The Labor of health care

It is Labor Day and I am using the day to catch up only to be met by the reason the nation is debating to reform our "delivery systems." My patient, a young college student was involved in a Motor Vehicle Accident over 2 days ago. She was taken to California Hospital in downtown LA where she was evaluated. Apparently an MRI of her neck was suspicious. Since that time, she has had a CT scan at the request of a neurosurgeon who has yet to evaluate her in person.
I was made aware of her admission when her father called me from Florida. I was not aware of her admission. She forgot to tell the doctors that I was her doctor. She was caught up in the frantics of the moment. Of course, no one there asked her, either.
In any event, I have had the privilege of speaking with a physicians' assistant who promised me that a Dr. Hubbard would be calling me. He is the trauma doctor on the team who is managing her care today. (everything is team based, these days making no one in charge) That was several hours ago. I was also promised that the neurosurgeon would be by to evaluate her in a matter of an hour ... that was three hours ago. No call... no visit.. no contact.
In the meantime, they finally decided to give his 20 pound young woman some clear fluids for the first time in 2 days but they will take her out of the collar that they have her in.

I will be filing the usual Marcy complaint with the medical board tomorrow and I will be talking with the CEO of the hospital. And... by the way .... she is VERY INSURED. Insurance is NOT assurance of anything in the present system. What an embarrassment.

More to come ..
Just heard from Dr. Hubbard .. he has NEVER examined my patient but will not let her leave until the neurosurgeon (who he says he cannot control) clears her to go home. Dr. Hubbard has never examined her and does not even know how long she has been in the hospital... kicked it up a notch... Nursing supervisor is on it and is going up stairs (7th floor) to get things rolling ...

More later...

it is now 5 hours since I have been involved in the "case" and I have been called by the nursing supervisor that she found the neurosurgeon. He will be seeing Nicole soon. We'll see. Hopefully, my next entry will be that she is discharged in safe condition.

The neurosurgeon saw the patient and documented that he had examined the patient and that she had no neuro deficits. He was, however, unable to discharge her. That decision would lie with the trauma team. After more phone calls than I could count on both hands, I could not get the patient discharged. But, I was successful in making sure that she had food (after 48 hours) and that her hard neck collar had been removed. She will surely go home in the am after I speak with the CEO.

What an embarrassment to the entire system. IN this case, I will not sit back but will call the medical board in the morning and will report the problem. Thank goodness, she was not hurt.

The labors of the remainder of my labor day were spent watching GREAT football. Miami vs. the Seminoles. I await the Ohio State vs USC game next weekend. I'll be sure to have my Bloody Mary prior to the game ... my Buckeyes are going to be in for a long night.

In the meantime, I await the Obama speech and I am finishing up my next op-ed. I will not stop fighting for my patients' rights. It is the right fight ... We cannot lose ...