HMO Blues~Part II

Well, yesterday I finally got Papa admitted into the hospital where he ought to be.  

Considering the fact that he hadn't improved in the slightest after three days of hyperal "therapy" at home and he was only passing small amounts of urine, I managed to convince his gastro doctor by telephone that he was in desperate need of hospitalization.  But, she was somewhat reluctant to refer us to the emergency room.  She said that she didn't feel he was getting enough of the nutrition and in her words "it's going to get worse" (No spit, Sherlock!) and in her infinite wisdom says to start another bag so he'd be on it 24 hours a day instead of 12. 

Oh, no you don't.  Let me refresh your memory.  In his words, he's had or has everything but West Nile and Leporsy!  In addition to the HEP C that's killing him, he has one kidney, pancreatitis, a dueodenal ulcer, COPD, he's a 68 year old diabetic and he's starving to death at home, weak as a newborn kitten and YOU people are having me take care of him to save a HMO BUCK!   

She reconsidered and said to go ahead and take him to the ER...45 miles down the mountain...and that she'd just have to rearrange her schedule to fit him in for an Endo procedure on Tuesday.  Gee darn!

When I got him to the ER the examining doctor was appalled that the HMO was having us feed him at home with the hyperal, through a "peripheral" line instead of a "pic" line.  He said that the substance had way too much protein to be going through such little veins and that it erodes them.  His comment was, "Well, that was awfully ambitious of the doctor to handle it that way!"  (SWELL!  I knew it wasn't right!)  Then the RN came in and I explained everything to him and he also had a fit about that type of feeding through an IV on the arm!  Now I am beginning to get really mad about the way that we've been treated by this HMO.   

I snuck a peek at the chart and the ER doctor (who is not affiliated with the HMO) listed him in "guarded" condition, which, with alllll my recent medical training equates to....pretty dern sick!  The lab results show that he's in some serious trouble with his BUN and Creatin levels which have to do with kidney function.  Not good.  He also has a high WBC and a low RBC, also not good.   

But wait...the HMO has a "hospitalist" that has to come do his evaluation before he can actually be admitted.  He decides he's in "satisfactory" condition and admits him.  He explains that his entire digestive system has shut down...which doesn't sound too satisfactory to me.....and that they'll start with a NG tube, catheter and then go from there.

Fortunately, he also mentioned a skilled nursing facility once they get the present problems under control, so Papa can regain his strength.  I hope so!  And, I will be his advocate because I am mad and I am not going to take this anymore. 

Well, I must head down to the hospital and see what's going on, or not...as the case may be.