Amazing moments .... you've got to be kidding me, right?

[cattlekid]

 
So today when I walked into my FMC clinic, I see a new bulletin board with "Amazing Moments" listed at the top and a bunch of notecards tacked to it with what patients think is "Amazing".

Of course the social worker and dietitian both come around with cards while I'm in the middle of treatment.  I was extremely polite (for me) and told them what I think is "Amazing" is not renal friendly.   

Then I told them that the only amazing moment I'm going to have is when I get the transplant call - but that wouldn't be fair to post for those who will never get transplants.

Ugh....the kindergarden mentality of the staff at my clinic never ceases to amaze me.   Please stick to your jobs, which you don't really do well in the first place.  If I need cheering up, I'll get it from anywhere but my clinic, thankyouverymuch.

[jbeany]

Well, my call came while I was hooked up in-center, so that works for me!

My center was pretty good about keeping the cheese level to a bare minimum for morale boosters, thankfully.  You also have to give them a bit of leeway and remember that some of the patients are lacking in a social network elsewhere, especially some of the older ones, and they don't mind a lot of the entertainment.  Good for you for gritting your teeth and answering nicely!

I've got ask, though - what kind of things did the other patients think were amazing?  'Cause until my transplant center called, the only amazing moment I can think of having at D was watching them do CPR on a fellow patient and getting her heart restarted.  Somehow I don't think that's what they were looking for to boost morale....

[sullidog]

Just curious when you do get that call while hooked up how fast is the response time to get you off and out the door?

[cattlekid]

Well, my call came while I was hooked up in-center, so that works for me!

My center was pretty good about keeping the cheese level to a bare minimum for morale boosters, thankfully.  You also have to give them a bit of leeway and remember that some of the patients are lacking in a social network elsewhere, especially some of the older ones, and they don't mind a lot of the entertainment.  Good for you for gritting your teeth and answering nicely!

I've got ask, though - what kind of things did the other patients think were amazing?  'Cause until my transplant center called, the only amazing moment I can think of having at D was watching them do CPR on a fellow patient and getting her heart restarted.  Somehow I don't think that's what they were looking for to boost morale....






EDITED: Fixed quote tag error- kitkatz,Moderator

[kitkatz]

Must be a Davita clinic. We were asked the same thing.  It is a corporate contest for best bulletin board for patients, I think.  Ours looks like a computer screen an Facebook. Oh Geez. cheeeeeeesey!

[Desert Dancer]

Must be a Davita clinic. We were asked the same thing.  It is a corporate contest for best bulletin board for patients, I think.  Ours looks like a computer screen an Facebook. Oh Geez. cheeeeeeesey!

Ours is "The Wizard of Oz", complete with a Yellow Brick Road leading to the clinic area. At least Facebook is marginally more grown-up. 

When they snapped my picture for the bulletin board and asked me the best thing about home hemo, I blurted out "Privacy!". I'm not sure it was quite the answer they were looking for, but there it is.

[cattlekid]

Nope, it's a FMC clinic.  Reading some of the crap that's on the bulletin board makes me want to puke from the saccharin overload.

Must be a Davita clinic. We were asked the same thing.  It is a corporate contest for best bulletin board for patients, I think.  Ours looks like a computer screen an Facebook. Oh Geez. cheeeeeeesey!

[tyefly]

I bet they all do it..... I have a DSI clinic and yes they have the boards too.... usually the birthday board.... the what you should not eat board....  and of course the board that lets you know you will die early in life if you skip a session....   

   

[jbeany]

Just curious when you do get that call while hooked up how fast is the response time to get you off and out the door?

The hospital was still doing final tests on the donor - it was a "maybe you're a match if everything's okay with the donor's labs.  They had me finish my entire D run and didn't call me back to tell me to come in until later that night.  Plus, they wanted me as toxin free as possible before the surgery, so the timing worked well.

[okarol]

Must be a Davita clinic. We were asked the same thing.  It is a corporate contest for best bulletin board for patients, I think.  Ours looks like a computer screen an Facebook. Oh Geez. cheeeeeeesey!

Ours is "The Wizard of Oz", complete with a Yellow Brick Road leading to the clinic area. At least Facebook is marginally more grown-up. 

When they snapped my picture for the bulletin board and asked me the best thing about home hemo, I blurted out "Privacy!". I'm not sure it was quite the answer they were looking for, but there it is.

  Hahahahah!

[rsudock]

Gawd why do dialysis centers treat us like idiots in a group home? Seriously D sucks, and no one can be bothered to do there job half the time! ok that is sorta mean...sorry.

I have to say my clinic had an art therapist on staff. When you entered the unit they first day they asked if you wanted services from her. I really liked her she was quiet and did really simple, quick projects with patients. It was a nice way to pass an hour of your time. She wasn't annoying or judgemental, just treated you like a person. Of course though she was very part time. Something that is a good idea that patients enjoy, they won't spend the money to bring her on full time. surprized?

xo,
R

[Ken Shelmerdine]

iFrom the horror stories about dialysis clinics that I keep reading on IHD I'd say that the clinic that I attend is pretty good with the exception of one thing which I'll come to later.

There are usually at least 3 Staff nurses, 4 Healthcare Assistants (they do everything staff nurses do except administer RNESP but get paid less) and one charge nurse to 12 chairs and 4 beds. They are never patronising to the patients (except for one and even the rest of the staff think he's a dick head) and you can have a good laugh with them. They always set the machine up to no UF as I ask them and a 300 pump speed.

Some times the time spent in the waiting room is more than half an hour but they always start preparing to take you off about 5 minutes before
the machine finishes it's just a matter of pulling your needles out,taping you up and off you go.

Now here comes the rant BLOODY AIR CONDITIONING!!!!

Why is it that these perfectly nice reasonable and very professional nursing staff don't seem to undersand that dialysis makes us cold and no it's not because we are stuck in a chair and not moving about but the dialysis process itself which causes the feeling of losing body heat. So why is the air con nearly always on? And why does it have to be at zero temperature?

On Monday this week for instance the outside temperature was 27degrees C and understandably the air con was on and as you walk in to the ward and assume the position on the chair, well yes it seems quite pleasant and fresh. Then after about 2 hours of dialysis the temp. is the same but we are all freezing and have to have blankets!

Now I'm not an aggressive person but I like to think I can state my case without being abusive. I pulled a nurse over. I must add at this point that they have no way of controlling the temp of the air-con, that can only be done at the main hospital about half a mile down the road but they will switch it off when you ask but only when you ask.

So here I am sat on my electric chair (without the wires) under a blanket, it's so hot outside that you could fry fillet steak and all the trimmings on the pavement, and I'm feeling that that I'm  in the arctic circle stuck on an ice cap somewhere north of Finland! Any way I digress. Over comes the nurse. ''Can you tell me why when it's so hot outside  we are all huddled under blankets? I asked. The reply was predictable. He replied ''Ah but it's because you have to lie in one position without moving''  I felt like saying ''No it's not you dick head its because of dialysis. Get some bloody lines or a fistula and try it!'' but of course I didn't

He then pointed out that staff are entitled to work at a comfortable temp but would switch it off anyway.  OK that's reasonable. Finally I said ''Lets make a deal. Keep the air con on while everyone is being put on the machine then when all is done switch it off and then back on when you start taking people off but do this as a matter of routine so we don't have to keep asking'' He agreed but whether or not this is put into practise....well... watch this space.

[billmoria]

I am always cold at dialysis and it is worse in hot weather BUT that is not true of all patients. I don't know how to solve that problem. A/C is not controlled by our clinic but by the system in hospital we are in. If it is hot as we arrive I will be cold; I start with one blanket and then sometimes go to two.

[GraphicBass]

I tend to be warm during dialysis, to the point where I'm considering bringing in a little battery-powered fan to sit on the chair shelf. All the other patients are all bundled up in blankets.

Go figure. It's especially brutal when some of the "complainers" do their thing and the A/C is turned off completely.

Oh well.

gary

[jbeany]

Ideally, the chairs would be temp controlled, so the cold people could have heated seats.

Seems like every time we got the temp in the center adjusted to where the patients weren't freezing, one of the menopausal nurses would start to faint during a hot flash....

[Pam]

Mon at dialysis I was very sick and every one knew it. This morning we overslept making us about 30 min late. Couldn't get enough signal on cell phone to call and tell them. Got there , walked into treatment area and OMG I had a standing ovation except most were sitting down! It was kind of embarrassing. But it sure is a good feeling when people care!
Pam