Beyond frustrated with health care today....

[Yip]

MA, I'm so sorry your hub had such a bad time last month. I imagined something was going on when you were absent. You did exactly the right thing, of course. I'm still praying for both of you.

Last winter, two days after Christmas, my baby had her first baby. I have been out of all hosp. scenes for maaany years, but esp. maternity. Minutes after the baby was born, cleaned up and routine med. tests were run, 7 visitore were allowed in the room where the brand new baby was persent. People came and went, but there were at least 6 visitors present at any given time all day and evening. I so wish daddio and I could have stayed only a short time, but we were responsible for Emily's (step sis) transportation and meals, and she needed to be with the new family. The following day was a little lighter on visitors, but I had developed a cough, so I stopped at the nurses' station asking for a mask and stating my reason. Brand new baby, lots of visitors, I was coughing. They looked at me as if I had two or three heads! I got my mask from a silent nurse, but I think I might have been labeled as overprotective. Whaaat???

[Idaho Linda]

Yip, at our small local hospital, there is a big sign in the waiting room telling folks that if they have a cough or other respiratory infection, that they should come to the window and get a mask. But, how much could a tiny hospital know?

It is so easy to get tunnel vision when you are a hospital employee or other healthcare worker. Additionally, we are so used to what is going on that we forget that the patient might be far more concerned than we are. That advocate--hopefully one that speaks the language--needs to be there. Most hospitals have a patient advocate on staff--check to see if there is one who can help with the translations.

[Jenni]

The hospital / clinic that we use has boxes of masks as you enter the building and signs asking that you use them if you have a cough - another box at the check in counter. The clinic also has separate seating areas for kids that are there for "well child" check ups and those who are sick. Also at the height of cold and flu season they cordon off the kids play puzzle things on the wall with signs saying they are trying to prevent the spread of germs. Of course that could be why our "small" hospital is nationally recognized for care.

We have pics of my mom holding Kelsey a few hours after she was born - wearing a mask because she had a cold.

[KarenN]

Thanks, everyone. Linda does have awesome info for us all - many thanks to her!

MA - My prayers continue for you and your DH - so hard, and you are such a great advocate for him.

Frosty - they are getting hit with some of the bills for various reasons, but nothing really bad yet. My frustration is that we as taxpayers are footing exorbitant bills for Medicare and TriCare. If you take just the mishandled costs for mom and dad and then extrapolate that - it is mind boggling! My free market insurance is much more efficient and would NEVER have let those kinds of cost overruns occur - they have gone to bat for me more than once. I guess that is one of my frustrations, but that is minor really. The real frustrations are the lack of communications between the various medical agencies and lack of any kind of truly personal care

[Frostym]

Karen, my heart goes out to you and your family. I'm surprised that you are having costs that are not covered.
My DH was in the hospital for three months four years ago. I had two major surgeries last year and I have yet to see the first unpaid bill. Maybe your docs are not being careful about what procedures are covered.

For us the worst thing was lack of communication between the docs, specialists, and various other health care providers. My poor dh got caught in a trick bag where one doc gave him more introvenous water which he was too weak to get rid of himself and another doc took him off the catheter. It was AWFUL. Poor guy. That's when he went on hospice.

I'm so sorry for your MIL. I'm praying for all of you. May God bless you and bring you comfort and strength, especially you. (((HUGS))).

[BreakSwowl]

Breaking Benjamin is my favourite rock-band of 2000s. Breaking Benjamin had so many hits! The ones I remember are 'The Diary of Jane', 'Tourniquet' and, of course their hit 'So Cold'. These are real masterpieces, not garbage like today! And it is awesome that they have a tour in 2020! And I'm going to attend their concert in 2020. The concert setlist is here: breakingbenjaminconcerts.com. Click on it and maybe we can even visit one of the performances together!