Archive for April, 2008

Robin called a bit ago to say Shirl was up walking a bit this morning – with a walker. Amazing.

Brian (chef) is having Robin over this evening for a bit and then he’ll check back in on Shirl.

I miss her and go to pick the phone up to call her. Both she and Robin are a great support to us.

Whenever Buddy walks over and nudges my toes, he says, “Buddy, you’ll get sick!” and then laughs at his own humor.

Another day and no appt. or things on the agenda. He’s exhausted from 2 days of getting up early (read:11am) and functioning as well as possible.

We were on the bed in the guest room, reading and enjoying the sunshine when Robin called about Shirl. It was a relief to know all was well – we cuddled up talking. Next thing it’s 9pm, dark, disorientated. Both of us had slept.

Got him to bed but I was bright eyed far into the wee hours. Kind of a bummer.

My sister had her second knee replacement today – 1.75 hour surgery. Successful per doctor.

It was a relief to get the call from her husband – times like these I’d like to be able to travel and be there for her.

(1) Called RN at 9am to discuss home visit – she says Intake has to book it.

(2) Called Intake at 9:05am – she says RN has to do it.

(3) Called RN back – she was exasperated – said she’d call the Intake herself – and did she ever!

(4) Intake calls 2 minutes later.

(5) Luckily she doesn’t book the OR – a: what’s the reason you have to see the nurse?
b: not me, my husband
c: you mean – - -and uses my husband’s first name and our son’s name in combo.Corrected that.
d: why does he need to see nurse
e: has AD – oh, well, what do you want her to do?
f: please just send Tracy (RN) for a home visit to see my husband – she has his records.
g: pompously and full of herself: Well I have to get all the info. (Fair enough) When was he last hospitalized? Never. Never?! Yes, never. Does he take any medications – I rattled them off and I knew she didn’t get them but didn’t care – she fudged and says OK.
Thanked her and hung up.

Five minutes later, the phone rings and no one knows who or why anyone was calling. Go figure this circus out.

We have dealt with the RN and she’s a dear but this one on the desk at Intake should not be there. Period.

Yesterday, he asked if Home care had called yet. Nope. He showed me a letter from them “this family is impossible to reach and does not have a recorder on their phone so it’s impossible to reach them.” Both cell and home phones have voice mail and call display. He believed me and said to keep calling – “squeaky wheel gets the grease” but I hate that premise.

Puzzled, I explained they called me at 8am on a Sat. and after a difficult night, I wasn’t up til 8:15 – called her back and of course, her voice mail kicks in.

GP faxes them in Feb08

I call them after our appointment yesterday, they pick up. Turns out she (receptionist) didn’t record the new cell and home number from last Oct. when I called to update. Well, she had to have written it somewhere as called me on it at 8am that day. Anyway, I repeated our new numbers and she repeats back the incorrect previous numbers. “Hello, is anyone home.” to self, of course.

So after clarifying the correct numbers, I’m “back in her system and should get a call.”
I distinctly remember her saying in Oct. that it was her first day on the job. No problem with that but I wonder how many more families are waiting.

Several LTC RN’s (patients of mine) gave me their direct lines when they heard I was retiring but I don’t like to pull rank or jump the queue or what ever so never did call them to see what was going on. I guess sometimes it is OK if only to see what’s happening – in hindsight.