choir. Don't forget, I'm a nurse! I've been
on your side the entire time about everything -- about relocating the Pavilion,
putting up lights, increasing staff. This will give us an opportunity to
really address these things and make some changes. Let's take the lead on
this for now. First things first"
Dr.
Desmond retorted angrily, “Alex, don't give me any of that psychobabble.
That's my job!” Monique hesitated for a moment, thinking. Then, she said to
Jack and Alex, her voice uncharacteristically sarcastic, "So what did the
esteemed leaders of the hospital do for the psychiatric service? They
contracted it out and gave us to strangers to manage. People who have no
knowledge of New Orleans, our culture, heritage, or diversity. Give me a break!
We now have contract management in psychiatry, which is inadequate to say the
very least, and the patient care conditions, safety, and units are less safe
now than they were last year. This is totally pathetic and self-serving of
hospital administration. The contract administrator has actually cut
staffing."
Monique
paused briefly and continued angrily, her voice becoming higher and higher,
"I'm sure the bottom line has come up. The place is probably making money
now, but what a dump. That contract administrator, Lester Whitset, looks like
a patient. He even gives me the creeps. I’d like to give him a frontal
lobotomy.” Monique tossed her head angrily, her dark hair bobbing, her tone of
voice acrimonious.
Alex
and Jack sat quietly and watched the conflicting emotions trail across
Monique's usually well-controlled face. After several very long moments,
Monique finally reached for Alex's hand and squeezed it.
"I'm
sorry and you're right, Alex. I'm overwhelmed and incredibly tired and I am
being a total bitch. Angie shouldn't be fighting for her life and her husband
shouldn’t be wondering if their young daughter will ever have the mother that
she knows again. The whole thing just stinks and I hate that it's happened.
And even though I've got concerns about Lester and the contract management
group that is handling CCMCs psychiatric services, they came well recommended
and are leaders in Behavioral Health Services. Perhaps I am
over-exaggerating, but it seems to me our administration and the contract
management service is much more concerned with money than with patient and
staff safety. I'm afraid that with our growing, acutely ill, psych population
we could be in for more trouble, particularly with health reform coming on
board. The delivery system they've implemented is simply not safe for our
patient population. We are the only inpatient facility in the state that
houses such dangerous psychotics and the criminally insane. It is truly a
dangerous place."
Alex
nodded and said, "I couldn't agree more and I couldn't be more concerned.
Let's meet soon and talk about it. I've been concerned about the Pavilion for
several months. Plan on my office at 10 o'clock tomorrow, okay?"
"You've
got it, Alex. If things settle down, I'll be there. Do you want to invite
Favre? For what it's worth, I'm sure it will be a waste of our time, but a lot
of the safety issues obviously concern the nursing staff."
Alex
shook her head negatively and shrugged her shoulders. "When has she ever
helped the nursing staff? Why would we even want to include her? Let's get
Dr. Ashby." Alex stared at Monique strangely. "I am surprised you
asked, Monique. Do you really want her at the meeting?"
"Hell,
no! I don't want her," Monique retorted. "She's been a pain in my
butt for years. I have loathed her from the first day I met her, but we
should have her there. If we can get her on our side ...."
Jack
grinned at Monique and said sheepishly, "Come on, Monique. Don't hold
back. Tell us how you really feel!" Jack and Monique started to laugh
and Alex joined them
on your side the entire time about everything -- about relocating the Pavilion,
putting up lights, increasing staff. This will give us an opportunity to
really address these things and make some changes. Let's take the lead on
this for now. First things first"
Dr.
Desmond retorted angrily, “Alex, don't give me any of that psychobabble.
That's my job!” Monique hesitated for a moment, thinking. Then, she said to
Jack and Alex, her voice uncharacteristically sarcastic, "So what did the
esteemed leaders of the hospital do for the psychiatric service? They
contracted it out and gave us to strangers to manage. People who have no
knowledge of New Orleans, our culture, heritage, or diversity. Give me a break!
We now have contract management in psychiatry, which is inadequate to say the
very least, and the patient care conditions, safety, and units are less safe
now than they were last year. This is totally pathetic and self-serving of
hospital administration. The contract administrator has actually cut
staffing."
Monique
paused briefly and continued angrily, her voice becoming higher and higher,
"I'm sure the bottom line has come up. The place is probably making money
now, but what a dump. That contract administrator, Lester Whitset, looks like
a patient. He even gives me the creeps. I’d like to give him a frontal
lobotomy.” Monique tossed her head angrily, her dark hair bobbing, her tone of
voice acrimonious.
Alex
and Jack sat quietly and watched the conflicting emotions trail across
Monique's usually well-controlled face. After several very long moments,
Monique finally reached for Alex's hand and squeezed it.
"I'm
sorry and you're right, Alex. I'm overwhelmed and incredibly tired and I am
being a total bitch. Angie shouldn't be fighting for her life and her husband
shouldn’t be wondering if their young daughter will ever have the mother that
she knows again. The whole thing just stinks and I hate that it's happened.
And even though I've got concerns about Lester and the contract management
group that is handling CCMCs psychiatric services, they came well recommended
and are leaders in Behavioral Health Services. Perhaps I am
over-exaggerating, but it seems to me our administration and the contract
management service is much more concerned with money than with patient and
staff safety. I'm afraid that with our growing, acutely ill, psych population
we could be in for more trouble, particularly with health reform coming on
board. The delivery system they've implemented is simply not safe for our
patient population. We are the only inpatient facility in the state that
houses such dangerous psychotics and the criminally insane. It is truly a
dangerous place."
Alex
nodded and said, "I couldn't agree more and I couldn't be more concerned.
Let's meet soon and talk about it. I've been concerned about the Pavilion for
several months. Plan on my office at 10 o'clock tomorrow, okay?"
"You've
got it, Alex. If things settle down, I'll be there. Do you want to invite
Favre? For what it's worth, I'm sure it will be a waste of our time, but a lot
of the safety issues obviously concern the nursing staff."
Alex
shook her head negatively and shrugged her shoulders. "When has she ever
helped the nursing staff? Why would we even want to include her? Let's get
Dr. Ashby." Alex stared at Monique strangely. "I am surprised you
asked, Monique. Do you really want her at the meeting?"
"Hell,
no! I don't want her," Monique retorted. "She's been a pain in my
butt for years. I have loathed her from the first day I met her, but we
should have her there. If we can get her on our side ...."
Jack
grinned at Monique and said sheepishly, "Come on, Monique. Don't hold
back. Tell us how you really feel!" Jack and Monique started to laugh
and Alex joined them
Similar Books
