(no subject)
Still on wards, at least for 2 more weeks. Post-call today, which meant that I was in the hospital from 7:30am Saturday until 2:00pm or so Sunday. My internal clock gets so messed up.
I've accumulated a few "rocks". Rocks are what we call patients that will never leave the hospital. The thing about this place is that it is a county hospital which means we can not deny anyone healthcare, whether or not they have insurance/legal status/money and which means some of our patients are the poorest of the poor. Sometimes it ends up with us having patients whom, without insurance, physical rehab or skilled nursing facilities (SNF) reject. They're too weak or have some physical limitations that prevent them from being safe at home/on the streets/by themselves. So they stay in the hospital and thus, they become our rocks.
I'm not trying to being insensitive, but there are quite literally people who have lived in the hospital for years. No other medical problems - just an inability to take care of themselves and nowhere to go.
Of my patients now, there are 2 rocks. That's not that bad, but it sucks. They have no active issues, but we are obligated to see them anyway simply because they are in the hospital. Labs, medicines, nursing staff for people who really do not belong in the hospital.
A good sign of a rock? One of them has more food in his hospital room than I do in my apartment.
This is why health care is so expensive. At least part of it.
I seem to have theme weeks at work. The first week was pleural effusions. A couple of my patients had those. Then it was osteomyelitis week with three patients having foot issues. This week has been fluid overload and electrolyte disturbances.
Strange how they clump together like that.
Day off tomorrow! ie, laundry, apartment cleaning, grocery shopping, and *gasp* gym?!
I've accumulated a few "rocks". Rocks are what we call patients that will never leave the hospital. The thing about this place is that it is a county hospital which means we can not deny anyone healthcare, whether or not they have insurance/legal status/money and which means some of our patients are the poorest of the poor. Sometimes it ends up with us having patients whom, without insurance, physical rehab or skilled nursing facilities (SNF) reject. They're too weak or have some physical limitations that prevent them from being safe at home/on the streets/by themselves. So they stay in the hospital and thus, they become our rocks.
I'm not trying to being insensitive, but there are quite literally people who have lived in the hospital for years. No other medical problems - just an inability to take care of themselves and nowhere to go.
Of my patients now, there are 2 rocks. That's not that bad, but it sucks. They have no active issues, but we are obligated to see them anyway simply because they are in the hospital. Labs, medicines, nursing staff for people who really do not belong in the hospital.
A good sign of a rock? One of them has more food in his hospital room than I do in my apartment.
This is why health care is so expensive. At least part of it.
I seem to have theme weeks at work. The first week was pleural effusions. A couple of my patients had those. Then it was osteomyelitis week with three patients having foot issues. This week has been fluid overload and electrolyte disturbances.
Strange how they clump together like that.
Day off tomorrow! ie, laundry, apartment cleaning, grocery shopping, and *gasp* gym?!