Tag: Health Care

Support and services

Q: What support services were the most/least beneficial to you and why?

I honestly couldn’t break it down to any specific services. I really had to think about this question before I arrived at a semi-workable answer. And the answer isn’t quite as specific as I’d have hoped. Oh well.

I believe my “support” and whether it has benefited me, either positively or negatively, simply boils down to whether it was obtained independently, or through a so-called “service provider.”

I didn’t have much control with any “formal” service entity. I was at the mercy of the service and what they’re able to provide at any given time. At least where PSW services go. They were not very flexible and, either unwilling, or unable to deal with change. Like if a staff member was sick, or unable to “report for duty,” not once were they able to provide me a back-up. And given this relations were often strained as a result. A person’s care is, inevitably personal and important. As it should be. I expected dependable help, but was provided anything but. Continue reading Support and services

On A Side Note

Speaking of hospital staff, a funny story came to mind while posting yesterday’s contribution.

While laid up in a hospital there was this nurse, let’s call her Mary. What I’m about to write is everything but ideal hospital behavior, she knew exactly how to entertain me. For a petite young woman, girl had the most prolific bum instrument I’m ever likely to hear. Get this, a few times a shift she would pass by my room and crack one off for my amusement. Continue reading On A Side Note

Health care culture and interaction

Q: Could you describe your perception of the hospital culture including your interaction with specific professionals at that time and how you adjusted?

A: The culture was desperately overworked. And greatly understaffed. Specialized members at any hospital I was at, whether the doctors or therapy personnel were few and far between. I only saw my neurologist, the physician overseeing my case once in the five months I was at one hospital.

Which left nursing staff as my primary exposure to professionals. Tired and cranky are two words that immediately spring to mind. But in defense of a few members of the attending staff, they understood my visible signs of frustration and did their best to try and rectify it. But rarely did it help. You can only do so much with what you have to work with. And sadly I wasn’t in any position to “adjust,” so to speak. I was just left to wait. Continue reading Health care culture and interaction

Interview

A friend who posed a set of questions for yours truly to answer for a school paper she is to write just left. It seems I slightly misunderstood the premise. She didn’t necessarily need me to write out every answer and hand them, complete to her. Which I did. She was to interview me and ask her questions and jot down my answers. She only forwarded me the questions as a “heads up” gesture. So I could think about and plan my answers, I guess. But what’s done is done.

But what was most compelling was the conversations that ensued. You see, she worked with me early on in my rehabilitation and was witness to much of what she asked. She able to add some to my thoughts. Things I forgot, was unaware of or, yes even hadn’t considered. Continue reading Interview