quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
One of the VERY BIG problems, is not that you can't get treatment for COVID at the hospital, but you can't get ANY treatment for COVID before you're forced have to go the hospital. The object with COVID is to get early treatment so NEVER have to go to the hospital!

Thank You!

quote:

Originally posted by AKSuperDually:
Your hospital is leading the state in politically based non-treatment and treatment of people. You've got no stones to throw in this argument. You've chosen to work there and align with them.

Where are you getting this information? I work with and treat Covid positive patients every single night I'm at work.[/QUOTE]
I live here. I work in crisis intervention. I meet with people affected by the policies of these Anchorage hospitals (and the Soldotna one also). I hear directly from the people affected by policies and procedures. The denial of treatments, the denial of visitation, the way non-vaccinated people are treated or rather, not treated the same. The cancellation of needed procedures over political decisions of who will get care.

I've met with people who've lost loved ones over this.[/QUOTE]

It was a honest question as to where you are getting your information. You're right, I'm an RN in the ER and low on the totem pole. From what I have seen in the ER, no one has been denied care based on vaccination status. I don't know if that's what is happening in other departments or not. That's why I was asking because it is in contradiction as to what I have seen.

We did have a case of a local politician that made headlines. A couple of other politicians got involved and it was a big movement and protest against the hospital I work at over his treatment. The aspects of that story that probably didn't make the news were his supporters overloading and blowing up our phone system. Myself and a physician were making calls on our personal cell phones that day trying to get a burn victim transferred to Seattle. Or how his supporters were trying to follow nurses in from the parking lot to enter the hospital so that they could bypass security at the main entrance. Or another one of his supporters who checked into the ER under false pretenses and was caught taking photographs and videos on a cell phone violating the privacy of other patients.

There have been conversations in the nurses' station and break rooms and occasionally a nurse or a doc will go on a rant and make a statement of how we should be able to deny or limit treatment of the unvaccinated. These have just been a few isolated personal statements, not policies I have seen. My philosophy has always been we work in an ER, 90% of what we do is fixing other people's bad decisions. Be that not wearing a seatbelt, a diabetic non-compliant with meds or a Covid positive patient that is unvaccinated. Not our place to play God and pass judgement.

That said I've seen and dealt with a lot of Covid positive patients that refuse to abide by things like wearing a mask while in the hospital, refusing to self isolate in their rooms, having my competence questioned, demanding treatments that they've read about on the internet, spouting conspiracy theories and literally cussed at, coughed on and spit on. Listening to rants of how it's all a government conspiracy and not real and yet here I am adjusting the levels on their high flow nasal cannula to keep them from going hypoxic.

That's when things escalate very fast. Had a patient that was Covid positive decide to go help herself the beverage and snack station. Explained to her that since she was Covid positive she needed to self isolate within her room, that she had a commode in the room, that if she needed anything all she had to do was activate her call light, told her that if she couldn't abide by these very simple requests she would be asked to leave. Her response was, "Who do you think you are? Fucking Dr, Fauci? It's America, a free country and I'll go where I want when I want." Sorry ma'am, your freedom ends at the door to your room when I've got a kid we're fighting to keep out of respiratory distress in the room next door. She repeated the same behavior and was escorted out by security.

That's where I've seen differential treatment. It's not from being Covid positive, it's from acting like an asshole and interfering with the care of others. Doesn't matter if it's Covid, drugs, alcohol or psych, reality is a non-cooperative or combative patient is going to be treated differently. Doesn't make it right, but it is human nature.

Visitor policies have changed. It went from a very strict no visitors policy, to being relaxed with one visitor allowed in the room and now back to a no visitors policy. There are exceptions to that policy now, things like; end of life even with Covid patients, family members to act as advocates when the patient is unable to advocate for themselves, and family members to act as translators. I get it, it sucks for the family but on nights when we're full and there's 30-40 in the waiting room probably half of which are Covid positive, the last thing we need is additional people getting exposed.

Not defending the policies that you are accusing my hospital of, just honestly asking because I have not seen it. The only thing remotely close was back in the fall when the Delta wave was at its peak, I did have a critically ill patient in need of surgery and ICU care afterwards requiring dialysis and a ventilator which were both in short supply. That case went through an extensive ethics board review concerning resource allocation and projected prognosis. The decision was made to follow the surgeon's recommendations for care and the patient was admitted to the OR and then ICU. Whether that affected another patient having access to those resources, I have no way of knowing.

quote:

Originally posted by radioman:
To 2000Z-71:

I just wanted to mention that my neighbor and good friend works triage at St Vincent's Hospital which is one of the big ones in the Portland Oregon area.

I've listened to some of his stories and how things have changed in the last 2 years. Oh, the stories he has are amazing.

I just wanted to mention that I have a lot of respect for what my neighbor does and in turn what you do. I know it's been rough, based on the data from my friend and neighbor.

Thank you, I appreciate it.

I’m just sick all of the Covid bullshit! I’m sick of all of the bullshit coming from both sides. I’m sick of all of the bullshit that I’m seeing on the news that doesn’t match with what I’m seeing at work. I'm sick of ridiculous statements being made to the point I've lost my filter. To say that no care is available when I have to check in a 19 year old to the ER who's only complaint that he needs a Covid swab is bullshit. It may not be the ideal situation, the doctor one wants or the treatment that one thinks they should have, but it is available.

To all of the Karens of the world screaming about masks, ridiculing those that don’t agree with them and demanding further restrictions; if you hate freedom that much go wear you mask under a burqa.

To all of those claiming it’s a hoax and not real, all I can say is that you’ve never zipped a body bag closed while wearing PPE.

Yes, Covid is real, it sucks, it can be deadly, but it’s not the black plague of the middle ages. The real truth is somewhere in-between what the Karens and those against the vaccines are spewing, it can be difficult to obtain an objective view.

I keep hearing on the news about the rise in Covid cases and that local hospitals are all operating at capacity. That’s usually followed by dire warnings of the system breaking down, nursing shortages or talk about how much more contagious the Omicron variant is. Then there’s stories of breakthrough infections of those already vaccinated.

These are just my observations of what I’m currently seeing at work. I have no idea if my little corner of the world is representative of the lower 48 or the rest of the world. Yes, we’re seeing a rise in Covid cases now. They’re usually unvaccinated, we’re seeing it more in pediatrics now, and the symptoms are usually milder. It's not like it was during the peak Delta surge when we were putting several on a ventilator every night. For the most part, patients come to the ER and are discharged with only a few needing admission to the hospital. We have seen a few breakthrough infections, unfortunately a couple of those were nurses on staff. In those cases, the symptoms have been extremely mild.

What we are seeing is huge increases in daily visits to the ER with patients having much lower acuities. Things like coming in for just a Covid swab when there's a drive-thru testing center literally across the street. The reasoning, "I'm concerned I've been exposed." Well that may be, but you've definitely become exposed to it now in our waiting room.

Agreed 2000z. Why anyone would go to the ER right now with a non-life-threatening emergency is beyond me. (broken bones and stitches aside)

quote:

Originally posted by Graniteguy:
Agreed 2000z. Why anyone would go to the ER right now with a non-life-threatening emergency is beyond me. (broken bones and stitches aside)

Free Obamacare … can’t refuse care; it’s the indigent healthcare system.

quote:

Originally posted by SIGnified:

quote:

Originally posted by Graniteguy:
Agreed 2000z. Why anyone would go to the ER right now with a non-life-threatening emergency is beyond me. (broken bones and stitches aside)

Free Obamacare … can’t refuse care; it’s the indigent healthcare system.

The ER becoming the healthcare provider for the indigent became prevalent long before Obamacare. 1986 was when the Emergency Medical Treatment And Labor Act was passed by congress and signed by Reagan.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That is correct. There are many conditions that do not require emergency care and those patients are generally discharged if they do not have the means to pay. It is not carte blance free for everyone.

quote:

Originally posted by Bytes:

quote:

Originally posted by SIGnified:

quote:

Originally posted by Graniteguy:
Agreed 2000z. Why anyone would go to the ER right now with a non-life-threatening emergency is beyond me. (broken bones and stitches aside)

Free Obamacare … can’t refuse care; it’s the indigent healthcare system.

The ER becoming the healthcare provider for the indigent became prevalent long before Obamacare. 1986 was when the Emergency Medical Treatment And Labor Act was passed by congress and signed by Reagan.

Bytes is 100% correct. Been an issue since long before Obama. Ask anyone who has worked in ER for a long time and they will tell you this

quote:

Originally posted by Bytes:

quote:

Originally posted by SIGnified:

quote:

Originally posted by Graniteguy:
Agreed 2000z. Why anyone would go to the ER right now with a non-life-threatening emergency is beyond me. (broken bones and stitches aside)

Free Obamacare … can’t refuse care; it’s the indigent healthcare system.

The ER becoming the healthcare provider for the indigent became prevalent long before Obamacare. 1986 was when the Emergency Medical Treatment And Labor Act was passed by congress and signed by Reagan.

Yes; I am well aware.

Doesn’t mean what I wrote isn’t a problem.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
The likelihood of a transplant recipient dying from wuflu is what relative to dying from a traffic accident? Hit by lightning? Plane crash? Electrocuted at home?

The people who make these life death decisions - karma will come.

Transplant patients are rather severely immunocompromised due to the drugs they must take to avoid rejection of the transplant. As a result their immune system cannot mount a viable response to many kind of infections. Without any vaccine or treatment the death rate from Covid for someone with a functioning immune system is was 4%, meaning 4 out of 100 died. Now that we've learned how to treat Covid somewhat effectively the death toll has dropped to under 2%.

Those taking an anti rejection medication regime do NOT have a normally functioning immune system and I would expect a death rate approaching 100% from Covid. Now, a transplant patient could stop taking his anti rejection drugs and restore his immune system enough to fight off Covid. Bad news is the side effect of doing that is they will go into a full blown rejection syndrome and would most likely die of Sepsis.

Finally it doesn't matter where you live, Transplant Centers will NOT waste an organ on someone who won't survive long term and is willing to make changes as required. As a result they will mandate Lifestyle, Mediation Adherence, and Vaccinations. If you don't want to meet these requirements then you wont get a transplant and someone else will have their life extended by those organs.

Concerning the vaccination debate, spend some time with someone who has been spending time on the front line in an ER or ICU and you'll get an earful and none of it positive for the Anti Vax crowd.

Scooter 123,

Thank you for posting that. My father received a heart transplant and I've worked with transplant recipients as a nurse. Totally agree with what you posted. Organ donations are too few and far between to take chances with.

quote:

Originally posted by Scooter123:

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
The likelihood of a transplant recipient dying from wuflu is what relative to dying from a traffic accident? Hit by lightning? Plane crash? Electrocuted at home?

The people who make these life death decisions - karma will come.

Transplant patients are rather severely immunocompromised due to the drugs they must take to avoid rejection of the transplant. As a result their immune system cannot mount a viable response to many kind of infections. Without any vaccine or treatment the death rate from Covid for someone with a functioning immune system is was 4%, meaning 4 out of 100 died. Now that we've learned how to treat Covid somewhat effectively the death toll has dropped to under 2%.

Those taking an anti rejection medication regime do NOT have a normally functioning immune system and I would expect a death rate approaching 100% from Covid. Now, a transplant patient could stop taking his anti rejection drugs and restore his immune system enough to fight off Covid. Bad news is the side effect of doing that is they will go into a full blown rejection syndrome and would most likely die of Sepsis.

Finally it doesn't matter where you live, Transplant Centers will NOT waste an organ on someone who won't survive long term and is willing to make changes as required. As a result they will mandate Lifestyle, Mediation Adherence, and Vaccinations. If you don't want to meet these requirements then you wont get a transplant and someone else will have their life extended by those organs.

Concerning the vaccination debate, spend some time with someone who has been spending time on the front line in an ER or ICU and you'll get an earful and none of it positive for the Anti Vax crowd.

Yet in all of your commentary you never once touched on whether this man needing a transplant is Covid positive (he isn't from what I've read). Since the vaccines do absolutely nothing to prevent viral acquisition and spread there is no viable argument for this man to take the vaccine on that basis. I would also assume, being a transplant patient, he's in an isolation environment to insure he's protected from 'any/all' viral pathogens. Vaccine or not, with a severely compromised immune system associated with transplant surgery, 'if' he acquires Covid (again, the vaccines do nothing to prevent acquisition) its unlikely the vaccine would save his bacon anyway. If one reasons their way through this issue, there really is very little justification for forcing this vaccine (that isn't a vaccine) on this person.

I made this very statement to a good friend who's one of the most recognized cardiac surgeons in Central Florida. IMO the medical community as a whole has lost so much credibility throughout this Covid debacle that huge majorities of the population no longer take their opinions and positions seriously. I know I count myself as a member of that community.

quote:

Originally posted by Scooter123:
Concerning the vaccination debate, spend some time with someone who has been spending time on the front line in an ER or ICU and you'll get an earful and none of it positive for the Anti Vax crowd.

Israel, Denmark and Australia, to name a few, are places where you could 'spend some time with someone who has been spending time on the front line in an ER or ICU, and you'd get an ENTIRELY different earful...

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:

quote:

Originally posted by Scooter123:
Concerning the vaccination debate, spend some time with someone who has been spending time on the front line in an ER or ICU and you'll get an earful and none of it positive for the Anti Vax crowd.

Israel, Denmark and Australia, to name a few, are places where you could 'spend some time with someone who has been spending time on the front line in an ER or ICU, and you'd get an ENTIRELY different earful...

From Sweden, Norway, Ireland, … to South Africa

And for published hospitalization statistics in the USA, I’ve seen it’s pretty much ~40 vaccinated against ~60% unvaccinated in beds. Some difference, but not enough to justify forcing people with natural immunity to still get a jab.

^^^In the hospital 'WITH' COVID, or 'FOR' COVID?

I seem to remember the American Heart Association putting out a statement that the covid vaccines had sde effects that were detrimental to anyone with heart issues. Most of the cases of vaccine injuries I've read about are heart related as well..
It would make sense that anyone needing a heart transplant would avoid the vaccine. How is it all this is being overlooked in this case?
Taking the vaccine could kill the guy.
He could get covid after surgery with or without the vaccine.
Refusing the transplant will kill him.

quote:

^^^In the hospital 'WITH' COVID, or 'FOR' COVID?

You forgot the third option of caught covid while at the hospital.

For a place that wants to restrict transplants based on a what if he gets it viewpoint, you'd think they'd have the spread within their walls under control a bit better.

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:

quote:

^^^In the hospital 'WITH' COVID, or 'FOR' COVID?

You forgot the third option of caught covid while at the hospital.

For a place that wants to restrict transplants based on a what if he gets it viewpoint, you'd think they'd have the spread within their walls under control a bit better.

Good points all. I thought it was for C19 but, …

To those that are labeling all people who don't want this trial vaccine as "anti-vax". Please knock that shit off.
Most people I know of (including myself) that are suspicious of the covid vaccine aren't against all vaccines.
Labeling someone as anti-vax is a weak attempt to discredit them as crazy conspiracy theorists and its wrong.

quote:

Originally posted by amc:
To those that are labeling all people who don't want this trial vaccine as "anti-vax". Please knock that shit off.
Most people I know of (including myself) that are suspicious of the covid vaccine aren't against all vaccines.
Labeling someone as anti-vax is a weak attempt to discredit them as crazy conspiracy theorists and its wrong.

Thank you.

I'm anti-expirimental vaccine, but what I'm really is anti-vaccine mandates. IMO, those who believe a vaccine should be mandated and/or forced, are un-American. Some of you have reared your head in this thread, to you I say firmly, "fuck-off".