needs: Hospital and discharge
The path to discharge is the holy grail, ultimate quest, the ring, the answer, the spell, the magician’s wand. The path to discharge is the hero’s quest and yet it always comes as a surprise.
We are in a glaze of gradual improvement and have fallen into our own hospital routine. And there we are in Rounds, the Big Kahuna glances at the chart and looks at her with a smile. “I think we have to say good-bye” and suddenly we are going home. My mind reels, but how? What next? She is all bubble gum fairy floss joy and my questions are shooting through me. The Big Kahuna provides a broad reference to follow up and delegates the exit strategy to the nurse. That’s enough for me to let the questions slide. Until the nurse comes to check that we are being picked up in the next couple of hours.
means: before discharge I need to make sure
We are packed, showered and dinner (takeout) is sorted for that night. Beyond that the things that save time and bureaucracy heartache are certainty around her after care. I park it (give my beloved some extra time to hustle in to the hospital), and go know where until we have:
- scripts or medications
- follow up imagery or pathology booked
- follow up review appointments booked
- referrals for any suggested aftercare
- retrieve any of her medication that is stored at the nurses station
- pain relief is on board of the journey
- letter for school or work
