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Barbara is leaving the LTAC today

3 May

Looks like today is the day. Moving to the SNF as soon as orders are finalized for transfer and medications are available at the receiving facility.

I hate our “healthcare system”

28 Apr

So Barbara is being down-graded to a lower level of care. I suspected that the decision was not so much a clinical decision as a monetary one. I got absolute confirmation that it is not a purely clinical decision just this morning. Her doctor thought we had at least six days. This morning he was informed that “No, the deadline is tomorrow”. He is PO’ed. He is refusing to write the transfer order.

As far as he is concerned, he wasn’t given enough time to prepare for this level of care change (including narcotic weaning, among other things) and “They [the LTAC] have made plenty of money off her these many months, they can eat a few days” while he gets her ready in an appropriate manner.

I like this doctor. He doesn’t work for the facility directly, and can therefore buck their decision on this. And luckily, he is in a mood to do so.

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Latest on Barbara’s Recovery

27 Apr

Today we were informed that she is not sick enough to stay at the LTAC. Unfortunately, she is also not well enough to come home, or even to go to acute rehab. She simply isn’t strong enough for either option. So, she has to go to a skilled nursing facility (SNF). For those not in the know, SNF is the politically correct term for a nursing home.

This decision is being driven entirely by the insurance company. SNFs are less expensive than the LTAC. Continue reading →

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Talk about an understatement… PBS admits ignoring single payer was a mistake

26 Apr

Healthcare-NOW! – PBS ombudsman: Ignoring single payer was a mistake

Yes, PBS Frontline erred by not covering single payer in their program Obama’s Deal. More importantly, in my mind, they erred significantly in the manner of editing the interview with Dr. Flowers of PHNP. Continue reading →

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Barbara and her relationship with food

25 Apr

Barbara really took to heart the threat of tube feeding. Almost overnight she went from picking at her food to pretty much cleaning her plate at every meal. She really turned her nose up at the liquid supplements too.

She even asked for, and ate, most of a foot-long Subway Club yesterday (no veggies, just meat, cheese, bread). She was still able to eat most of her breakfast today. So that’s very significant progress. Doctor has even started talking about acute rehab in the next couple of weeks.

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Barbara suffered a TIA today

21 Apr

Cardiologist tomorrow. He told me not to go to the emergency room. I think he felt I was overreacting.

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Protected: Been an interesting week

6 Feb

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