Today's visit with my mother at Lakeview Assisted Living was a pleasant experience, shared with both my mother and my sister. We enjoyed an hour or so of delightful company, watching my mother’s favorite YouTube clips featuring Walter the puppet. However, the mood shifted when my sister mentioned, “I wonder if they scheduled Mom’s vascular appointment?” I suggested we take a walk down to the office to find out.
To provide some context, my sister had accompanied my mother to her recent visit to the wound care doctor Tuesday morning. During that appointment, she recalled seeing the paperwork indicating that the doctor had prescribed an antibiotic for Mom and requested an appointment with the vascular specialist. This paperwork was handed to Mom's driver, with the expectation that Lakeview would schedule the appointment and call in the prescription—at least, that’s what we believed.
As we approached the office, we encountered “C,” who was previously identified to me as the daytime supervisor and who I had often seen dispensing medicine.
We inquired whether Mom had been scheduled for her vascular appointment. After reviewing the scheduling book, “C” only found an upcoming wound care appointment for February 6th. This was concerning, as my sister recalled that the appointment was supposed to be in two weeks, on January 6th.
“C” began searching for the necessary paperwork while my sister contacted the wound care center, and I reached out to my brother.
Amidst this flurry of phone calls, “C” received a call from the wound care office confirming Mom’s appointment for December 30th. (Please stay with me on this... the hits just keep on coming)
- “C” could not find the paperwork at all. Was the antibiotic ordered? Was Mom receiving it?
- “C” informed us of the new wound care appointment date, December 30th.
- Hearing this, my sister informed the wound care center that she had just learned the new date from “C.”
- The response from the wound care center was a resounding “NO”—that date was for another patient!
- My sister then informed “C” that the confirmation of the December 30th appointment was not for Mom. “C” insisted, “Yes, it was!” while her office phone began to ring. My sister responded, “Answer your phone.” “C” was quickly corrected!
- My brother informed me that all prescriptions are called into Hometown Pharmacy in Brighton Twp. BY THE DOCTOR!
- My sister called Hometown Pharmacy and found that no prescription had been called in this week for Shirley Gallagher. (Her appointment was Tuesday morning; today is Friday.)
At this point, we reached some troubling conclusions:
A. Mom is not receiving her antibiotics.
B. The prescription has not been called in.
C. The vascular appointment is NOT on the books at Lakeview and is likely not scheduled.
Enter Michael O’Brien, a Nurse Practitioner from Personal Care Medical Associates. He visits weekly and, overhearing our discussions, took the time to speak with my sister. She was able to secure the prescription from the wound care center and passed it to Michael, who promptly arranged to get it ordered as we left Lakeview, heading towards a bar.
At this stage, I remain uncertain about the status and scheduling of the vascular appointment. The day was a roller coaster.
**Conclusion:** This experience serves as a reminder...it is a known fact that after heart attack and car accident fatalities, the third biggest killer of people in the USA.... people in the Health System!.
Going forward ANY mom doctor appt... must be attended by someone and a COPY of any paperwork given to the driver must be procured.
If I have the paperwork...
I can personally take the prescription to the pharmacy and wait for it and deliver it to Lakeview.
I can personally schedule her appointments and pass them along to Shannon.
I do not know how to make it any easier for them. Suggestions welcome.