Picking up bugs in hospitals

TestifyToLove · Jun 9, 2009

A hospitalization nearly killed M. He was in the hospital for a bowel obstruction and someone manage to infect his port with staph. That little stunt went septic, put him in DIC and landed him in the PICU fighting for his life.

I still struggle with his fostermom for abandoning him at the hospital and allowing that to happen. I realize that fosters are not obligated to care nor to be there but as a nurse, she knew better and she knew how vunerable he was as an unaccompanied minor in the hospital for nearly 2 months.

We've done 2 hospitalizations for M since homecoming. And, we've battled staff (mostly nurses) who try constantly to violate the isolation precautions for M. This last hospital stay involved surgery, so we needed to be there for that. But, we have decided in the future that unless there are other reasons to be in the hospital, we will do IV abx at home. We can increase ACTs ourselves. We can transport for any desired labs. And, we can do a far better job protecting him from nosicomal infections if we keep him home.

TestifyToLove · Jun 9, 2009

A hospitalization nearly killed M. He was in the hospital for a bowel obstruction and someone manage to infect his port with staph. That little stunt went septic, put him in DIC and landed him in the PICU fighting for his life.
 
 I still struggle with his fostermom for abandoning him at the hospital and allowing that to happen. I realize that fosters are not obligated to care nor to be there but as a nurse, she knew better and she knew how vunerable he was as an unaccompanied minor in the hospital for nearly 2 months.
 
 We've done 2 hospitalizations for M since homecoming. And, we've battled staff (mostly nurses) who try constantly to violate the isolation precautions for M. This last hospital stay involved surgery, so we needed to be there for that. But, we have decided in the future that unless there are other reasons to be in the hospital, we will do IV abx at home. We can increase ACTs ourselves. We can transport for any desired labs. And, we can do a far better job protecting him from nosicomal infections if we keep him home.

Diane · Jun 9, 2009

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: MikeG83

\

Now, for the main point of this is the fact that I strongly disagree with home cleanouts. While I'm at home my insurance company doesnt permit the hospital to come out and draw labs so now I would have to go to a local hospital to have my labs drawn where this people have never even heard of CF wait in a waiting room for 3 hours for my trop and peak labs after tobra and then every other day go for my normal lab work and wait for another hour.

I always do my iv's at home (unless i am forced to go inpatient) and my home nurse comes to take any blood work that needs to be done, and also does dressing changes and all my vital signs etc. I dont know why your insurance would make you go to a local hospital when you have to have a home infusion company to get the iv's. Blood draws and dressing changes always go with that "package" 

Not to mention the fact that when I'm at home I get no rest because of my med schedule and I have to be up a 1/2 hour before and up to an hour after each med.

Hmmmm, i have never had any rest while in a hospital, I usually get very annoyed at the constant flow of traffic of people in and out of my room all day long. Then the noise of people in the hallway, the over head speaker, the nurses talking back and forth, the lousy food, the late doses of meds etc.

The point of the hospital visit is to get me rested, medicated, and healthy so that when I return home I dont have to take my cf with me and can live my life again.

Now i wish it worked like that ......lol
unfortunately cf has a way of following you. But i like your idea better, leaving cf behind and going on with life without it.
</end quote></div>

Diane · Jun 9, 2009

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: MikeG83

\

Now, for the main point of this is the fact that I strongly disagree with home cleanouts. While I'm at home my insurance company doesnt permit the hospital to come out and draw labs so now I would have to go to a local hospital to have my labs drawn where this people have never even heard of CF wait in a waiting room for 3 hours for my trop and peak labs after tobra and then every other day go for my normal lab work and wait for another hour.

I always do my iv's at home (unless i am forced to go inpatient) and my home nurse comes to take any blood work that needs to be done, and also does dressing changes and all my vital signs etc. I dont know why your insurance would make you go to a local hospital when you have to have a home infusion company to get the iv's. Blood draws and dressing changes always go with that "package" 

Not to mention the fact that when I'm at home I get no rest because of my med schedule and I have to be up a 1/2 hour before and up to an hour after each med.

Hmmmm, i have never had any rest while in a hospital, I usually get very annoyed at the constant flow of traffic of people in and out of my room all day long. Then the noise of people in the hallway, the over head speaker, the nurses talking back and forth, the lousy food, the late doses of meds etc.

The point of the hospital visit is to get me rested, medicated, and healthy so that when I return home I dont have to take my cf with me and can live my life again.

Now i wish it worked like that ......lol
unfortunately cf has a way of following you. But i like your idea better, leaving cf behind and going on with life without it.
</end quote></div>

Diane · Jun 9, 2009

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: MikeG83

\

Now, for the main point of this is the fact that I strongly disagree with home cleanouts. While I'm at home my insurance company doesnt permit the hospital to come out and draw labs so now I would have to go to a local hospital to have my labs drawn where this people have never even heard of CF wait in a waiting room for 3 hours for my trop and peak labs after tobra and then every other day go for my normal lab work and wait for another hour.

I always do my iv's at home (unless i am forced to go inpatient) and my home nurse comes to take any blood work that needs to be done, and also does dressing changes and all my vital signs etc. I dont know why your insurance would make you go to a local hospital when you have to have a home infusion company to get the iv's. Blood draws and dressing changes always go with that "package" 

Not to mention the fact that when I'm at home I get no rest because of my med schedule and I have to be up a 1/2 hour before and up to an hour after each med.

Hmmmm, i have never had any rest while in a hospital, I usually get very annoyed at the constant flow of traffic of people in and out of my room all day long. Then the noise of people in the hallway, the over head speaker, the nurses talking back and forth, the lousy food, the late doses of meds etc.

The point of the hospital visit is to get me rested, medicated, and healthy so that when I return home I dont have to take my cf with me and can live my life again.

Now i wish it worked like that ......lol
unfortunately cf has a way of following you. But i like your idea better, leaving cf behind and going on with life without it.
</end quote></div>

Diane · Jun 9, 2009

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: MikeG83

\

Now, for the main point of this is the fact that I strongly disagree with home cleanouts. While I'm at home my insurance company doesnt permit the hospital to come out and draw labs so now I would have to go to a local hospital to have my labs drawn where this people have never even heard of CF wait in a waiting room for 3 hours for my trop and peak labs after tobra and then every other day go for my normal lab work and wait for another hour.

I always do my iv's at home (unless i am forced to go inpatient) and my home nurse comes to take any blood work that needs to be done, and also does dressing changes and all my vital signs etc. I dont know why your insurance would make you go to a local hospital when you have to have a home infusion company to get the iv's. Blood draws and dressing changes always go with that "package" 

Not to mention the fact that when I'm at home I get no rest because of my med schedule and I have to be up a 1/2 hour before and up to an hour after each med.

Hmmmm, i have never had any rest while in a hospital, I usually get very annoyed at the constant flow of traffic of people in and out of my room all day long. Then the noise of people in the hallway, the over head speaker, the nurses talking back and forth, the lousy food, the late doses of meds etc.

The point of the hospital visit is to get me rested, medicated, and healthy so that when I return home I dont have to take my cf with me and can live my life again.

Now i wish it worked like that ......lol
unfortunately cf has a way of following you. But i like your idea better, leaving cf behind and going on with life without it.
</end quote>

Diane · Jun 9, 2009

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: MikeG83
 
 
 
 
 
 \
 
 
 
 Now, for the main point of this is the fact that I strongly disagree with home cleanouts. While I'm at home my insurance company doesnt permit the hospital to come out and draw labs so now I would have to go to a local hospital to have my labs drawn where this people have never even heard of CF wait in a waiting room for 3 hours for my trop and peak labs after tobra and then every other day go for my normal lab work and wait for another hour.
 
 I always do my iv's at home (unless i am forced to go inpatient) and my home nurse comes to take any blood work that needs to be done, and also does dressing changes and all my vital signs etc. I dont know why your insurance would make you go to a local hospital when you have to have a home infusion company to get the iv's. Blood draws and dressing changes always go with that "package" 
 
 Not to mention the fact that when I'm at home I get no rest because of my med schedule and I have to be up a 1/2 hour before and up to an hour after each med.
 
 Hmmmm, i have never had any rest while in a hospital, I usually get very annoyed at the constant flow of traffic of people in and out of my room all day long. Then the noise of people in the hallway, the over head speaker, the nurses talking back and forth, the lousy food, the late doses of meds etc.
 
 
 
 The point of the hospital visit is to get me rested, medicated, and healthy so that when I return home I dont have to take my cf with me and can live my life again.
 
 Now i wish it worked like that ......lol
 unfortunately cf has a way of following you. But i like your idea better, leaving cf behind and going on with life without it.
 </end quote>

Tumbleweed · Jun 9, 2009

MikeG83- I'm on the other side and I strongly prefer home cleanouts.

My insurance does pay for my blood work to be taken at home ... the nurse is only at my house for 10 minutes or so and I'm done!

My husband gives excellent hand CPT for me everyday at home. He does it better than most RTs at the hospital. He is a drummer.... maybe that's why he is so good at it.

I get WAY more rest at home! I ask the home care to give me a pump. I too have a schedule of every six hours... but on the pump machine administers it automatically while I am sleeping. I can sleep 10 or more hours without interruption on that thing. At the hospital people are in and out of my room constantly.

The food at my house is much, much healthier at my house. Also when my appetite isn't great there are more options.

My hospital does not have the best cross- contamination protocol although my clinic is okay.

My PFT's show no difference whether I do home or impatient cleanouts. Oh yeah, the RT's at my hospital don't throw away nebs cups often enough in my opinion.

I'm just sayin that there are a lot of different factors in different peoples lives that make different treatment plans the best option. I go to what is considered a "good CF hospital" but I still believe that I am better off at home. It took me eight years and countless hospital stays to come to that conclusion... but that is where I am at now

Tumbleweed · Jun 9, 2009

MikeG83- I'm on the other side and I strongly prefer home cleanouts.

My insurance does pay for my blood work to be taken at home ... the nurse is only at my house for 10 minutes or so and I'm done!

My husband gives excellent hand CPT for me everyday at home. He does it better than most RTs at the hospital. He is a drummer.... maybe that's why he is so good at it.

I get WAY more rest at home! I ask the home care to give me a pump. I too have a schedule of every six hours... but on the pump machine administers it automatically while I am sleeping. I can sleep 10 or more hours without interruption on that thing. At the hospital people are in and out of my room constantly.

The food at my house is much, much healthier at my house. Also when my appetite isn't great there are more options.

My hospital does not have the best cross- contamination protocol although my clinic is okay.

My PFT's show no difference whether I do home or impatient cleanouts. Oh yeah, the RT's at my hospital don't throw away nebs cups often enough in my opinion.

I'm just sayin that there are a lot of different factors in different peoples lives that make different treatment plans the best option. I go to what is considered a "good CF hospital" but I still believe that I am better off at home. It took me eight years and countless hospital stays to come to that conclusion... but that is where I am at now

Tumbleweed · Jun 9, 2009

MikeG83- I'm on the other side and I strongly prefer home cleanouts.

My insurance does pay for my blood work to be taken at home ... the nurse is only at my house for 10 minutes or so and I'm done!

My husband gives excellent hand CPT for me everyday at home. He does it better than most RTs at the hospital. He is a drummer.... maybe that's why he is so good at it.

I get WAY more rest at home! I ask the home care to give me a pump. I too have a schedule of every six hours... but on the pump machine administers it automatically while I am sleeping. I can sleep 10 or more hours without interruption on that thing. At the hospital people are in and out of my room constantly.

The food at my house is much, much healthier at my house. Also when my appetite isn't great there are more options.

My hospital does not have the best cross- contamination protocol although my clinic is okay.

My PFT's show no difference whether I do home or impatient cleanouts. Oh yeah, the RT's at my hospital don't throw away nebs cups often enough in my opinion.

I'm just sayin that there are a lot of different factors in different peoples lives that make different treatment plans the best option. I go to what is considered a "good CF hospital" but I still believe that I am better off at home. It took me eight years and countless hospital stays to come to that conclusion... but that is where I am at now

Tumbleweed · Jun 9, 2009

MikeG83- I'm on the other side and I strongly prefer home cleanouts.

My insurance does pay for my blood work to be taken at home ... the nurse is only at my house for 10 minutes or so and I'm done!

My husband gives excellent hand CPT for me everyday at home. He does it better than most RTs at the hospital. He is a drummer.... maybe that's why he is so good at it.

I get WAY more rest at home! I ask the home care to give me a pump. I too have a schedule of every six hours... but on the pump machine administers it automatically while I am sleeping. I can sleep 10 or more hours without interruption on that thing. At the hospital people are in and out of my room constantly.

The food at my house is much, much healthier at my house. Also when my appetite isn't great there are more options.

My hospital does not have the best cross- contamination protocol although my clinic is okay.

My PFT's show no difference whether I do home or impatient cleanouts. Oh yeah, the RT's at my hospital don't throw away nebs cups often enough in my opinion.

I'm just sayin that there are a lot of different factors in different peoples lives that make different treatment plans the best option. I go to what is considered a "good CF hospital" but I still believe that I am better off at home. It took me eight years and countless hospital stays to come to that conclusion... but that is where I am at now

Tumbleweed · Jun 9, 2009

MikeG83- I'm on the other side and I strongly prefer home cleanouts.
 
 My insurance does pay for my blood work to be taken at home ... the nurse is only at my house for 10 minutes or so and I'm done!
 
 My husband gives excellent hand CPT for me everyday at home. He does it better than most RTs at the hospital. He is a drummer.... maybe that's why he is so good at it.
 
 I get WAY more rest at home! I ask the home care to give me a pump. I too have a schedule of every six hours... but on the pump machine administers it automatically while I am sleeping. I can sleep 10 or more hours without interruption on that thing. At the hospital people are in and out of my room constantly.
 
 The food at my house is much, much healthier at my house. Also when my appetite isn't great there are more options.
 
 My hospital does not have the best cross- contamination protocol although my clinic is okay.
 
 My PFT's show no difference whether I do home or impatient cleanouts. Oh yeah, the RT's at my hospital don't throw away nebs cups often enough in my opinion.
 
 I'm just sayin that there are a lot of different factors in different peoples lives that make different treatment plans the best option. I go to what is considered a "good CF hospital" but I still believe that I am better off at home. It took me eight years and countless hospital stays to come to that conclusion... but that is where I am at now

Tumbleweed · Jun 9, 2009