It’s Alive!!!

Posted On September 25, 2013

the old man in the hat
I don’t like horror shows. Never did. Maybe it has something to do with living in the boondocks. When you scream, there really is no one around to hear you. Watching scary shows, alone, late at night, is just too creepy. When you turn the lights out in the country, it is dark. Really dark. No light pollution here. Just you and blackness and that tingly feeling crawling up your back. I watched one “Chucky” movie.
Yep, one was enough. Back from the dead. Dead should be Dead, but I underestimated Horizon Health, or whatever they call themselves. They have gone through so many name changes in the last 30 years that they should just start doing what the horror movies do- instead of Nightmare on Elmstreet IV they could go for Nightmare in Healthcare I, II, III etc.

Speaking of nightmares, recent reports from a retired nurse and nursing professor, Penny Ericson, would lead us to believe not all is well at the DECH in Fredericton. Who knew? Almost everyone I know has a horror story to tell about care in Fredericton. This is nothing new. What is new is that the professor was savvy enough to give a heads up to the news media about the report that she sent to the hospital, the Minister and the Health Department.
Since “regular” employees have to sign a “gag” order in order to work in the health system, the only way we really have of finding out what is going on is from patients or families of patients, especially those with medical training who recognize the shortcoming in the existing system.

I especially liked the quote on cbc.ca, from the CEO of Nightmare in Healthcare III, John McGarry (aka, “Chucky”), that management and staff “missed the boat”. Perhaps he could initiate change in the system by starting with a better metaphor for a land locked health care authority screwup! Do ya think!!

In the late 19th century, Louis Pasteur was successful in convincing Europe of the nature of germs and their role in disease and the importance of cleanliness. Perhaps Mr. McGarry could start here. Better yet perhaps he could revisit that idea of direct staff supervision versus remote managers. This level of management disappeared from the hospital system decades ago. They were the individuals with seniority (ie. expensive) who maintained the “institutional knowledge” of how to do things right and worked side by side with staff members in the various disciplines providing a vital mentoring role.

Chucky has made a slight move in this direction. He is promoting that his remote managers leave their offices and interact with patients. He calls this process “20 touches a month”. What a way with words. If you hear me scream it’s because I felt Chucky touching!

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