In the wee hours of the night, while we are all in our warm quiet beds at home, and into our slumber, someone is fighting for their lives, or in need of stitches, or blood transfusion, or an emergency transplant.
Hospital workers are truly a fine bunch. From the nursing staff of the RN's to the RPN's and Nurse Practitioners, to all the physicians, be it the on calls (residents and/or staff), to the paramedics and admin staff.
It takes thousands and thousands of staff members and millions upon millions of tax payer dollars, to run any of our hospitals in town here. We are blessed in one way, that we have several, and they are all good in their own specialty. Be it for trauma, heart and stroke, or orthopedic etc.
I am not being partial because I work at one, but I'm telling you, it takes a lot of people to move a mountain. Patient Care Unit Clerks, who assist patients and families, to the Occupational therapists, that come to your aid depending on your need.
The cleaning staff, enviro services, to the cooking staff preparing meals and delivering to the patients. Hospital security staff, keeping your loved ones safe, to the maintenance crews and shipping and receiving. Paramedics, arriving day and/or night with emergency patients to the Emergency department that has no rest. They are a department, that is hot to trot any given time of the day or night. The problem we are having in our great city, is that we keep falling into a code zero. We just so dangerous to have happen, as that means no ambulances available. Here in this great country of Canada, we do not pay for medical services. So we should not abuse it. In any way. By abusing it, I mean going to the ER departments for Non-Emergency things. Non Life threatening for starters.
One day I went for a walk during my lunch hour, and 7, I repeat 7 ambulances tied up in the tunnels, along with four police vehicles, that probably had to also bring someone in. These ambulances, cannot leave, till they Transfer accountability.... meaning, that until the hospital can tend to them, and have a bed, they cannot be moved off the ambulance gurney. Until there is a transfer of accountability, these fine paramedics, can't leave. Which means, if his area, has a Code Blue, which is usually life threatening and someone has had a heart attack, there is no one close to come to their aid. Someone from another area, has to be able to get their in time.
Hospitals are 24/7, as we all well know. So much happens in both the days and nights. Often I watch the staff leaving in the morning, walking through the parking lot tunnel to the hospital and see the drained tired faces of nursing staff, that has just finished a grueling 12 hour shift. Whether they work on a medical unit, or Intensive care area, Emerg, or a Psych Patient floor, these men and women, work their butts off.
It's so easy for us to mock, ridicule and complain about our medical services in the hospitals, but we have to realize one thing. Whomever we have put into parliament has a lot to do with the funding these hospitals receives and all the cutbacks we suffer with. We need the monies we collect, from our foundations, in order to fund things the hospital needs, be it a new OR, new equipment, renovations, or a new wing. Asking for provincial and federal aid, is always a huge undertaking and a budget is a budget. Each Manager having to juggle numbers to keep his/her department running efficiently within the means given.
I prefer these days, unfortunately, to give less to Cancer research and more to my local hospital, because the need is great there also. We seem to always funnel for research, and I'm not saying it's wrong too, we need it. But some days, I feel like sharing the few dollars with our local amenities, that aid us day to day. Research funding comes from many sources, and we always think of it, after a loved one passes, because they may have died of Cancer or a Heart / Stroke. That being said, it wouldn't hurt to donate also either to the many various hospices in town, and our local hospitals.
I know from past experience, that I have had my share of complaining with the ER wait times, and hospital stays and events, like my late Father, falling out of bed one night while reaching for something that was placed too far away. But things have a way of happening, that we have no control over.
Tootles to all the nursing staff , who take verbal and physical abuse on a day to day, week to week basis, depending on the units they work on. That is another thing, I have seen first hand. They truly earn their keep, and I think, honestly, there is no amount of pay their receive that compensates.
And then there is the Health Care Aids, and PSW's, who do just as much most days, as any of the registered nursing staff. Keeping our elderly safe, and their well being in tact. Going above and beyond their care duty, and helping those in need, especially the ones, that have no family coming to see them in the Long Term Care Facilities and retirement homes. Cheers to all our home care providers and all they do. I know both my folks were blessed with amazing ones.
All and all, in this country, we are truly blessed. I realize, some people say, well, the United States, they pay for healthcare, and they have better quality. There are pros and cons, to every establishment, be it privatized or run by governments etc. Staff wise, good and bad everywhere. But our overall experience also depends on how we present ourselves also. If you've arrived scared and afraid, and you feel that taking it out on a hospital staff member works for you, then so be it. Its not going to get you anywhere. I for one, or any other staff member, don't take preference arriving at the ER for whatever the reason is. You wait, by priority of seriousness, and importance. Every case is evaluated from your Triage Nurse, right up to the first on scene once you get a place.
Let me tell you something, that your nursing staff knows more about your patient, then the average Doctor or Physician. The detailed notes, they have to keep on each shift, and the duration of the stay, is unreal. The Physician and/or Specialist, relies greatly on how the patient has weathered during that shift, and how they reacted to meds etc., that it all has to tie in. They are the on duty Doctor during times of off shifts for Doctor's. They are the eyes and ears for them. The front line workers.
And the next time you are talking to a hospital attendant, operator or paging clerk, give them the utmost respect, because these are women and men behind the scenes, that monitor and make much happen in a hospital. A department that is there for you 24/7. They get 911 calls from patients, not knowing what to do or where to go. They get called from various departments to call in some other expertise. They have handled attempted suicide calls and offered many services for the many mental health patients out there. Alarm sounds, be it Fire, Codes of all sorts and situations, gas alarms, hospital sensors, and even stuck elevators. So next time you have a hospital operator on the phone, thank them for a job well done. That's our heart of the operation, the Telecommunication Dept.
Take good care of yourselves, stay healthy and be well.
and please DONATE BLOOD... it's in you to give xo
Love you all , Miss "B"
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