this long post, but I just had to get this out!
... but, they have the WORST coordination when it comes to discharging their patients!
I was admitted because of an infection in my foot, and they did and MRI (not doing THAT again if I can help it! I will bring my MP3 player if I have to do an MRI in the future!), and found the bone right behind the fifth metatarsal joint (that's right behind the little toe) was infected. Scheduled for surgery and they were really good in that aspect: never felt a thing, really good in recovery.
But, doctor's were treating me with antibiotics, and of course worried over my sugar levels, but they were certain I would be released to go home this past Friday . . . and, this is where things went felgercarb-hitting-the-fan.
Infectious Disease clinic had to coordinate with Medicine, who needed to make sure I got the right antibiotics for when I got home -- because of SIX weeks of IV therapy -- but they didn't get the Biopsy report from the Labs (they had to check the piece of bone they removed from my foot). Labs shut down around 5pm on Friday, so I had to wait over the weekend for the report on Monday.
Monday comes, and no word from the Lab.
Monday afternoon comes, oh, the Lab sent the report to InfecDis, but they were dragging their heels to get back to Medicine. Doctor's said they couldn't release me until I spoke to Medicine and InfecDis . . . on top of this, I needed to speak to a Social Worker to see how I was going to get home.
Because Podiatry brought me a knee scooter to get around on, and a bath bench -- to help me get into and out of my bath, without stressing my left foot -- which was STILL IN THE BOX. Not to mention the supply of dressings and wraps for the home care nurse to use to treat my foot. I can't carry all of this on the city bus, which was my only means at the time to get home.
So, come to Tuesday morning, and I finally spoke to Medicine. They said all the antibiotics for my IV treatment would be shipped to my apartment to cover the six weeks of therapy I needed to do. Still waiting for InfecDis to speak to me . . . and again, they said, "Still waiting for their doctor to come speak to me, please be patient." . . . . Suffice to say, I'm getting calls from my mother, my workplace and my boss "When are you coming home?"
Needless to say, by now I'm upset because I COULD have been let home Friday, so the nurses told me.
So, now today, I wake up at 7 after getting another call from a workmate (didn't reply because I don't always wake up in a good mood), and was given breakfast . . . again, I ask WHEN is InfecDis coming to talk to me?
"Just be patient, Sir, we'll have the doctor speak to them." (again!)
About 30 minutes later or so . . .wonder of wonders! A doctor shows up.
"Hi I'm from Infectious Disease . . . need to talk to you about the lab results."
Turns out, they were dragging because they needed to narrow down the antibiotics to the specific ones that would treat my condition. The doctor apologized for not getting word to me sooner, seems there was a miscommunication with the ward staff, yadda-yadda . . . so, he ultimately told me "We're going to get you out of here by 10am."
Joy! Jubilation and Haloy! I will go home TODAY!
Needless to say, it took me some time to get stuff together, get some final words from Podiatry and a FINAL confirmation about how my wheelchair is getting home. But, the transport person came and got me just before 10am, got me down to the NEW entrance of the hospital (not the old one closer to Bruce B. Downs blvd.) . . . boy rolling along on that knee scooter was a pull, but I made it.
About 30 minutes through morning traffic in downtown Tampa, I am FINALLY home. I need to get things sorted -- they delivered my IV meds about 5 minutes after I walked in the door! -- and then see about getting down to my job to speak to my Boss. I have to tell him about the treatments, the home care visits so that they can work my schedule if necessary.
But I can tell you this much, as I sit down to write this out while eating a home-cooked breakfast . . . it is GOOD to be home! And I hope the healing on my foot goes smoothly.
Sorry for this long post, but I just had to get this out!
We deal with that shtako all the time in my line of work (non-emergent medical transport). Hospital calls us for a ride; we call a transport provider based on client need (sedan, wheelchair, gurney).
We call the hospital back with a provider and time.
... then the hospital cancels the ride when the driver gets on scene, "Oh, we're not ready."
WHY DID YOU CALL US, THEN!?Of course, my brain had forgotten you're in Tampa while I was reading, then saw Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Man, I almost miss Tampa.