Disappointed

Yesterday Rich had a Nuclear Bone Scan scheduled by the VA at a local Hospital. We'd chosen Community Care mainly because of the distance we'd have to travel.

We'd put off the appointment once as had been scheduled during the first part of March.

The nurse that had called us the day before said we had to wear masks. This was to be the first day that they would allow a second person to accompany the patient. I was pleased about that.

So we arrived during a downpour. I helped Rich with his mask that I'd made. Rich is doing better, but this was his first time wearing a cloth mask was hard for him to breath through.

Some nurse looking people in masks were there to greet us and direct us to sanitize our hands before proceeding to the check in desk. Ok. This is where I was a bit disappointed.

I expected to be temp checked. We were not.

So that is my tiny disappointment. When we checked in other patients had trouble figuring out the red X's on the floor to keep distances. It got pretty frustrating when people wandered right up behind us to ask the check in gal something. She tried her best to keep order.

I'm going to say that in some of these patients' defense that they just don't seem to understand the 6 foot concept.

[I see that often with the much more elderly in our local Walmart so I am assuming that for some folks these Covid-19 rules are difficult and confusing?]

The poor check in gal! She kept trying to tell patients to please wait. One old fella just ignored her and kept walking up to all the windows. Another? Just came up behind us and stood.

Exasperated, the check in gal muttered: *I think masks turn off their hearing, vision, and thinking.*

She did have a point. I think one of those ladies at the door could have acted as a hallway monitor and helped out. Instead they were chatting with each other and not watching the rest of the lobby.

[This is a new era with new rules and to be honest, some people are really confused. Especially at a very rural hospital/clinc. However, I won't be going back there. I'm pretty sure that they won't even get the Community Care Billing correct.]

After updating Rich's information which still had him married to his ex wife, we got taken to a waiting room. Those waiting rooms are small and right now they only allow 2 patients at a time in it. Rich and I counted as one as we were from the same household.

There was a fellow in there that was rather chatty. He told us about all of his aches and pains. He then asked where we were from, Rich told him. He then complained about the LaFarge Dam project never being completed. He said it was stopped because of some stupid animal or something. 

Rich chimed in and repeated that agreeing with him in a way.

I had enough. "It was not an animal. It is a plant," I informed him. Before I could explain the fellow jumped on that.

"Well what kind of stupid plant stops progress?"

I took a deep breath. This guy was a large CAFO operator. Confined Animal Feeding Operation. And I thought ~~ Progress MY foot! I knew that further discussion with either man was going to fall on deaf ears.

The LaFarge Dam project was stopped just before completion because an extremely rare plant had been found. The rare plant and rare environment would have been destroyed by the Dam and resulting lake.

It has always been a source of local disdain as farmers lost their land due to the project. You could read about it here: The Dam That Never Was.

Suffice to say many older people are still angry about how the project turned out and how the land became a place for out door activities. In my opinion, I am sad about its history, but so happy that it is there!

"The stupid plant is so rare that it is on the Wiscosin Threatened and  Federal Threatened List," I said, knowing that the men wouldn't understand. "There are only a few places in our country that it grows. The environment that it grows in is very rare too."

As I thought.

The men both asked, "And what good is this plant for?"

I shrugged. They would NOT understand. A CAFO farmer who felt the land was merely his. And all land was here to serve him?

Okay so I made a snap judgement.

I guess knowing that I am a un-certified Naturalist, I'd see things differently. I've always appreciated the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, however I am not a native to this land so I don't have the painful history with it that some folks do.

Mr. CAFO farmer then dumped another bombshell that we didn't need to hear. He said, "Hey you a Veteran? My brother in law was a Veteran and he went for a test and caught the Corona and no one would do anything about it. He died."

Ever want to get up and slap someone?

And last but not least, a photo from the Kickapoo Valley Reserve that is a memorial to what used to be there.

Some days I am just disappointed in humanity.

And others?

I am amazed at their ability for kindness and empathy. We need more kindness right now.

Busy Days, Family and Friends.

Our mornings usually start off pretty quiet.

I have some time early to myself. I have my cup of coffee and go over my list of 'things to do today'.

The medical aspect of dealing with a hospital stay can be a bit bizarre. Rich had a monitoring device implanted into his chest above his heart before we left the hospital. I'd told them I thought the Holter Monitor would work best. They said this little device could really find out "perhaps" what was causing his strokes.

The tech from the hospital called me the next day to help me set things up. Um. Uh oh. The base unit that does the transmitting needs cell service. I'd questioned that earlier but they assured me it would be fine.
Finally I talked to Medtronics and their tech person told me to try one window after another after another.
Then she informed me that they use AT&T or Team Mobile.
I let her know that cell phone coverage in the "Ocooch Mountains" and Driftless region was spotty at best. PLUS AT&T did not provide coverage here.
Her answer: Oh you best call your provider.

I called the GLHP tech.
This conversation became very bizarre.

Her: Can you talk the monitor and your husband someplace we can get a reading?

Me: Isn't the purpose of the monitor to take readings while he is asleep or walking around in the yard to check for irregularities?

Her: Well, yes but if you could take your husband and the monitor someplace so we could get a reading???

Me: So you are asking me to put my husband in our car and drive around to look for cell service and knock on someone's door and ask to plug my device in ... I drifted off. I was hoping she would see how silly that sounded.

Her: Oh my. Well. That won't work at all will it?

Me: No that will not work at all. Has the doc's at GLHP considered people who live in rural areas in the Coulee Region who won't have cell coverage in the valleys either?

Her: Silence. Then, I need to talk to the doctors.

Me: Indeed. You can call back and leave a message.

I hang up in slight disgust. Doctors. So eager to use a new high tech 'toy' they forgot to see if it would actually work in our cell tower starved area.

Well. Onward.

The phone rings again.
I see GLHP on the ID and pick it up.
It is a nurse.
Her: Is Richard Ewing there?
Me: Yes, he is outside a neighbor has brought hay.
Her: I need to speak to him.
Me: You can't.
Her: Well I am calling to follow up on his hospital stay.
Me: Then you know he has Aphasia and talking is not something he can do very well right now.
Her: Oh. Well I don't have authorization to speak to you.
Me: Well. I guess then I will just speak at you and you can listen.
Her: You are his wife?
Me: Yes
Her: I am one of his nurses, I met you on the floor.
Me: Then you know I signed POA, left you the Living Will, and the HIPPA permission forms.
Her: I can't find that info right now.
Me: Then just be quiet and I will tell you how my husband is doing. You don't need HIPPA to listen.
Eventually she did ask some pointed questions and I answered them. Our conversation ended with ... "We need a form allowing us to speak to you directly on the form signed."
I replied that "They needed to find my POA forms along with the other forms, pronto."

I went outside while Rich took a nap to mow some yard and do some stock watering.
Morris supervised from the porch.

When I got back inside Rich was up and sitting at the table.
He had the phone in his hand.

After a bit I got just enough information that the VA in Madison had called and he had another appointment added on some day.
He couldn't recall who he talked to or what day it was. His mind at this time is still stuck on Saturday as the day of the week. Every day is Saturday that is until we go to the calendar and look at it.

Last night our friends from Kenosha came. We plan on a work weekend and visit. But last night we just sat out on the porch and enjoyed the night sounds.

We love our friends and family and cannot thank them enough for their continued support and help.