I am the Admission Social Worker at my hospice. I, so then, begin my day in the office in order to pick up the nurses and my paperwork to bring with me to do the admission. Every three months we have a staff meeting on a Wednesday that starts at 8:30am. Last night before I left the office, the Admitting Clerk gave me an admission packet as there was a 10AM admission 27 miles away. Our staff meeting is in a building about two miles away from our office. My plan was to leave before the meeting ended to meet up with the patient and family.
Due to
multiple mix-ups, I put on multiple miles today. Our Admitting Department is a wonderful group
of folks who make my job so easy. They hand
me the packet and then will tell me when and where there is an admission and I
go. So simple. It was hard driving so many miles, but then
I look at the humor; as that is the best way I know how to cope.
114 MILES
Before I
left work yesterday, I was notified
“You have a
10AM admission in the morning”.
I was given
the admission packet at that time
in order to
leave before tomorrow’s staff meeting ended.
I drove 27
miles to the mobile home park.
I then
texted the nurse Lilian, “What’s your ETA?”
She replied
back, “The admission was changed to 12:30pm.
I am still at the
staff meeting”.
I drove back
to the office and informed Lilian,
“The patient
lives in a mobile home park.
There are
parking spots nearby for us to use.
It is all very
convenient.”
As I pulled
into the parking spot for the second time,
Lilian
texted me, “It’s not a mobile home, but a house.”
I had the
patient’s old address on my face sheet.
She moved
three years ago and now lives 8 miles away.
Arriving
twenty minutes late, I walked into the home.
Lilian had
already assessed the patient.
In addition,
she had spoken with our Medical Director.
“The patient
does not meet hospice criteria.”
I have
driven 114 miles today.
So much more
than my typical day.
But then, I
also realize I’ve had a great day as
no one is terminal
and on hospice in my home.
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