The answer: send someone a letter

I had a day yesterday that (again) questioned my faith in the leadership of the Hotel at the very tip top. The root cause: BS plain and simple.

How in Hades do we have people (with credit to do so) purchase equipment, tell everyone "go out and get some patients to use it" then suddenly drop it? This happens (of course) once you get the ninnies at your location to buy in. When asked late last week, when I went to order and couldn't find a gadget available, I got an e-mail that said "Well, we don't know if we'll have money next year to continue this" as some very valuable pieces of equipment sit unused on people's desks throughout the system as a totem of "Look what I have..this cool gadget!" As such, these "gadgets" which are really FDA approved health care tools, do nothing for patients.

I know they work. Some of my patients have them. I got them through a loophole, which I willingly followed policy and procedure TO THE LETTER to get. They are making a difference in the lives of these people. I see it on a regular basis. Some of our people were back and forth to the Hotel several times in a year. Guess what? One character hasn't been back in six months (and counting). Another is over four months and we haven't readmitted him/her.

When I asked our technical gurus (who have way more experience with this sort of shenanigans) what I should do, the answer was "write a letter to someone who can do something about it". The consequences of doing that, could very well cost me my job.

But after years of waiting, working, busting butt for things that turn to vapor, I'm just about there.

Will be writing, editing, and thinking very carefully this week about that very thing...

Stay tuned.

Stress relief

As many articles mention, stress can kill you. It can also have some nasty side effects, like weight gain, and depression.

What I've found lately are two things that help me deal with stress. One is quiet time. I have to have time to be quiet and reflect. It doesn't have to be a lot of time, I just need time. Most often, it's right before I go to sleep at night or if things get crazy at work, I just take five minutes to myself.  Sometimes I have to hide to get those five minutes, but I know that if I have them, I will be able to keep myself on track.

I've also been exercising. The scale's not moving (probably because I've indulged) but I'm finally getting some definition back in my arms, legs and even abdominal area. I'm not lifting heavy weights, but I'm consistently exercising and doing strength training with cardiovascular exercise.

My favorite exercise class right now is cardio kickboxing. I believe it's a double duty exercise because it's a great way to relieve stress. All those stupid things people might say to me--BAM! The dirty looks--BAM! I box and kick it away.

So as my favorite t-shirt says, "Don't let the turkeys get you down." Reduce stress in your favorite, most constructive way, and take care of you.

You deserve it, and so does your family, friends, and even your irascible coworkers.

More later...