Pet Peeves...Nurses who don't speak English! Hiring practice dumb!

Any U.S. citizen facing hospitalization for a quick medical procedure, or for the treatment of a terminal illness, agrees to be admitted with the understanding that Hospital staff - nurses, doctors, technicians, etc. - will at least have the ability to communicate effectively with the patient at the hospital.

A great bedside manner may go a long way to cheering up the ill, but unfortunately, few of the local hospitals appear to put much stock in that ideology.

Instead, through my own experience - and judging from the dozens of complaints I have received in response to my revealing exposes on Medical Care Facilities in the Los Angeles area,  it appears that administration is inclined to hire cheap labor - which means, of course - individuals with little education, care-giving skills, or the ability to communicate effectively in English are hired to babysit hapless charges.

Uh-huh!

That's my pet peeve this week!

It's time that the powers-that-be stop hiring on medical personnel who can't speak English fluently - or, at a minimum - are capable of communicating without difficulty with their limit knowledge of the language of the land.

Does someone have to die before anyone in the medical profession will sit up and take notice of this critical issue that needs addressing?

News at 11!

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Jet Blue..Denies "hero's" request for reinstatement! "No Angel", according to passengers!

Whee!

When a flight attendant in the employ of Jet Blue made a snap decision to quit his job mid-shift this past week, he wasn't aware of the potentially negative and positive ramifications involved.

The slightly eccentric Stephen Slater sputtered over a loudspeaker in the cabin of the plane that he was "walking" after twenty-eight years on the job after allegedly being mistreated by fussy passengers.

He grabbed a couple of brewskies out of the cooler, and then, proceeded to launch the emergency exit slide to facilitate a quick escape.

Although the moment was a liberating one (doesn't every low-paid worker toiling at a position they hate fantasize about telling their boss to take the "job" and shove it?) a short white later the flight attendant received a rude awakening when he was tracked down by law enforcement and summarily arrested for two felony counts (endangerment to passengers - for one - as well as a couple of other trumped-up charges).

After all, tossing in the apron at a local take-out joint, is a much lesser offense.

Meanwhile, on another front, there was a startling development.

At the speed of lightning, internet users were suddenly all-a-twitter over Slater's impromptu rebellion.

Indeed, to many, he was a modern-day hero!

One fan of the feature film - "Nework" - joked that the plump steward managed to articulate the rage of the dreary working classes in one fell swoop.

Within days, the paparazzi was swarming to epic proportions and in hot-'n-heavy pursuit - after the man-of-the-hour - with the specifc aim of nabbing footage of what would eventually become one of the phenomenon news dramas of the year.

In addition, tabloid magazine shows brimmed with scintillating up-to-the-minute updates on the prey they were tracking, pundits argued about the plight of the common "Joe" in this country today, and even psychologists ventured forth to spout off about the merits of taking a stand in the work-place in order to free one's self from an unhealthy scenario capable of chipping away at the individual's feeling of self-worth.

Meanwhile, in about two-seconds flat, over 100,000 facebook members logged in to the popular social hub and voiced their support.

Slater captured the imagination (and hearts) of total strangers around the planet on the heels of his  ballsy decision to say adios to a job that showered him with alot of glowing praise over the years.

His nick-name?

Mr. Jet Blue!

But, dark were forces were about to swirl into his life, because of basic human nature.

For example, in his moment of glory, passsengers on the flight appeared out of the wood-work to chip away at the newly-crowned Prince of pop culture.

To some, Slater didn't deserve the accolades!

"He was grumpy throughout the flight," alleged one incredulous ticket-holder.

"What about the passengers," lamented another agitated guest, who was angered by the fact there appeared to be so little sympathy for the passengers, who allegedly suffered from the brunt of Slater's  so-called abusive conduct throughout the flight.

What was so heroic about being a quitter, afer all - in a high-security work environment - where a selfish act of said nature might put the well-being of individuals in jeopardy?

In response to the hotly-debated topic, critics successfully rustled up a handful of valid arguments, that simultaneously resonated and struck up a chord.

For starters - a flight attendant's job is a specialized one - which includes the operation of emergency equipment, training tips on how to usher passengers to safety in the throes of a mishap mid-flight during take-off and landing, you name it.

In fact, in a highly-specialized work arena like the one that flight attendants toil in - common sense dictates that an airline employee (though pissed off on occasion) - would be wiser (better off) to bite their quivering lips and hold on 'til the end of their shift before shouting:

"I'm outta here!"

There is the question of work history, for instance.

Quitting a job with proper notice is rarely viewed as a negative by a potential employer, for instance.

But, a bizarre break-down (of sorts) - like Slater's - is  guaranteed to trigger a negative resume entry sure to haunt Jet Blue's "escape artist" for years to come.

After all, it is doubtful they'll hire him back at this juncture, in spite of the fact he revealed a few days ago,  that the melt-down and impromptu beer bust have not deterred thoughts of returning to the work force at Jet Blue (with all forgiven).

All things considered, Slater's  bid for re-hire, will probably be rejcted.

Using an an emergency slide for personal use - alone and in-and-of-itself - dictates that will be the end scenario for Slater without doubt.

Walking off the job on the tarmac, without notice, was an even more serious offense - which also guarantees - there won't be a revolving door for Slater at the airline known for its generosity in respect to discount airfares.

I know from whence I speak, after all.

Years ago - I was going through a period of uncertainty in my life - which was unhappily brought on by the unexpected ups-and-downs (mostly financial) of my struggling career in the fine arts.

So, at the urging of a couple of friends working flights @ CP Air (originally based in Canada, but now a defunct business entity) I applied to traipse down the aisles to serve coffee, snacks, and such (at Air Canada's biggest competitor).
During my training period - which lasted about 8 weeks - I was taught all the emergency procedures, the appropriate behaviour to adhere to while on board and on duty and in flight - in addition to serving techniques - and tips on how todeal with unruly passengers, and-so-forth-and-so on.

And, of course, I was taught how to open the infamous emergency slide which Slater launched to effect his escape with two brewskies intact on his improptu trek home.

Indeed, I have actually slid down that trippy escape contraption, which rates right up there with a whoopie cushion.

In fact, one fly guy I was room-mates with yeas ago, ended up using the eye-catching exit tool on one occasion after a plane was downed, and ended up on the front page of the local newspaper where he was touted as a virtual life-saver

In training classes, I vividly recall him worrying that if an emergency arose, he'd end up fainting.

Not!

After he managed to open the shoot (with a bit of sloppy trepidation) he began to assist the passengers to safer ground with little aplomb.

Ironically, a photographer at the crash site, also captured a publicity still showing hapless harried Greg coming through with flying colors.

As to me?

Well, in a few months, I settled into the job like a duck to water.

Although my "probationary" flights were limited to domestic runs - Toronto, Ottawa & Montreal - I found the job a most agreeable one.

Passengers tended to run the female flight attendants ragged for water and magazines, while dudes like moi, were usually called upon to politely answer questions about the speed of the aircraft, what model were we flying in, etc.

That was a snap for me because CP AIR - at one point - had a fleet of aircraft that consisted of DC-10s, 747s, 737s, and - my favorite little airplane known as - the 727 (which featured a novel exit door inside the tail of the plane).

So, of course, I was familiar with every little do-dad, hidden compartment, toilet paper storage unit, and-so-forth and so-on.

However, one day - it spite of the smooth sailing I savored from the get-go - I jumped out of bed at approxitely 5 a.m. in the morning and snatched up a pair of white socks by mistake and slipped them on without thinking.

Later, I was sitting at the airport terminal on "call" - when a CP Air Supervisor strode by - caught sight of the offending white socks - and began to grill me over the uniform glitch (and failure to comply with binding rules and regulations).

In fact, the "white socks" incident became a cause celebre with management.

Such a gross infraction underscored to the suits "upstairs" that I was not airline material.

And so, they started on an aggressive campaign to presssure me to pack it in.

Unlike Slater, I played it cool - and hung in there - until my benefits kicked-in.

On that satisfing day - when I turned in my uniform, name badge, and signed out - I gave 'em the finger  as I strolled out the employment office with benefits, name and reputation intact, and positive work history to boot.

Stephen, you would have been wise to have done the same!

Footnote

In the wake of an effort to build a defense fund for Stephen Slater, fans of the New York resident locked heads to conjure up (imagine) ideas for humorous T-shirts.

One drummed up by Roger Ebert is a hoot.

T-Shirt front image::  "I may be under arrest..."

T-Shirt back image:    "But, got two free beers out of it..."

Also, on e-Bay, luggage tags underscore how many folks view Slater.

"Steve Slater: An American hero.'

In respect to the adventurous imaginative escape from Jet Blue, yes!

As to the abandonment of his post which left passengers open to potential danger, no!

You be the Judge.

Meanwhile, I expect that Stephen Slater will be invited to Obama's next beer summit, sans a nomination for a Citizen's Award, in view of the doom and gloom currently hovering over the rogue flight attendant today.

Ah, that hit the spot!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Sunrise Hospital...arrogant Dr.Emeka Iroha! Incompetent, untrained & unethical

There is nothing worse that arrogrant Doctor with a big ego.

And, when the practioner - like Dr. Emeka Iroha, for instance - is under the mistaken impression that they have a big swining di** between their legs (and a set of balls to match) patients can count on sloppy care and a lack of sound judgment to complicate and worsen their health to perilous levels.

When Managers at Sunrise Hospital elected to hire on Dr. Emeka Iroha, they must have been desperate, and scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Otherwise, why hire on an ego-driven MD, inclined to take out slights (justifiable on the part of the sick) on patients?

Iroha is not only incompetent, but insecure - and thus - in dire need of psychological counselling.

Notwithstanding the aforementioned, I'd like to note for the record - that in view of what I've witnessed - Iroha has no right taking charges under the unprofessional care provided.

For example, does a quick walk through a patient's room - without any pulse-taking, blood pressure assessment, or temperature check - constitute daily medical attention worthy of billing?

Heck no!

Even still, I expect that astronomical sums will be billed insurance carriers - and patients - as the good doctor laughs all the way to the bank.

Dr. Emeka Iroha represents all that is vitally wrong with the medical profession.

In my estimation, there's noting worse than some poorly-trained doctor (hailing from overseas) strutting the halls of American Hospitals under the silly notion - that because they managed to land a job here in the United States - they're a God, a self-annointed High Prieist of medicine.

Now, that's something that makes me sick!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Valley Hospital Medical Center...Dr. Vuthoori Srinivas negligence! Incompetent Nurses! Lousy medical care!

Rip Off Hospital in Vegas!

If you value your health, demand professional medical care when you're ill - and expect prompt attention to your needs in the hour of your health crisis (with a little compassion and empathy tossed in) ) - then cruise on past  the Valley Hospital Medical Center to another facility.

The errors start right off-the-bat when intake personnel incorrect input data (in one instance, a white male (moi) was described as an Asian woman), fail to properly document the ailments which prompted the emergency visit for urgent care (thus delaying a proper evaluation of the patient's needs) - and quite generally - screw up during the admitting process.

Patients may be left on gurneys in street clothes, without pillows for their heads and dying of thirst - for a hour or so - before they manage to catch the eye of a harried orderly scurrying by.

God forbid a Nurse should descend on the patient for a blood sample.
. 
In about two-seconds flat, the unskilled medical staff will be popping veins, or struggling to find one to draw blood from, and shortly thereafter be leaving  unsightly bruises on arms that make the patient look like a hard-core drug addict.

Once admitted, the schemers at the facility, try to fathom up how much money they can bilk out of the patient's insurance carrier.

For days, a parade of specialists will stream in and out of the patient's room - concurr about this 'n that - and then send off the patient on a wild goose chase in the bowels of the hospital for a series of dragonian tests that you wouldn't subject your beloved pet dog, too.

From the emergency room to the hospital bed, it becomes painfullly obvious to the troubled patient that they may have put their very lives into the hands of a posse of incompetent unintelligent boobs who may end up causing more harm than good (so unskilled and unqualified are these untrained workers).

In some instances, an unfortunate patient or two will be placed in the hands of a nefarious character - by the name of Dr. Vuthoori Srinivas - who imagines himself some high priest of the diabological world of the mysterious world of medicine.

Does he saunter into the hospital room at a reasonable hour - during decent business hours, for example - to address the concerns of the patient?

Hell no!

He slithers in after midnight looking like something the cat dragged in!

Talk about slimey!

After he's run a battery of tests, and charged the Insurance carrier to the hilt, he'll suddenly appear with one word for the perplexed (and disgruntled) patient.

"Adios!"

Uh-huh.

Without any warning, he slips into the patient's room out-of-the-blue, and informs them (without an ounce of compassion or understanding) that they're getting the boot!

In my instant case, I was an out-of-towner, and in need of advance warning to arrange for the trip back home to Los Angeles.

"The insurance carrier won't pay for it," he shrugged coldly, after having lining his pockets with the spoils of my insurance coverage.

Fortunately, a Nurse and orderly were not in accord, and expressed  their disdain at the very thought.

Reluctantly, the bastard relented. 

That piece of sh**.

So, my two little Angels watched over me overnight until my rescuers were able to release me from his evil clutches the following morning at the Valley Hospital Medical "Malpractice" Center.

Is this what we can expect when Obamacare goes into effect?

News at 11!

How much are we pulling in on this one, Doc?

http://www.julianayrs.com/

Cedars Sinai..violates Patient rights! Poor quality care! Incompetent staff.!

Now that the Heath Care Reform bill is about to be implemented in the future, I was thinking that I might start logging the quality of care and service at hospitals, to determine later in retrospect if  care and quality of service has improved.

There was a time when getting admitted to Cedars-Sinai meant something when it came to medical professionalism.

Unfortunately,Cedars Sinai represents greed and all that is wrong with the Health Care Industry, today.

For starters,  the nurses and orderlies and admitting staff haven't a clue about privacy issues.

When an individual stumbles into emergency, they are instructed to provide personal information with the clerk on duty right off-the-bat.

In spite of the fact there are usually quite a few patients (with family & friends in tow) in the lobby - and within earshot - the Cedars-Sinai employees display a total lack of sensitivity during the course of the medical probe.

Do you have diarrhea?

The patient understandably cringes.

In one instance, when a patient was miffed at having to share their medical history - with mothers, babies, a couple of Sheriffs, or everyone else in the room - he requested that he be able to provide the information in private.

Instead of showing any empathy - or responding with a modicum of professionalism - the check-in clerk shouted at the patient.

"I don't have any place to do that."

It should be noted that next to his station, there was a room walled in by glass.

"Can we got in there to go over my medical history," the uncomfortable patient asked.

In a huff, the snotty Cedar's employee turned on his heel - at which point - he instructed the patient to follow him into the room that was previously suggested.

Now, that wasn't so difficult, was it?

After a patient has filled in a cover sheet with pertinent informaion - such as name, address, social, and Insurance coverage - do the staff scramble to arrange for treatment?

No, of course not.

It is named - the Emergency Room - for good reason, Doctor.

Respond accordingly, please.

In contrast, staff presiding over the Insurance issues, jump into action right away to determine the extent of insurance benefits and eligilibity for a myriad of procedures so they can run a raft of tests to pad the bill.

In my experience, Cedars-Sinai appears to care little about the fact their patient is in pain.

In fact, according to my sources, sometimes they are left to languish in the emergency for eight or nine hours on end as overworked workers (some appear to be on speed) on double-shifts struggle to keep up.

One patiet expressed his anger that after going through the admitting prcocess -  and in spite of the fact all his paperwork was on file - a snotty woman (Suzanne) barged into his holding area and demanded to know "why" he had a particular kind of coverage.

Point blank, the patient told her it was none of her business.

I agree.

A staffer is entitled to take a copy of the insurance card - and send the papers on to be inputted into the system - but has no right to probe about the personal affairs of the patient.

Once a patient is ensconced in their hospital room the run-around starts.

If a patient turns on a TV, theyll be  directed to the Cedars Sinai home page, and greeted by the Director of the Cedars-Sinai.

The head of Cedars proceeds to pat himself on the back and hurl out a lot of superlatives about quality care and the professional staff at the expensive  medical facility.

Bull**it!

Shall I puke now?

Actions speak louder than words.

The problems at Cedars range from - snotty employees, to negligent acts, overbearing clingy nurses, incompetence, and arrogant doctors - to policies that frustrate (and in some cases starves the patient).

For example, when an individual is slated for a procedure such as a scan, the doctor issues an order that the patient be placed on a fast until the technicians have completed the test.

The problem with this?

Cedars staff don't book procedures based on a prepared scheduled - in fact - they kind-of wing it.

Here's the crux of it in a nutshell.

The staff book the procedure for a specific day but don't set an exact time for the appointment.

So, if the patient doesn't get in on the date in question, they are forced to return the next day to the procedure facility..

And who suffers?

The patient, of course.

Now the disgruntled individual is forced go into a second day without any food!

If  they don't die with the ailment they complained of when they checked into Emergency, they'll probably die of hunger instead.

Then, there is the question of hygiene and contamination.

This one is a shocker!

As a patient was waiting to go down for s procedure - by accident - the lunch that was supposed to be put "on hold" was delivered to the room.

One nurse set the tray on a counter by the bed and advised the patient that it would be there for him to gobble down when the procedure was carried out.

A short time later  a second nurse entered the room -  saw the food tray - and proceeded to pluck it up and set it down behind a curtain nearby.

Later, when the patient got up to go to relieve himself in  the bathroom, he spied the food tray on top of a garbage can near the hospital room entrance.

Duh!

Do you see anything wrong with this  picture?

Talk about incompetence, lack of knowledge, and unprofessional conduct.

Did it never occur to the bimbo that the placement of the tray on top of a trash bin  near the entrance to the hospital room would place the food at risk for contamination?

I wonder, did she ever figure out why hospital employees are constantly squirting alcohol on their hands,  as they enter and exit a room?

Hospitals are rife with nasty germs, that's why.

The food service at Cedars used to be top notch, too.

Now, when the tray arrives (if it ever does), items may be missing (did a staff member wolf down an item or two they scoffed from the tray surreptiously),  the food may be tasteless and cold of not what the patient ordered.

And, talk about sloppy handiwork.

I have 4 large nasty bruises on my arms because nurses weren't capable of properly drawing blood.

Do they hire these folks off the street?

Probably one of the most annoying experiences at Cedars-Sinai occurred when I was discussing medicine.

"Your doctor will decide what medicine you take," the arrogrant Physcian on duty  huffed.

Used to be, that in the olden days, patients treated Doctors like they were Gods.

Heaven forbid, a patient should question his advice, or go for a second opinion.

The Old Boys Network - the Medical Profession  - is difficult to shake.

I admit, a patient may cross paths in the hospital with a sweet outgoing professional nurse or doctor, or two.

For the most part, there is a lot of bad attitude hanging thick in the halls.

In closing I would like to point out that the Emergency Room staff - for starters - has no cooth.

In fact, the conduct I faced in the facility, was downright appalling!

As I was taken into an examination room, nurses & doctors began to drift in from their stations and make comments as they gawked at me from across the room.

"Do you know who that is," they whispered amongst themselves.

Am I not entitled to a little privacy when I am under the weather?

At Cedars-Sinai apparently not.

They don't know the meaning of the word.

http;//www.thetattler.biz

Michael Jackson...Dead! Collapsed at home & was not breathing! Helicoptered to UCLA medical center...

I popped the last morsel of a late lunch in my mouth, took a swig of the remains of my Coke, and headed out the door and across campus.

Suddenly, a helicopter buzzed overhead and made a beeline for the UCLA medical center, just down-a-ways a tad.

Excited students and members of the faculty gazed skyward as whispers filtered about the campus that inside Michael Jackson was struggling for his life.

According to a Los Angeles Times news-bite on the Internet minutes ago, Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Steve Ruda reported to the newspaper that Jackson was not breathing when paramedics arrived at his home so CPR was performed on the unconscious Pop Star.

Meanwhile, over at TMZ.com, Harvey Levin's team speculated that Mr. Jackson suffered cardiac arrest.

A family spokesperson noted that Mrs. Jackson is en route to the medical facility to be at her son's side.

Updates to follow hourly as details of Jackson's medical condition and prognosis filter in.

UPDATE: 3:23 pm (Thursday June 25th)

MSNBC has just reported that Michael Jackson has been pronounced dead at the age of 50!

UCLA State-of-the-Art Medical Center

http://www.julianayrs.com