I have never worked in acute care, and I have never worked in an inpatient setting, so maybe I am way off base in my feelings about a recent incident...
My 85 year old father fell and broke his ankle last month. He was on the floor for probably about 12-20 hours before he was able to drag himself to the phone (he lives alone, and won't have it any other way) and call 911. The paramedics had to go through a window to get to him. He spent four days in the hospital before being transferred to an acute rehab hospital. I have to confess that I already had it in for the PTA that worked with him before I even met her. I have friends who work in outpatient in that facility and they told me she wasn't known for her ethics (she apparently documents more time than she actually works with patients and discharges them as fast as possible to lighten her workload)... and I was livid when she wanted to discharge him after only five days of minimal therapy. (He was there 10 days, but got no therapy on weekends or the days he was admitted and discharged) I was warned that the Dr always took the advice of the therapists and that the treatment team (in this case the PTA and an OTR) always stuck together and backed each other up, but I thought I could fight it and get them to keep him at least a few more days. There was NO way my father could have gone home at that point and been able to care for himself. He couldn't shower or dress by himself, and he couldn't stand to prepare a meal. (he is fiercely independent and wouldn't hear of staying at my house or having someone stay at his house with him). We had a family meeting in which the PTA proudly announced to me that my father could feed himself. I was furious. Imagine that... being able to get a fork from a plate to his mouth with a broken ankle.. as if that was some great thing she accomplished. I told her that my idea of being able to feed himself was to be able to stand at the stove or microwave and prepare a meal, and then clean up after himself. She also told me that he only needed min assist to shower. Well, he couldn't get the boot off and on by himself, so that translates to NO shower when he is alone. I could go on, but the bottom line was the Dr said that as an OT I should know better than to think he could keep my father there when he had such glowing reports from the therapists, and he was discharged in spite of my protests. He ended up going to a SNF for three weeks, where he worked with a wonderful OT and PT and is now back home on his own (and still driving!) In retrospect, it turned out to be a blessing that he was forced out and had to go to another facility, because the new treatment team worked with him on things he could actually use and they seemed to care more about him. The OTR told a friend of mine that I was "unrealistic" in wanting them to work with him a few more days (I only asked for three). I guess my question is... was I? Do acute care facilities only keep patients until they meet bare minimum requirements? They knew he lived alone. Pat -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] ************************************************************************************** Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. www.otdegree.com/otn **************************************************************************************
