Hospital/Outreach
Just
a reminder, we’ve combined the Hospital and Outreach into one program/one
article.
WE NEED YOUR IMMEDIATE HELP!
In the past I have asked if you’ve completed your annual evaluation in
Tampa during the past year. I need you to call me to complete a survey on your
experience (good or bad!). For 2010 it’s the goal of the CFPVA leadership
to have annual evals done in the SCI Support Clinics vs. going to the Tampa
SCI Center. Please understand that in some instances you will be better served
by Tampa (Urodynamics, Mobility and Seating Evaluation). But, other services
and evals can be done locally (ultrasounds, blood lab, x-ray, renal scans, etc.).
The hardship of going to Tampa can be avoided. But, I REALLY need the data to
support getting it done.
To
make this easy for you, I’ll meet you (date & time of your choice)
at your favorite restaurant to interview you on your experience and you’ll
get a free meal. My aim is to get as much data as possible before March 21st
on recent annual evals at the Tampa SCI Center. That’s the date National
PVA will conduct its annual Site Visit to the Tampa SCI Center. At that time
we will STRONGLY advocate for this change. And, if you’re choosing not
to have an annual eval, we want to know why. You will be anonymous unless we
have your permission to use your name.
What
follows is my personal experience, and I’ve heard from a few members,
who’ve had similar experiences. You will see there is a need for change!
I informed my Orlando SCI provider in July that I would like an annual eval
(As a helpful hint: I always do mine in my birth month –makes it easy
to remember when I did it last). In August I heard from the Tampa SCI Center
annual eval coordinator, she went over the services that I would need and told
me the procedures they would request from Orlando. Over the next 4 weeks I did
blood lab, urine lab, x-ray, renal scan and ultrasound in Orlando VA and was
scheduled to go to Tampa in September for my annual. When I got to my Tampa
appointment (1 of 2), they sent me to have blood work and a urine sample. I
mentioned that I had had these same tests done in Orlando and they said I needed
to repeat them. So like a good patient, I didn’t argue, I just went to
the lab and 2 hours later I came back to reception to tell him I was done. My
next appointment was with a social worker who brought me into her office and
asked the exact questions that my Orlando social worker had asked. She provided
a questionnaire to complete and informed me that the SCI psychiatrist would
be making an appointment to go over the results. I completed the survey and
left it with the receptionist. Later that afternoon I was called back into the
Nurse Practitioner’s (NP) office and she went over the results of the
blood and urine labs, and all the other Orlando procedures. The same thing that
my Orlando providers does! She mentioned that I had bacteria in my urine and
possibly a urinary tract infection. She said she had requested a growth study
and if it came back positive she would put me on medication. After that, we
left her office and went to the SCI physician’s office to go over the
notes on my annual. The doctor told the NP that with the results of my urine
test, I should be put on medication immediately. Once the growth study comes
back, I would either stop or adjust the medication depending on the bacteria.
I’m thankful that I saw the SCI physician because I would have gone home
with an untreated UTI. Five days later the NP called to inform me the urine
sample was positive and to continue the meds. They would have me return after
the treatment for another eval.
Several
days later, I received notification of appointments on different days for the
psychiatrist and the UTI follow-up with SCI Outpatient. I called and requested
both appointments on the same day to prevent two trips. I arrived 3 hours prior
to my first appointment with the psychiatrist to do a urine lab. The appointment
with the psychiatrist went well and I’m not crazy! The appointment with
the SCI physician was to review the UTI, the test came back negative and I was
on my way home after a 9 hour day for one lab and two appointments.
The
only additional information I would like to mention is that on the first Tampa
annual visit when I did my mobility and seating evaluation, it was the best
I’ve ever had! The provider did a thorough job. She not only did an in-depth
review of my wheelchair and the cushion but we discussed my home environment
and my current transportation needs. Also, last year I did a Urodynamics study
at the Orlando Urology Clinic and I did one in the Tampa SCI Urology Clinic
and the Tampa procedure is much more thorough and in depth for our specific
patient population. That’s right; I did the procedure twice in one year!
I wanted to be able to give you accurate information. I would recommend if you’re
due and/or in need of these two Clinics, make Tampa your choice
In
closing, I REALLY need your story so that we can assure the right care at the
right time in the right place! Please contact me at your convenience and I’ll
make an appointment to meet you and feed you to get the data we need. Also,
if you are not willing to make the trip to Tampa SCI Center to do your annual,
for whatever reason(s), I could use that data, too. Call me and let me know.
Thank you. Email: pvaken@juno.com Cell: (407) 350-9128
Outreach
I’ve
been moving so fast and furiously this month that I’ve not had the time
to settle down and write about it. All I have to tell you is that our Outreach
Program is growing. More and more people are joining us. This month we welcomed
the Florida Association of Centers for Independent Living. So, if you know a
veteran with SCI or disease, M/S or ALS, please feel free to tell him or her
about us and give them our phone number. We welcome them one and all. There’s
help and support here but we have to find them in order to meet their needs.
Ken
Weas
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on the below image to return.
