Observations from Room 421

Since  my mother-in-law was admitted to the hospital on Friday evening, we have spent most of the last three days and so far all of today at Clarian IU Methodist Arnett or whatever it is called.  Observations so far:

• The words Emergency Room create the idea that a patient will be seen by anyone in the medical profession quickly.  This does not happen.  The only time Agnes was seen quickly was when she arrived at White Memorial by ambulance.  Otherwise, there is a wait.  Then long periods of time between visits by the people who check for your information....then to get the "vitals"....then to find out what the problem is....then for a doctor to come in.....then for the tests to be done..,,,,then for a plan......the word "quick" does not apply.  
• Nurses are very patient people. Customer service must have been included in the curriculum during nursing school.  All of the nurses, technicians, lab people, therapists, and pt personnel have been kind, compassionate, and patient.
• Hospitalists are not to be trusted.  The one who has been checking on Agnes is not good,  for instance she came in this morning and asked her how she was and if she needed anything.  Agnes said she wanted to go home. The doctor said that she was making arrangements for that and soon she would be out of here. Then we interrupted and said she still had the bag and the doctor had ordered a new stent in her right kidney to replace the bag and it had to function and she couldn't go home u til after that.  The hospitality said oh.  I guess I need to check for his notes then.  Well yeah.  You need to do that.  I am sure the nurses wouldn't have let her leave, but shouldn't she have checked it BEFORE  she came in?
• Hospital cafeteria food is good and cheap.  The Banyon makes great chicken and cheese quesadillas.  For lunch today I selected a personal sausage pizza for $3.89.  I added some baked apples, a diet citrus green tea, and with Gary's quesadilla, side dish, and Diet Pepsi, our lunch was $14. Oh yes...two peanut butter cookies came upstairs with me.  
• Hospital room furniture is not comfortable.  
• Just a quick walk around te square, down to the window to check out the traffic on I-65, and downstairs to the restroom can add 250 steps quickly so I can meet my goal for the hour!
• There is a piano in the Chapel!  All. I played was chords since the only thing I can play from memory is The Battle Hymn of the Republic or White Christmas and neither seemed appropriate. 

Back to reading my book.  I'll keep you posted on more observations, but hopefully we can go home soon!