A Hospital Stay in 2023

 

A Hospital Stay

While a close family member was hospitalized for over a week,  I had the opportunity to remember how scary it is for the family (me) and how vulnerable we become at the mercy of the team caring for the patient. 

It would be easy to say this hospital was wonderful.  The nurses were caring and helpful.  They answered questions and came when called.  The doctors performed potentially life-saving tests and procedures to care for my family member, and when asked to explain things again and again so we could capture information and directions, everyone was patient with us.  When I asked the doctor not to say “don’t worry” to me, I was able to collect information and keep communication flowing .  It was a teaching hospital, and my family member would tell me if I missed the neurology class or the cardiac class; all the students would help with information needed to make decisions. 

So what was the problem?  Can I still find a problem after nine days of acceptable medical care?

Yes, and there is a reason I will share some of what I experienced.

The tray tables were never left near the patient, who could not get out of bed.  Each time the food was brought into the room, it was left out of reach.  Even the patient in the next bed, who had no visitors, yelled for his tray table.  Life-threatening?  No. Inconvenient and inconsiderate? Yes.

When an Occupational Therapist put her box of tools on the bed and spread them out, I went and got all new bedding, explaining to the nurse that this was not OK.  The nurse offered to help me change the bedding, as did the OT, but she acted as if this was acceptable practice.  Even putting a towel down over the bedding would have been acceptable.  When I pulled the sheets off,  I found the bed itself was torn and stained.  Life-threatening?  No clue.

I asked the nurses when the last C-Diff infection was discovered on this floor, and they said it had been at least two years.  I responded that that was a good thing, because no one was washing their hands.  No sinks were available except in the patient’s bathroom. Some staff used hand sanitizer before entering the room but not before treating the patient. Everyone wore gloves and some did not use hand sanitizer (that I could see) before putting on gloves.  I never saw the stethoscope being cleaned before use.

I wiped down the chairs before sitting down. Most were dirty. One was in such bad shape it was chipped and torn, and when I wiped down the arms, I got a splinter.  The garbage was emptied daily but the bathroom was not cleaned for the whole time we were there.  The family cleaned it.  When I asked the person who emptied the garbage when the bathroom gets cleaned, he said, “I will find out”. 

Why do I share this?  Believe it or not, its not a complaint.  It is really just a reminder that the family and friends of the patient play an important role in helping to keep the patient safe.  Whether it means cleaning the bathroom, wiping down anything staff may touch and then not wash their hands, keeping notes, or making sure the patient can reach their tray table without falling out of bed, we have a place. Remember to use it!.