Clinic appointments

[Ratatosk]

We go to a local cf clinic a couple times a year. They have a community waiting room or option to be assigned your own room. We chose the latter.

Anyway, when we arrive at the clinic we stand in the hall or away from every one until they assign us to a room. Last year we walked out after a 45 minute wait and an increasingly crowded waiting room. When we get to the room I use the antibacterial foam they have in each room and use some on DS, although we're pretty vigilant about not letting him touch any surfaces -- door knobs, railings, toys, chairs....

My husband laughed at me last spring when I was going to pack my own sani-cloths to disinfect the surfaces in the room we'd be assigned. As filthy as that waiting room was last time -- I probably should've. The little kids table in the waiting room was dirty and covered with some sort of pink sticky stuff. So, one wonders, how well do they really clean those exam rooms?

So, I'm seriously considering next clinic appointment.... BYO -- antibacterial cleaning wipes. I know I sound like a germaphobe/cleaning fanatic, but that last clinic appointment, I just felt really really uncomfortable with the facility.

 

[reillybug]

At our clinic, they take the toys out of the waiting room on CF clinic days. It reduces the desire for kids to play with the toys, and share any germs or bugs they may have. I still limit what Reilly touches. I bring books and little things to keep her occupied until we get in the room. (Which has never been more than 10 minutes) There usually aren't but 1 or possibly 2 other kids in the waiting room when we are out there, and we all seem to stay a safe distance away from each other. In the room, I do wipe everything Reilly can reach with my own antibacterial wipes. Anything that touches the floor gets put into a bag and disenfected at home. It may be a bit germaphobic, but I feel the more proactive while there, the better.

 

[Alyssa]

Our clinic (Children's Hospital in Seattle, WA) has rules to help cut down on cross contamination of CF patients.

First off, they do not ever expect a CF patient to wait in the waiting room - they give out a pager (which has to be wiped down and sanitized when turned back in) to the family - you are free to cruise around the hospital or go to one of the larger waiting areas, outside, etc... whatever you feel like doing. Once inside your exam room, everything is supposed to have been cleaned and wipe down before you get there. I just have to take it on faith that they do this (although once I did see a greasy smudge on the exam table - like someone had been eating potato chips and wiped their hand there as they scooted off the table?)

We are very careful to use the hand sanitizer in the room, or use our own (which is always in my purse) wash our hands in the restroom before leaving the hospital and generally don't touch anything more than we need too -- call us germophobic if you want, but I figure going to clinic is the single most dangerous place (for picking up bad cf bugs) that my kids will be at so we take extra precautions while there -- Oh, and my daughter will always put on a face mask when entering and exiting the hospital (she will remove it during the office visit in our own room)

Things we "normally do" outside of a clinic visit include:

Numerous, daily use of hand sanitizer and washing of hands, especially before eating a meal or finger foods.

my daughter will wear a face mask (her idea) during college class and on public transportation (small cramped areas with people coughing, sick with just regular cold bugs)

I always use my own pen, everywhere I go -- <b>especially at a pharmacy or any doctors office</b>, where I know people who have been there and used the "counter" pens are sick!

 

[Kaitsmom]

<img src="i/expressions/rose.gif" border="0">On Kaits clinic days... as soon as we walk in the hospital she puts on a mask, she does not push the elevator button or touch the door knobs, if the door has handles instead of knobs we use our elbows. In the waiting room ( which we never have waited very long ) Kait sits with her hands in her lap instead of on the arm of the chair, she doesn't play with the toys and we stay clear of others. Upon entering the room we sanitize our hands and when leaving the room the mask goes back on until we are out of the hospital. Kait has an appt on Friday to have her PICC pulled and her father is taking her ( the first appt i have missed ) i am so worried because i know that he is not as overprotective or worried about other bacteria as i am, i am just praying that Kait will do what i have taught her.

Kaitsmom