Archive for May, 2019
Medical Care – a consumer’s perspective-Cleveland Clinic Rehab Hospital
Part One– https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2019/03/22/the-ratings-of-medical-facilities-series-it-begins/
Part Two- https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2019/04/09/medical-care-from-a-consumers-perspective-ohio/
Part Three- https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2019/04/22/medical-care-a-consumers-prospective-mercy-health-lorain/
Part Four – https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2019/04/29/medical-care-a-consumers-perspective-mercy-health-lorain-2/
Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital Avon Ohio, was NOT on the list of 34 facilities given to us by Mercy Health social workers – Lorain Ohio. I did some research on my own, went to the internet and to my facebook page and asked local friends if they had had good or even poor experiences with facilities in the area. Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital came up as being a good facility. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/locations/rehabilitation-hospital/specialties
My daughter and I spent a Thursday morning touring the facility. It has all the benefits of a hospital doctors , rehabilitation therapists, nurses, aides and the focus is of course on rehabilitation. The facility is only a few years old and shiny , white and extremely clean. The rooms were large , bright and airy. We were most impressed with the rehabilitation area and the state of the art equipment .
However, my husband ( due to Medicare Insurance rules) apparently could only stay for 19 days. It is my belief he probably should have been released to that facility further along in his recovery. He was paralyzed down one side and was on a plethora of medications. One which was given to him at Mercy by the “ghost dr.” which causes confusion etc. Again not being a physician and not knowing at the time he was even on this medication I was also unaware that in order to combat the confusion ( also he was on pain killers) he was being given another drug for Alzheimers.
I must interject here as to hospital to hospital transportation, I wish I had something good to say , you really are at the transporters “mercy”. The time arranged leaving Mercy to the Clinic was supposed to be 11 a.m However, although I was supposed to follow him to the new facility I couldn’t by 6 in the evening after waiting hours and hours I went home and told them to call me when he was being transported . You see I had to sign the admittance papers and permission to treat. At 9:00 p.m. I called the Clinic who told me that it was so late he would probably now be transported the following morning . I went to bed only to be called at 11:15 by the Cleveland Clinic Nurse that he had been sent to them a few minutes prior and could I give the permissions verbally. ( This was not the only hiccup with transport).
I was, on the whole, extremely pleased with this facility but it was not all good news. Once again the rehab staff were wonderful, and it was so organized, you knew exactly what he would be doing and when, I was very impressed with the rehab staff, also the cleaning staff once again were in the rooms every day and sometimes more than once. The nurses were for the most part very professional and helpful as were 80 percent of the aides.
My husband needed help initially from two and on some occasions three individuals to see to his needs. The confusion caused by the drugs did not help, that and the weakness and immobility of his left side. He had to learn to use his vocal cords again ( which were stretched due to the intubation) . It was a few days before I realized he was still taking the medication for gout which should have been stopped at Mercy. The medication Colchicine, can and does cause diarrhea and stomach upset. The gout symptoms had abated and he really should not have been still on this drug , especially since it does also react with Digoxin but of course I was unaware he was on this drug as well.
I did insist since the diarrhea was an issue they stop the Colchicine. I also , once I found out he was on Digoxin ( Lanoxin), they stop or change that medication BUT and here is the issue it seems that doctors at this facility and other facilities in the chain are loathe to change another “specialists” diagnosis and treatment. This was a huge problem for us. One because we were out of our network and OUR team of physicians and specialists who knew his history and his courses of treatment we had to rely on basically strangers to his situation.
Therefore I started asking for a daily list of all his medications
Once he was off the Colchicine he stomach upset went away. BUT not for long a woman in the next room came down with C’diff https://www.cdc.gov/cdiff/what-is.html . Now it was put to us that my husband came down with this due to the huge amount of antibiotics he was taking and had taken. BUT that is not the whole story:
IF the lady in the next room and not had the infection first I would not have done more research thinking it was because of the antibiotics . Although the staff were for the most part adhering to handwashing etc protocol not all of them did . Infact I would say 20 percent of the aides were lax in that area. I actually had to throw away his cellphone as it somehow became covered in fecal matter ( C’diff contamination) and was put on the bedside table. My husband was incapable of having reached the table. I will say that for the most part the aides and nurses did respond to his call light in a timely manner.
One aide, in particular, left a lot to be desired, from his treatment of my husband and his response times were not great, his laxness in this area and lack of hand washing protocol was a great concern.
Please understand a patient is in pain and although they had been told of the back injury it took at least a week for them to address the situation ( it hadn’t been addressed at Mercy so not on his record) , which meant sitting in one position or laying ( when you are partially paralyzed) can be unbearable and since you can’t move the aides had to do it for him. This did cause “some ” of the aides frustration and it showed.
There was another aide who also needed to be retrained or let go in my opinion. I came into find my husband half in and half out of the bed, the top sheet wrapped around him and soaked with water. Actually I had just walked into the room with one of the hospital administrators, so she did witness the situation. She immediately went to work taking care of my husbands comfort. The aide , when she was called , said he spilled water on himself… remembering the jug was on a table out of his reach and he was not able to move his left arm at all, that scenario was very unlikely. I looked at this aide and said:
“so he spills a jug of water all over his bedding and you leave him laying in it?”
The aid turned to me and said:
“SORREEEEEEE”( in a very sarcastic tone)
I then turned to the administrator ( names available) and said
“she is done I don’t want her anywhere near my husband
The administrators at the Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation hospital did address my concerns but as I told them what stopped them from getting great review on the place as a whole in my opinion was 20 percent of their “aides” and it was those 20 percent that caused situations that should not have happened, but it is those situations you remember .
HEALTHCARE IS A HUGE BUSINESS AND EVEN THOUGH WE THE CONSUMERS ARE PRETTY MUCH AT THEIR MERCY (NO PUN INTENDED) WE ARE STILL CONSUMERS PAYING FOR A SERVICE.
We were assigned one doctor for my husband and he called in others as needed such as another cardiologist, ultra sound etc. The doctor was quite nice, spoke very softly but with a heavy accent so I was once again forever asking him to repeat what he was saying and every time he was in the room he was costing ( according to the bills I received) 350 to 500 dollars for up to 35 minutes. I should go through the dates to see how many times a day but considering I received 74 pages of bills each page having at least 5 charges on them I am honestly too tired to do the homework.
The discharge date ( the 19 days being almost up) I was given another list of this time 54 “skilled nursing facilities ” for the next part of the journey and this time I did have time to do some homework……….. To Be continued
Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital gets a B plus…. it was an A minus But then that C’diff situation was made worse…… more on that as we continue….
A rusty old boat and tale of the Lighthouse.
Taking a break from the series of “healthcare USA” to tell the tale of a rusty old metal boat, not really wanted anymore , not much use, holes in the bottom,two or three paint colors interspersed with the rust. BUT she has a tale to tell this old girl , she carried the volunteers out into the lake and to the Lorain Lighthouse on many a day.
Lorain Lighthouse , the history of the previous and current lighthouses can be found here https://lorainlighthouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Lorain-Lighthouse-History-1917-2017.pdf on the webpage of http://www.lorainlighthouse.com .
1965 the United States Coast Guard had no further use for the “Lorain Light “and she was slated for demolition . Fate intervened and people rallied to Save the Lighthouse. 1966 the Lorain Light was decommissioned and a five year lease was given. Unfortunately , things didn’t go as planned, the lease expired and the Coast Guard turned the property over to the General Services Administration .
1974 and bids were put out to purchase the Lorain Lighthouse. A community rallied around , politicians , businesses , historical societies, local and state government got behind the saving of what has now become the ICON of ALL THINGS LORAIN. Ironic when you think just a few decades ago she was scheduled to be demolished. Now of course every where you look she is used in advertising, promotions, fodder for the photographers, she is Lorain!
But what of those volunteers mentioned in the “history ” the ones that took on a huge project to rehab , maintain and make her beautiful once again, they had to make the journey from the shore to the light. The history tells one such operation in the many years of restoration and bring in the “light” was “Operation Lighthouse”
“Operation Lighthouse” took about 17 days to complete with multiple delays due to inclement weather that made trips out to the Lighthouse risky.
and there it is our segue from land to shore and back again – a rusty old blue battered boat that has sat in many places over the years , in wind and weather no-one particularly caring for her. And yet it was this boat that took those volunteers time and time again safely to and from the Lighthouse in order to save her .
This rusty old tub has a new home , delivered by volunteers on Lorain Pride Day to between 2nd and 1st streets on Oberlin Avenue.
The area just west of Eric Barnes Heroes Walk, south of Settlers’ Watch , where a replica carved from a tree stands in the children’s garden
, north of Lorain Utilities parking lot and positioned pointing to the Lorain Lighthouse, near the Lighthouse shed
and the Lorain Portside sign.
She has been beached , and soon will be landscaped and loved once again.
Her contribution to the Lorain Lighthouse recognized, a reminder of those volunteers. In weeks to come she will be tied to granite pylons, sea grasses and plants will adorn her area , white gravel and blue glass mulch , roping, a lick of paint here and there and new lettering and love will anchor this old lady of the lake . The volunteers and people who saved the Lighthouse deserve such admiration and recognition. I hope they will remember the old blue boat with a fondness and smile as she settles in her new home promoting and recognizing the Lighthouse .
I often think if everyone who used the likeness of the Lorain Lighthouse and actually make money from her likeness would donate a few dollars to the Lorain Lighthouse Foundation they would never have to ask for any money again.
Such is the tale of a Lighthouse in Lorain and an old rusty blue boat, together again …..
Photo courtesy of http://www.lorainlighthouse.com
The Lorain Lighthouse Foundation, Inc is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1989 by a group of civic leaders wanting to preserve Lorain’s historic lighthouse. The foundation is a volunteer group looking to preserve a unique part of our local history – the Lorain Lighthouse.
Your donation can help the Lorain Lighthouse Foundation, Inc. to maintain “The Jewel of the Port” as one of Lorain’s most famous landmarks. All gifts to preserve and maintain the Lorain Lighthouse are fully tax-deductible.
Lorain Lighthouse
319 Black River Lane
Lorain, OH 44052
May3rd – Mothers and sons – Chris Ritchey
I still have your first Mother’s Day card and all the little gifts through your childhood years, they along with the ones from your sister are still here in bedrooms, living room, den and kitchen. Chubby little handprints in clay , adorn walls along with art work and memories of happier Mother’s days.
This coming Mother’s Day is a first because for the first time in my life I will not have my mother your Nana to help celebrate. Coincidentally, when Nana retired and came to live here she arrived on Mother’s Day of that year and now I have lost you and her. Although little gifts of mine she had kept still wait to be dusted in her little living room.
And then there is your last Mothers Day gift to me , the ghost koi.
https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2010/06/01/ghost-in-the-pond-a-koi-story/
https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/the-ghost-in-the-pond-continues/
Oh Chris what a few days I have had protecting him, by far the largest fish in the pond , he is so big. BUT that damned Heron who arrived last year is back again bigger than ever and now two others come to call. I have set up obstacle courses around the perimeter, tried all the “get rid of Heron” tips. Climbed over slippery moss-covered rocks, wobbled on the edge hoping my knee will not all of a sudden decide it has had enough. moved shelves for the fish to hide, all in vain the “angel of death ” just laughs at me as he circles over head.
Nothing deters him , he cruises in on huge blue wings and lands on a dime. He and his buddies have depleted my lovely fat goldfish by half , some of which have lived in that pond for 13 years since you helped dig the “new one” .
He partially eats them, or drops them and others he swallows whole. It is a bit like living with grief as it swallows one whole or takes bites out of you daily. We have lost at least 14 of the big goldfish and the smaller ones…. well who knows. The ones that are left huddle at the bottom of the pond close to your Ghost Koi – protection –
I don’t know but they don’t stray far from him. . I will battle on with this “angel of death” beautiful though they are so I can keep the “ghost” and the memory of that last Mother’s Day as I watched you slipping him into the pond.
I am so proud of you my son and love you through eternity …..
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