How to Solve the Health Care Problem

Decades ago I was told that to make money in the long-term you have to spend money.  And this is what the Province should be doing respecting health care.  No harm will result.   More jobs will be created thus more revenue will recirculate into the economy. And among the compounding effects will be that we will all have security of person. We will not have to worry about whether or not we are receiving optimal care because of budget restraints. Start medical training in Grade 10 so that upon graduation everyone is a LPN and those credits can be applied to a RN degree.  Look upon health care as a natural renewable resource and it will attract investment from around the world in the spinoff industries.

I did a terrible thing yesterday.  A man I assume was from India offered to share his over sized umbrella with me and Randy and I told him that it wasn't necessary.  I said that rain was good for the earth and also us humans.  I should have allowed the comfort of his umbrella and chat with him as we walked the two blocks in the pouring rain to the entrance of George Pearson Centre.  If I see him again, this tall elderly man from India, I will run after him and apologize. An offer of kindness has to be appreciated. (Randy was covered in a rain cape especially designed for wheelchairs)

I still haven't heard anything from the VCH's Ethics Committee on why Randy was bombarded with DNRs these past six months.  This discussion happened many times and each time we voted for full code and VCH seemed intent on voting for a DNR.  Caution:  if you do not have 110% confidence in the medical/legal system never agree to a DNR.  Do not believe the quality of life issues VCH will argue. Life is worth it no matter what. Too many mistakes can be made with DNRs, Advance Directives, Living Wills, etc. Research it on the web. Ask yourself why the push for DNRs...start with www.texasrighttolife.com...end of life care.


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Nothing Changes

I went for a short walk to GPC at 11:00 am.  I wanted to know Randy's status as he wasn't looking well.  He was lethargic, unhappy and needed a suction. Since no one was available after about twenty minutes I used the call bell.  Ten minutes later a staff member arrived and said to me that he doesn't have to talk to me as I am not a patient...
1.  Because of Randy's injury, he cannot talk;
2.  Randy isn't looking well as he has an infection and needs someone to be his voice and expects me to look after him..


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Aftermath of Hospital Report Card 2013

Referring to the B.C.Minister of Health's comment that 90% of the people are happy with the excellent care provided by VCH on CKNW on Thursday (Bill Good's show), .what about the other 100,000 people, (the ten percent) who do not share her view.  We are talking 100,000 people in the Vancouver area alone..

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VGH's Report Card (CBC's Fifth Estate)

VGH has been assigned a D; I suspect GPC must be a F.

This indicator measures the number of patients per 1,000 who develop problems tied to nursing care such as urinary tract infections, bed sores, pneumonia or broken bones. Nurses are not solely responsible but studies show a strong link to low nurse staffing levels. see cbc.ca/health

At GPC I have never heard or even seen any nursing staff being "burned out" from being overworked.  And no patient/resident at GPC will ever attest to that.

So Randy has been getting poor nursing care as I have suspected:of his urinary tract infections, bed sores, pneumonia, broken bones, psychological neglect....

see cbc.ca/health


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An advocate

This past week a medical professional complimented me on being such a good advocate for Randy.  I have heard that before.  My response to her was why does Randy need an advocate.  If the medical establishment was doing its job advocacy would not be necessary.  The medical profession has convinced the government that it is policing itself so the government does nothing. I still haven't got a reply from the Ethics Committee as to if it will look into the events surrounding Randy's DNRs.  When did quality of life rather than life itself become the medically accepted norm ...

Carter Appeal

Listening to the Carter Appeal last week the bell rang what about reverse discrimination.  Why is it that two or three people who are so handicapped that they can't commit suicide by themselves should be granted a "good and safe" death under the supervision of the medical system while the rest of us who are suffering have to opt for a painful death by dehydration (refusal of food and water i.e.refusing medical treatment) or a violent end with a gun.
 
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Nothing has Changed

The other day at the Oakridge bus stop I mentioned to one of the RN in Randy's Ward who was waiting for the bus that Randy is going to be angry at me as I am very late.  She didn't say anything but I noticed her inching away from me to being fifteen feet away.  It didn't connect.  At 57th after exiting from the bus with this RN who was walking more than a few feet behind me on the public sidewalk to the entrance of GPC and at the 7th tree I tumbled from the sidewalk head first and fell. : the sidewalk was sixty years old, it was uneven and I was wearing sloppy shoes.  As I laid on the grass next to the sidewalk not knowing if I was injured or not the RN from the Oakridge bus stop walked pass me without even inquiring if I was okay.  I could not believe it. A RN, a nurse, someone who I see whenever she is on shift, Randy's sometimes charge nurse, and she just walked by.  If she can't greet or help an old lady in distress I wonder what she is doing to the residents at GPC.  I know there are some good people at GPC but I would like to know who they are. During the 2.5 years I have been going to GPC no one has shown me any real  kindness...I wonder how many patients/residents at GPC are likewise treated by this nurse in the same manner. But then no one would see her behavior since patients are in private rooms or hidden behind mostly closed curtains in open wards which wards are designed so that staff can see all the patients from a glance but when the curtains are closed then no one can see no evil, heard no evil, speak no evil..  Relying on S02 meters should not the accepted method to use when a patient needs suctioning.  The SO2 is a default and subject to equipment failure and in Randy's case he rarely has his SO2 meter on during the day or his humidifier on during the day putting him at risk.. Using the humidifier keeps his secretions thin so they do not plug up preventing him from breathing. .Randy can't talk so he can't even call for help as his call bell is hung up behind his headboard out oh his reach, so he could not even reach it if he had to. All hospital wards should be videoed and audioed so every movement and conversation can be heard.  In Jails every thing is videoed so why not hospitals. When you go to a retail store you are under surveillance.There are cameras on transit vehicles.  Residents are not asked if they want to be under surveillance or not (patients do not even have this protection) it is up to the hospital.  You would think that Risk Management would be insisting on such measures to protect the integrity of health care.

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