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Reflecting on the scariest week of my life. A Thread
My love was rushed to hospital last week. Remember, while people continue to be admitted to hospital with COVID-19, they’re also being admitted for all other illnesses and trauma. And they too have to go through it ALONE.
My love was rushed to hospital last week. Remember, while people continue to be admitted to hospital with COVID-19, they’re also being admitted for all other illnesses and trauma. And they too have to go through it ALONE.
I want to emphasize that he received excellent care, the doctors and nurses were beyond thorough and he says everyone was incredibly kind.
But during this pandemic, there’s a serious gap that now exists in the hospital system...
But during this pandemic, there’s a serious gap that now exists in the hospital system...
My love was in a bad state. As I understand it, he wasn’t fully conscious, or able to communicate. In Quebec visitors are no longer allowed in hospitals, a measure to limit the spread of COVID-19. I get it. But I also had an extremely hard time getting any info over the phone.
I’ve spent a lot of time in hospitals and anyone else who has knows it can be difficult to navigate the system even from the inside. It’s important (and a right) to have someone with you, to represent you and advocate for you.
On the first day it took hours to speak to an ER doctor. I gave my phone number to the paramedics, to the ER receptionist, to nurses and the doctor. Yet every time I called, my number wasn’t in the computer and no one was calling me back.
My love had very few personal effects with him. He didn’t have a charger for his phone. He didn’t have a pen and paper to eventually take notes, or keep track of questions he wanted to ask.
After my first contact with a doctor it took nearly two days to speak to one again. I was given misinformation over the phone about where my love was and about when I would be hearing from a physician.
I’m a journalist, I’m persistent, I have contacts at the hospital who were able to find out what floor he’d been moved to. Not everyone has that option. And STILL, I felt completely in the dark, while also alone and isolated in my home.
Eventually he was moved to his own room with a phone, and we were able to talk. (A day after he was admitted he reached me on his cell before the battery died, but he wasn’t in a state to give me much information.)
Patients can spend several days in the ER and then more time on a gurney on a floor somewhere waiting for a room. This is where the gap exists, when a family member can’t be by their side.
Hospitals, or the province, need to consider a new system during this pandemic. There should be a liaison person or social worker in the ER, ICU, and any section where patients are sent after admission.
That person could be in regular communication with patients & their families. Could help relay messages to DRs and nurses, could schedule call back times for DRs & families. Maybe even find a way to charge a patient’s phone or facilitate a quick FaceTime w/ worried loved ones.
I believe this is crucial because more ppl will experience this. It’s also the humane thing to do. If we don’t improve the line of communication btwn hospitals & families then the health system will have another strain: worried family members being admitted for nervous breakdown.
Epilogue: my love is home now recovering and it’s a huge relief. I’m not naming the hospital because this is an issue that likely isn’t unique to one institution...
But I am going to CC some of the health networks and politicians who need to hear this: @francoislegault @MinistreMcCann @ArrudaHoracio @Santepub_Mtl @Val_Plante @chumontreal @cusm_muhc
