got a call this AM from Adriana Mendez, case manager utilization management dept. she has been following dad's case. she said he is ready to leave asap. i asked on what grounds? the answer was very unsatisfactory and i jumped in the car and rushed over. i spoke with his MD anne finkelstine, i said why send him out now when he cannot sit up for 3 hours, ( he sat for one hour 15mins and it was tough today) as required for out patients who have dialysis? he'll be sent right back here when they can't treat him. unless they make him suffer and sit in a chair moaning and groaning? i don't think so!
Adriana mendez then proceeded to tell me she had called the foot hill nursing facility, our family's first choice for many reasons, she said she had not heard back from them. i called right after our conversation and admissions coordinator for foothill nursing and rehab center, Vilma Escalante said she had no info on him. she said she should have been faxed over his info so they can see if they can handle him with what they provide there. i promptly called Adriana's cell and asked her to fax his info to foot hill, to get him in line for a bed. (this is upsetting and i feel lied to!) we'll see what happens with that in the next few days.
another conversation i had with Adriana --- she keeps insisting that the transportation to dialysis from the nursing home and back  'is not covered by insurance'. he has a feeding tube, i think that might make the difference. i also looked in the package with all his insurance and found (and pointed out to her!) that its a $50 copayment per trip (its called a nonemergency)if a plan physician determines that your condition requires the use of services that only a licensed ambulance can provide and that the use of other means of transportation would endanger your (his) health. she looked at this and said 'doctors can make orders for anything, doesn't mean it's covered!'
i think it might be time to call Kathy Parker. this is crazy. are they rushing or are they really trying to find him a bed? i know it really stinks to be in the hospital, and when i talked to anne she said the hospital environment is really bad for people and they get exposed to many infectious germs, and he wont get better here-- yes i understand this, but he needs to be ready to leave, water retention really looked at he (has all kinds of stretch marks and is tight as a drum. its not good) and just being able to endure sitting longer. at least a week or two. and we need to get that transport covered. i have heard of $500 dollar a trip rides. and this would be 3x a week ($1,500 a week?!? for several months!yikes!!!!) until he is able (allowed!) to get rides with me driving his car, might take several months!!
ugh
ab