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10/22/2003 Archived Entry: "HOSPITAL FOOD"

HOSPITAL FOOD...I'VE BLOGGED THIS BEFORE

You may find it strange, but I really like hospital food they serve in Salina. When I think of it, and the hour is right, I go the hospital to eat, especially if I'm in an errand mode and by myself. You can eat in their cafeterias, get good home-cooked food rather quickly and move on about your business. It's convenient and inexpensive. There are plenty of options for food and everyone thinks you're there visiting a patient and that's nice, of course.

They have a large salad bar, big sandwiches to go and many hot items. During the past two days for the noon meal, they've had choices of beef stroganoff over rice or mashed potatoes, real turkey breast with mashed potatoes, dressing and gravy, stuffed green peppers, an assortment of veggies, roasted chicken, meat loaf, grilled sandwiches, all kinds of desserts, drinks, etc. I usually have a good meal for under $4.00. You can't beat that for good food.

The reason I've been there recently, is that my ex-daughter-in-law fell Sunday while hiking in Lincoln County. She tripped and fell backwards down a steep 7 foot embankment. She didn't think she was really hurt, but by Monday morning she realized the injuries were more serious than first thought. It was determined she fractured vertebrae, had bulging compressed disks and bone fragments were interfering with her spinal column. Think paralysis.

After we waited all day yesterday for her number to come up for surgery, she finally was operated on last night with the last stitch going in about 10:30. The surgeon inserted two rods and four screws and pieced her back together. It went very well, so he said. She'll be fine, but back surgery is very painful and oftentimes the recuperative period is long. Unlike something like gall bladder surgery where everyone reacts about the same, back surgery is different and each patient responds differently.

One thing happened yesterday morning that mystifies me, as many hospital procedures do. They had her on a morphine drip for pain. She needed it. The nurse came in and said they would have to discontinue that for 1 1/2 hours so she would not be under the influence of pain killers when she signed a release for surgery...one they forgot earlier to have her sign. It was to cover emergency blood transfusions should they be required. So, if they'd forgotten to have her sign it and she needed blood during surgery they are going to do what??? Bring her around to sign the paper or what...the alternative? Geez.

Well, with all the hoopla now, she had to sign the release form just in case they might need to do a transfusion...but she couldn't be on the drip when she signed the permit. Now mind you, she was as lucid as anyone but they were going to let her struggle for 1 1/2 hours writhing in pain and THEN have her sign it. Does that make sense?

So I asked if I could sign it as I figured Julie could add me to her list of people to get around the privacy issues and I could sign off on the transfusions. How simple that was. You'd think someone who does that all the time might have thought of it. I think they are so wrapped up in red tape sometimes no one can think.

Those new privacy forms we've all been required to fill out are a pain. I just want to say "tell anyone who asks whatever they want to know!" I forgot to put Brit on one form and had to go back and start over. Sometimes I think the pendulum swings way too far to the right.