That's what I told K, the charge nurse today, when Mr. B. came back to us. As usual, he was a thin, straggly mess, and on top of it, sick. It was so sad; a flashback to Christmases past. I've been at the Hotel for a few years now and I can only remember one Christmas without him. Scary.
Since we take in patients from other hospitals to our lovely Hotel, one of the feeder hospitals and their bright medical staff decided a patient we sent home on hospice needs to come back. For what, pray tell? Why their doc seems to think Mr. I. needs more surgery to address his wounds. Do you remember us mentioning that metastatic cancer thing? Or that Mr. I has a very greater than normal chance of dying far away from home, without the support of his family no matter what we do?
No, Dr. X et al think we are Mr. I's (and Mr. B's) family. It's a shame that a) we actually are closer to some of these people than their families and b) we do our job so well.
The only good thing about all of this: at least Mr. B. will get a hot meal tonight. I worry about him every single time I see him.
Stay tuned...more to come.
1 comment:
Awwww I hate stuff like this. I had two residents fracture hips in past month. Neither will be returning. One will stay at SNF and the other in on a ventilator which will soon be turned off. BOTH two of my very favorites.
Glad you get to give him some excellent care.
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