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It's SATURDAY!!! For those that don't know, I'm beyond excited today because I worked 10 straight days!
Speaking of work, yesterday was a doozy. Multiple phone calls and emails were required to accomplish me changing my schedule and being open and available for a slightly longer shift just so that I could accompany my client to a mandatory V.A. disability exam.
I have asked in the past to be notified if my client had an upcoming dental or medical visit because it seemed silly for her guardian to have to pay someone to be her chaperone and medical advocate when I am already there with her. Plus, I didn't feel the person they utilized for that role REALLY had my client's best interests in mind. She wouldn't even take any of my suggestions for items to take along to keep my client happy and occupied. As in, the medical advocate really didn't care to get to know my client AT ALL.
Well, no one took my request at face value and they continued to utilize this other person. Then, out of nowhere, the guardian called the facility and asked if they could provide someone. The charge nurse told them that I am not their employee, but that I come 5 days a week and would probably be perfectly happy to fill that role.
The nurse then asked me if I could do so for this V.A. disability exam. I called my work and asked that they take care of getting all necessary approvals so I would be covered for being "off site" and they would be able to bill for more than the normal length shift, in case the appointment and transportation both ways went over.
Bottom line, lots of communication and planning went into this whole thing. The letter from the V.A. insisted that they were doing these period "workshops" where they saw multiple clients in one day for the sole purpose of evaluation for disability, so we were asked to only request the appointment be rescheduled in cases of serious conflict. Needless to say, an 8 am appointment is not ideal for my client, as it really throws off her normal schedule. They have to get her up at like 5 am, shower her, dress her, feed her, and have her ready to be picked up by 6:45.
I got up at 4:45 to do my normal morning stuff. I put a lot of thought into what to bring with for me and my client, esp. since we could get stuck after the appt. waiting for return transportation to the facility.
I got to the facility at 6:30 a.m. I saw a medical transport vehicle parked in the far corner of the lot, obviously just hanging out waiting for the pick up time. That made me think everything was A-O-K.
I took care of my client, getting her ready to be outside in the elements. I stopped in the kitchen and got a brown-bag lunch and beverage for my client.
Since the van was already outside (or so I thought), I grabbed her envelope with medical chart info from the nurses station and headed outside to the covered porch. After 5 minutes of waiting, I went out in the rain and knocked on the van's drivers' side window. I asked if he was there to pick up my client. He said that it was another client.
I waited another 5 minutes and then when the driver came through the front door to go get HIS client, I asked him to tell the nurse inside that they needed to check on MY client's transport status.
Five minutes later I returned inside, only to be told that no one was answering at the V.A. and that they had NO idea what company was to have provided the transport. When the facility's social worker got in, she too tried to get to the bottom of things. Her role had been to fill out the form requesting transport, but because of the government bureaucracy, had been instructed to fax it to Medicaid for ultimate disposition. They apparently don't bother to send confirmation. She left messages for people at multiple offices and we did not hear back AT ALL on Friday.
I kept my client company as she slept to make up for her very early start. It was a little hard to switch gears, after having planned to be out and about. I felt bad that our day had taken such a dramatic turn, all for nothing. I would have rather kept my client company in the afternoon, as there was a facility birthday party and musical entertainment. Instead, she was only awake for 1 hour of my time with her.
I was ANGRY!!! It took me almost 2 hours before I wasn't LIVID over the screw-up. Now, my poor client will just have to go through all this AGAIN at some point in the next two months. I'm pissed that when it was the paid medical advocate (who gave next to no thought over all the details and how to make it better for the client), everything went off without a hitch. But, when it was me, who over thinks everything and worries about her client's happiness, THIS HAPPENS!!!
The only positive is that I insisted when they reschedule this stupid appointment, they request a later time. So, hopefully things will go smoother with less disruption to my client.
OK. Totally done venting. I got home yesterday afternoon and put on my walking outfit. I waited and waited for a break in the rain. When it came, I rushed out and managed to get in a 1 hour 10 minute walk with only 15 minutes of rain. It is pouring again today and this makes Day 5 of our NW March Mayhem Rain Storm. I am ready for the sun. You hear that, Mother Nature? I have an awesome 3-day anniversary trip in one week and my daughter has a photo session in 5 days (which she has put off multiple times and those kids just keep growing and changing!)
Please cross all fingers and toes for us! Heading off to do some crafting.
Diet Calendar Entries for 29 March 2014:
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1346 kcal
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Fat: 64.22g | Prot: 51.00g | Carb: 155.69g.
Breakfast: Equal Equal, Lucerne Hazelnut Coffee Creamer, Granulated Sugar, Coffee (Brewed From Grounds), Strawberries, Bacon, Egg, Egg White. Lunch: Whole Milk, Egg Yolk, Jell-O Cook and serve custard dessert, Bernstein's Cheese & Garlic Italian Dressing, Hard-Boiled Egg, Grape Tomatoes, Iceberg Lettuce (Includes Crisphead Types), Cucumber (with Peel), Celery, Carrots, Fresh Express Spring Mix. Dinner: Smart Balance Original Buttery Spread, Cooked Broccoli (Fat Not Added in Cooking), Strawberries, Tomatoes, Best Foods Real Mayonnaise, Wendy's Iceberg Lettuce Leaf, Bacon, Franz Old Fashioned White Bread. Snacks/Other: Larabar Uber Coconut Macaroon. more...
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2692 kcal
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Activities & Exercise:
Stretching (yoga) - 40 minutes, Shopping - 1 hour, Driving - 1 hour, Resting - 5 hours, Sleeping - 8 hours, Sitting - 5 hours and 20 minutes, Standing - 3 hours. more...
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