In the business world there is a concept called "professional distance." This is a concept that outlines best practices for mixing your personal and professional life. Especially, the relationship between an employer and employee. Mixing your personal life and professional life (if you are a boss) with an employee can cause lots of issues. I think there is also a similar concept in the medical world as medical professionals need to keep a certain "professional distance" from their patients. I know there are very clear guidlines for Doctors and Nurses relating to relationships with patients. This is becoming a much bigger issue now, as a result of social networking as it is very easy for a patient to be facebook friends with their doctor or nurse. It is a very tricky issue.
Taking it one step further...I have thought about this lots in relation to our situation in the hospital. We have been cautioned many times not to get emotionally involved with "the kid in the next bed." This is good advice as we have had so much to deal with in our own lives...it would add so much more stress to start to worry about some of the other kids you see in the hospital and risk getting emotionally involved. This has become a big issue for us lately; as in recent weeks we have received several waves of bad news regarding some of our friends we have made in the hospital. A couple of these situations are very serious and quite troubling. It really does get you down, as it just seems like one thing after another. Then you start thinking "when is it going to be our turn."
In reality, it is very difficult not to get to know and be involved with the families and staff that you meet in the hospital. We are on a first name basis with so many people. From the Lab Techs who take Russell's blood, to people you meet in the waiting room, or families we exchange e-mails with. You can't help but develop some relationships and get attached. I think it is extremely important that you maintain perspective and ensure these are"healthy" relationships. You cannot dwell on the negatives (and there are a lot of them.) As we have become friends with many families and have gone through struggles with them...we choose to be thankful and think positively about our own situation. We have had our rough times but right now we are "OK" and we choose to live in the moment. There may be some hard times ahead (for us) but thankfully...today...things are good! This does not mean we don't empathize and feel the pain others are going through. God gave us emotions for a reason...I don't think it is wrong to use them.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Happy Easter ... and other things!
Happy Easter to all,
I've been fairly quiet on here lately. I guess we can assume that no news is good news. I suppose its true. I have been very busy in the past month. Managed to squeeze in a trip to Calgary in an amongst a bunch of meetings and trying to keep all of the balls in the air at home. Busy is good...keeps me out of trouble.
Thankfully, Russell has been doing great. His eyes look great after his eye surgery and we are very hopeful that the correction is permanent. His biggest achievement of late is that he has finally made it onto a growth chart. We have been getting close for a while now and we finally made into onto the curve. It's amazing to be average! Nicole starts soccer in a couple of weeks so that will be one other thing "to do."
About the election...
Inevitably health care comes up in these elections. I'll save everyone lots of hassle...want to solve health care problems? It's called cash! You can be a little more efficient or hire a doctor here or there and tweak the system...bottom line is you need tons o' cash. Any idea why we had to go to Edmonton for Russell's and Susan's care...I'll give you a guess. They have gobs of cash in their province and they can recruit and hire big name Doctors and pour cash into Alberta Health Services. It is also well known that Alberta Health is one of the more ineffciciently run provincial health care programs. So I will make a bold logical step...strong economy = better health care. It's not complicated.
If I have learned anything since getting intimately involved with health care is the huge cost, in dollars, it takes to keep someone alive. Everyone knows about the aging population and that people are living longer. People do not often talk about kids like Russell who would never see their first birthday had it not been for new (and very expensive) technology. I would love to see Russell's bill for our stay in Edmonton. I know a few facts. Our basic stay in hospital cost the Manitoba Taxpayer about $1400.00 per day. That is just a bed...nothing special. I was told that the cost of a stay in PICU can nearly double. Then add the cost of two open heart surgeries, dozens of procedures, and on an on. The cost is staggerring. I think everyone can understand that the word "thanks" means a whole lot more to us now.
My intent in not to minimize the human element of what health care is trying to do...but the harsh reality is that none of it can happen with out the dollars to support it. The biggest challenge of the next 20 years is to figure out how to pay for it. In many ways I think we will not have a lot of choice about what direction health care takes, despite what political party is in office, as it will largely be dictated by how much we can affrod to spend. Harsh...but true.
I've been fairly quiet on here lately. I guess we can assume that no news is good news. I suppose its true. I have been very busy in the past month. Managed to squeeze in a trip to Calgary in an amongst a bunch of meetings and trying to keep all of the balls in the air at home. Busy is good...keeps me out of trouble.
Thankfully, Russell has been doing great. His eyes look great after his eye surgery and we are very hopeful that the correction is permanent. His biggest achievement of late is that he has finally made it onto a growth chart. We have been getting close for a while now and we finally made into onto the curve. It's amazing to be average! Nicole starts soccer in a couple of weeks so that will be one other thing "to do."
About the election...
Inevitably health care comes up in these elections. I'll save everyone lots of hassle...want to solve health care problems? It's called cash! You can be a little more efficient or hire a doctor here or there and tweak the system...bottom line is you need tons o' cash. Any idea why we had to go to Edmonton for Russell's and Susan's care...I'll give you a guess. They have gobs of cash in their province and they can recruit and hire big name Doctors and pour cash into Alberta Health Services. It is also well known that Alberta Health is one of the more ineffciciently run provincial health care programs. So I will make a bold logical step...strong economy = better health care. It's not complicated.
If I have learned anything since getting intimately involved with health care is the huge cost, in dollars, it takes to keep someone alive. Everyone knows about the aging population and that people are living longer. People do not often talk about kids like Russell who would never see their first birthday had it not been for new (and very expensive) technology. I would love to see Russell's bill for our stay in Edmonton. I know a few facts. Our basic stay in hospital cost the Manitoba Taxpayer about $1400.00 per day. That is just a bed...nothing special. I was told that the cost of a stay in PICU can nearly double. Then add the cost of two open heart surgeries, dozens of procedures, and on an on. The cost is staggerring. I think everyone can understand that the word "thanks" means a whole lot more to us now.
My intent in not to minimize the human element of what health care is trying to do...but the harsh reality is that none of it can happen with out the dollars to support it. The biggest challenge of the next 20 years is to figure out how to pay for it. In many ways I think we will not have a lot of choice about what direction health care takes, despite what political party is in office, as it will largely be dictated by how much we can affrod to spend. Harsh...but true.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Sniffles, Coughs, Fevers, and an Election
It's been a fairly quiet week. Yesterday was a nice sunny day, and I was able to take the kids out in the yard for a bit. Spring seems to be taking it's sweet time in getting here.
About the only excitement this week was a visit from the sneezes and sniffles. Susan, Russell, and Nicole have all been battling some form of a cold this week. Fortunately, I have been spared to this point. Our weekend, has been fairly quiet as no one is really up for anything, except Russell. He is the most active, short-tempered, beligerant little sick kid I have ever seen. A cold does not slow this kid down.
Speaking of "ill tempered" children...it seems we are in the midst of a federal election. A very brief period of time where the citizens of this country are actually asked their opinion. A unique opportunity that we should all be thankful for and give careful consideration in choosing leaders to guide our nation. Unfortunately, this is an election that no one really wants and most people don't really care about. If opinion polls hold, we will likely be right where we started at the end of this election, with another Conservative minority.
Just so you know my personal opinion...I'll be voting Conservative. I just didn't want that to be too mysterious. I respect other people's opinions and I am OK with folks who are a little more left-leaning. No one is perfect and I believe in forgiveness. I just thought it would be fun to spice this blog up a little and talk politics.
My concern is "who" will be voting and "why" do they vote. Voter turnout is actually quite pathetic. People should take this much more seriously, and I wish they would. However, if people don't care and don't educate themselves I am very happy that they don't vote. I think it is interesting that many new Canadians, those who have immigrated here only recently have a better handle on our political system than many Canadians who were born here. When you go to the polling station I think you should have to fill out a short questionnaire before you get your ballot. This shouldn't be complicated. I think when you go to the polling both you should know who the candidates are and the parties they represent. I am wondering how many people would actually get that wrong. It's kind of scary when you think about it. I think we should have an "open-mind" and consider the options when we vote, but do the rest of the country a favour and educate yourself before you vote.
About the only excitement this week was a visit from the sneezes and sniffles. Susan, Russell, and Nicole have all been battling some form of a cold this week. Fortunately, I have been spared to this point. Our weekend, has been fairly quiet as no one is really up for anything, except Russell. He is the most active, short-tempered, beligerant little sick kid I have ever seen. A cold does not slow this kid down.
Speaking of "ill tempered" children...it seems we are in the midst of a federal election. A very brief period of time where the citizens of this country are actually asked their opinion. A unique opportunity that we should all be thankful for and give careful consideration in choosing leaders to guide our nation. Unfortunately, this is an election that no one really wants and most people don't really care about. If opinion polls hold, we will likely be right where we started at the end of this election, with another Conservative minority.
Just so you know my personal opinion...I'll be voting Conservative. I just didn't want that to be too mysterious. I respect other people's opinions and I am OK with folks who are a little more left-leaning. No one is perfect and I believe in forgiveness. I just thought it would be fun to spice this blog up a little and talk politics.
My concern is "who" will be voting and "why" do they vote. Voter turnout is actually quite pathetic. People should take this much more seriously, and I wish they would. However, if people don't care and don't educate themselves I am very happy that they don't vote. I think it is interesting that many new Canadians, those who have immigrated here only recently have a better handle on our political system than many Canadians who were born here. When you go to the polling station I think you should have to fill out a short questionnaire before you get your ballot. This shouldn't be complicated. I think when you go to the polling both you should know who the candidates are and the parties they represent. I am wondering how many people would actually get that wrong. It's kind of scary when you think about it. I think we should have an "open-mind" and consider the options when we vote, but do the rest of the country a favour and educate yourself before you vote.
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