by Debra Herring

Created on: January 09, 2008

Surely everyone has experienced the frustration of being a patient in a hospital and not being able to get anyone to answer your questions. No one will tell you what the doctor's plans are for your treatment, and you're beginning to think that you're being held hostage! The scenario below relates how one patient deals with this problem.

One afternoon, the receptionist at a local hospital receives a call at her switchboard.

"Hello, I'd like to speak with someone - ANYONE - who can give me some information regarding a patient who is in your hospital. I'd like to find out how the patient is doing - if she is doing better, doing as well as can be expected, or if she's getting worse."

The receptionist replies to the woman, "Yes ma'am, I can help you. What is the patient's name and room number?"

The woman replied, "The name is Mrs. Sara Finkle, in room 302."

"I'll connect you with the nursing station on the third floor. They should be able to help you with your inquiry."

"Third Floor Nursing Station, Nurse Jones, how can I help you?"

The caller then asks, "I would like to know the condition of Mrs. Sara Finkle in room 302."

"Just a moment ma'am, let me look at Mrs. Finkle's records. Oh my yes, Mrs. Finkle is doing very well, she's had two full meals, her blood pressure is fine, and her blood work came back normal. She's going to be taken off the heart monitor in a couple hours, and the doctor says if she continues to improve as she has, he'll be letting her go home tomorrow afternoon and two o'clock."

The caller exclaims, "Thank God! That's wonderful - that's wonderful news - that's fantastic news!"

The nurse says, "You seem very happy to hear of her improvement. I take it you must be a family member or a close friend?"

"No - I'm SARA FINKLE in room 302 and nobody in this hospital tells me anything!"

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