My “Short List For Hospital Emergency Department and Hospital “In-Patient” Survival”

1.  I WILL ALWAYS carry my Healthcare Power of Attorney for my husband with me and a copy of all of his current meds, with dosage amounts and any meds that he is allergic or reactive to and what happens when they are taken.

2.  I WILL make sure that I have a DOCTOR THAT KNOWS HOW TO READ AND DOES READ THE INFORMATION REGARDING MY HUSBAND.

3.  I WILL GET A PRINT COPY OF ALL ELECTRONIC RECORDS REGARDING ANY VISIT TO AN ED. I JUST RECENTLY LEARNED THAT A FALSE MEDICAL REPORT WAS CREATED  AS THE ACTUAL NURSING FLOWSHEET.

4.  IF A DOCTOR STARTS OFF WITH “WELL, YOU KNOW YOUR HUSBAND IS TAKING NARCOTICS”,  HE WILL BE ASKED TO NOT TREAT MY HUSBAND.  

5.  I Will ALWAYS carry a small camera, a tape recorder, my cell phone and its charger so I can document any events that I think need to be documented.

6.  I WILL NOT be obvious in my documenting events that happen during treatment time at the hospital.

7.  If it seems to me that Emergency Department doctors and staff are taking too long to evaluate and stabilize my husband’s condition,  I will insist that more experienced and specialized medical personnel be  consulted about my husband’s condition.

8.  I WILL NEVER AGAIN EVER TRUST THAT ALL DOCTORS ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE THAT I OR MY LOVED ONES LIVE.  For many, we patients are just another cog in the wheel of a daily job to be done.

9.  TRUST IS TO BE EARNED.  This especially applies to anyone involved in administering medical care to me and my family.

10. I WILL NEVER AGAIN FORGET  THAT GIVEN THE MOTIVE TO LIE, SOME DOCTORS AND HOSPITAL STAFF WILL DO SO IN A HEARTBEAT.   I NOW KNOW THIS TO BE A FACT.