Some of you may already know this is a pet peeve (anyone know exactly what a peeve is?). Why isn't it spelled Whensday, or pronounced Wed-ness-day?
Fred and I have decided that the folks that work here, a) do not talk to one another and b) do not talk to one another. Here is a good example or two. One of the docs who heads the in-house rehab came in yesterday evening. We all had a conversation about Fred's going into the Beaumont in house rehab. She thought he had improved tremendously just the first day or so he was on this floor. She told us what she would do and what he could expect. A while ago a nurse "care manager" came in to talk about going to an outside (think nursing home) rehab facility. I told her to read the notes and/or talk with the doc that was here last night. There are different criteria for the different rehabs.
About ten this morning, Fred, his day nurse, nurse assistant and I, discussed the plan for today. Fred was sitting up for breakfast, would get up and in the bedside chair before lunch. He would do some sitting exercises, have lunch, and then get helped into the shower and get cleaned up. Soon after this plan was hatched, Occupational Therapy came in to demonstrate some exercises so he can do things at home like putting on his socks, etc. She was with him about thirty minutes. Fred then ate lunch and was pretty tired. His nurse came in and the three of us planned a shower between three and four this afternoon, he would rest until then. Just as he was falling asleep a Physical Therapist came in to, get him up walking and reassess his progress. I asked her to read the notes from the Occupational Therapist, discuss those notes with the Nurse Care Manager, take those findings to the Case Manager and finally, find out what the Rehab Doctor was thinking of doing.
The only person not involved in all of this is the guy who runs the cash register in the cafeteria.
All these folks have access to the regular paper chart and his on-line file. All of these visits are documented with notes. I'm not sure if they use this here but we would use S.O.A.P. notes. S = subjective finding O = Objective findings A = assessment and finally P = plan. Now we have computer files as well and look how much better the comunication is.
Fred is doing better every day. He knows you are all thinking about him and he sure does appreciate that. Last night he very quietly said, "it looks like I just may make it." I let him know there was no "just might" in the equation, he IS going to make it. He also had a very determined and positive attitude saying, "I'll work hard and do whatever I need to do so I can get the Hell out of here." He doesn't want to think about, know about, or discuss what he has been through for now. He is aware of the ostomy and knows he will have instructions both here in the hospital and once he gets home. Wanda and I talked about the possibility of me coming back when he goes home. If he needs me to do that, I will.
I am going to go find a very quiet room with a very comfortable couch, take off my shoes and take a nap. I am tired.
Love, Chuck
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