I like it when you're here

It has been a terribly frustrating day at the hospital. I awoke this morning recalling the dawn ambulance ride from Woodhull Hospital over the Williamsburg Bridge to Bellevue. It was such a relief to arrive at Bellevue with a neurological emergency team waiting for us. I was anticipating the same sort of departure today to Mt. Sinai. Unfortunately, the object standing between James and his recovery is the health insurance industry--it certainly is not the social worker, doctors, nurses,  occupational/physical therapists and the hospital staff that are delaying the transfer to make James whole--it is corporate America, the privatization of our healthcare.

I am not going to go on a political rampage at this moment.  The nurses were silent witnesses to my articulated wrath at the health insurance representative on the telephone and it completely changed their perception of me in an instant.  I went from being the polite, supportive, dedicated wife massaging her husband's feet and assisting the nurses to take care of his body to a completely livid and assertive fighter advocate demanding healthcare rights for James. It saddens me that the health representative had to follow protocol and tell me that it normally takes 30 days to process the authorization. I had to explain why it would be pertinent to have an expedited authorization for James's transfer to a rehabilitation hospital within the next 24 hours. She even ended the conversation, after having explained to her the details of James's case, by stating, "Is there anything else I can help you with today?" as if I was ordering a pizza to go.  People are losing their humanity.

This is the same health insurance company that I had to fight for payment of a cast on James's arm which was broken during a fall upon dislocating his knee. The insurance company claimed that the cast was cosmetic. Repairing a broken arm is now simply vanity! I did not win that battle. The doctor was so completely disgusted by the claim being rejected that he decided not to charge me for his services!

The respiratory nurse came in at the tail end of my diatribe. The other nurses slinked away but he waited for me to calm down a bit and we discussed the health care crisis, single payer systems, and his feelings about being a health care worker.  Great guy!  James had his eyes wide open by now and after everyone had left, asked me to be quiet for awhile!  At least that remains the same in our relationship!  James was always concerned that I was far too loud and excitable about my opinions.

I am exhausted now!  I met today with a pair of nurse specialists that monitor James's status for bedsores and general skin care health. They showed me techniques to keep in mind while he is rehabilitating, such as the position of his head and feet as well as the proper use of bolsters and bed clothes.  It is surprising to me that the specialists do not share their knowledge with the general floor nursing staff!  It baffles me!  I am grateful that they are telling me their "tricks of the trade" but it would actually be much more beneficial if the nurses that are caring for James right now were to make use of their advice! They live in different orbits although they are both standing directly in front of the patient!

This is the type of education that no one wants to gain.  While I was practicing massage therapy, I did do a short internship in a hospital hospice program.  That was my first exposure to seriously ill patients and I was humbled by the dedication of the hospital staff.  I do not know how they continue to face this work every day, in the type of environments that are limited by budget cuts and staff shortages. It feels very similar to our experience in the public school system.  There seems to be such an easy, logical solution to problems that are not able to be solved because of the layers of bureaucracy and lack of social justice.

I need to leave James for another night at the hospital. He's sleeping soundly now and the social worker just came in and told me the authorization was put through.  Phew, I guess my rampage worked.  Supposedly, we leave tomorrow morning.

Thank you all for enduring this rather tedious venting on my part.

I did speak with James today about the various visitors that would like to see him. At the moment, he conveyed to me that he does not want to see anyone. I am not sure what is behind this sudden refusal.  I will keep asking him, though. It may be a passing fancy.  He was experiencing a lot of pain today in his shoulders, back and neck. I think it was an all-around difficult day.  We did have a session with the physical therapist this morning that was painful and wiped him out.  It was great to see though that he can self-initiate movement with the "bad side."  Hooray!

I also met with one of the doctors that had a conversation with James about his tracheostomy right before I arrived today.  The doctor showed James how if he covers the hole with his finger, he is able to speak.  The doctor told me James said a few words to him using the technique. That's pretty exciting.  There will be a gradual step-down from the trachea tube to a smaller tube, and then, it's removal as he makes his way through rehabiliation.

James is gripping Frank's tail. It's time for me to go.

Love out to you all and thank you for your patience with me!