Merry Flu Christmas

Merry Flu Christmas!  Sean woke up throwing up and with a high fever on Monday night. He had a cough and was miserable. I had to work. Don stayed home with him and I took him to Bountiful Kids Care after work. The letters below tell the story of that experience. David Jensen arranged for me to get him into his regular doctor on Christmas Eve. He had a positive flu screen for the A strain AKA H1N1. The amazing thing is he was so much better. He was playing Mario Kart 8 with AJ. I got the prescription for steroids and she thought it best that we start him on Tamiflu. I wanted to cry when she said he had flu. Don and Phoebe were sick too so I figured they had flu too. She said since he was so much better she thought it was OK for us to fly to Orlando the next day.

Dear Carol,

Thank you for your email. I am so sorry for your experience in our Bountiful KidsCare and with Dr. Galian. I have sent your concerns for review and will get back to you when we have had a chance to investigate. I see that Sean was seen by his Pediatrician the next day, and that he received medications as needed. Having a sick child during the holidays is very stressful and I hope that he gets feeling better soon.

I will get back to you as soon as I have had your concerns reviewed. Due to the holidays, there may be a delay.

Please don’t hesitate to call me at the number or email below.

Sincerely,

 

Robyn Kingery, RN

Patient Relations/Risk Management

Intermountain Medical Group/Central Office

Office 801-442-3971

Fax 801-442-0423 / robyn.kingery@imail.org

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From: ccCNA - Carol Lindsay [mailto:carol@cccna.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2014 10:35 PM
To: Robyn Kingery; David Jensen
Subject: Kids Care visit

 

 

Concerns involving my son’s visit to Bountiful Kids Care on December 23, 2014 at 7:30.

 

I took my son to Bountiful Kids Care December 23, 2014 after work. My son had been vomiting and had a fever as high as 104.6 since the night before. I went to Kids Care because my son’s pediatrician Dr.  Shakib was not in the office today.  I was under the mistaken impression that being seen at an Intermountain after hour’s clinic would provide a level of continuity of care with my son’s intermountain pediatrician.

We saw Dr. Jack Gallan (or something close to that he never actually introduced himself). The doctor asked what was going on and I told him about the fever, vomiting and that Sean had a cough. I then made the mistake of saying I would like a refill of prednisone for Sean’s asthma because we were leaving on a trip. Apparently I said the wrong thing. The doctor told me he did not write prescriptions for maintenance meds but only for meds to treat an acute condition that he witnessed and that he would be putting his license on the line if he wrote a prescription for prednisone and it would be wrong of me to ask him to do so. I said OK, fine. He then said he would listen to Sean’s lungs which he did and declared them clear. “He doesn’t have asthma” he said. He didn’t ask me if Sean has been wheezing earlier or how many times I had given him albuterol in the past 12 hours. He just declared his lungs clear. I told him Sean had illness induced asthma and he basically told me there was no such thing. OK fine! Apparently the doctors at PCMC and the pulmonologist are wrong when they tell me my child has illness induced asthma. 

 

He then proceeded to lecture me about how Kids Care has no relationship with the pediatricians at Intermountain clinic and that if I wanted a maintenance prescription I should wait until Kids Care closes and call the doctor on call or PCMC. In the words of Frozen, “Let it GO!” I got it he wasn’t going to write a prescription for prednisone. I asked he said no, I let it go but the doctor would not. I wanted to move on to a diagnosis.

In an attempt to give him some context in to Sean’s health, (or as some of us in the healthcare industry call it a health history) I said that Sean has several hospitalizations the most recent being in September.  I said that Sean was immunocompromised in that he had no IgA. He said “well if he really is immunocompromised he should NEVER have steroids.” For the love of all that’s holy man LET IT GO! Now I’m getting angry. IF my son is immunocompromised?  There is no IF involved check his lab. I told him to look at Sean’s chart on the computer. I half assumed he had since he asked me NO questions about my son’s medical history. He asked what his diagnosis were when he was admitted and I said pneumonia and asthma. He didn’t ask any more questions about Sean. Honestly, I don’t think he asked anything about Sean after I showed my total lack of medical understanding when I made the gross error of asking for steroids.

 

I asked if he thought Sean could have the flu and he said he doubted it but he could do a nasal swab to check. He said he thought it was just a “stomach bug.” Nice diagnosis since he didn’t even feel his stomach. Heck, maybe Sean had a ruptured appendix but how would he know, he didn’t examine any part of him other than to listen to his lungs. I said I wanted the swab because if Sean did by chance have flu he should have Tamiflu because of his immune issues. Now the doctor proceeded to lecture me about Tamiflu being the only medicine to treat viruses and if they gave it to all kids then they wouldn’t have it for ones who really need it. At this point I tell him to quit being condescending. I have a Master’s degree in nursing and I know about viruses, bacteria and drug resistance.  I should have told him I also know how to do a physical assessment and obtain a physical background but I didn’t bother because I knew he had already determined I was a drug seeking mother looking to score some prednisone.

 

I respect a doctor’s stance that he won’t write a prescription for a maintenance medication for a symptom he doesn’t see. What I don’t respect is a doctor who doesn’t perform a reasonable physical assessment or take a reasonable health history is condescending and wastes my time and money.

 

I am very unhappy with the quality of care my son received at this visit.

 

Thank you,

 

 

 

Carol Lindsay MSN, RN

Medicine in a spoon!

Sean looked at this picture and laughed..."medicine in a spoon, that's so silly." Medicine in a spoon ranks up there with ipecac, aspirin for children, home phones, dial up and dinosaurs. Sean asked me if they had color pictures when I was his age. As a matter of fact they did not!

Getting our Utah on

We went to temple square to see the lights. It was a Sunday night so I thought it wouldn't be too crazy. The tabernacle choir was performing and the General Authorities were giving talks so it was packed. They were getting ready for a concert in the chapel. We didn't stay. I needed to get home and get Mom her ice cream cone.

We went in the old tabernacle. Sean wanted to go in the "castle" and wasn't pleased when I told him we weren't allowed. 

The lights were pretty. Sean doesn't look to thrilled about our little field trip.

Happy Birthday AJ

Yes, the singing is all about her and why wouldn't it be. She blew out some of the candles. That face is so cute!

We went out to dinner for AJ's birthday and then came home for cake and ice cream. That's about as fancy as we get.

Another cute face. I swear Sean grew at school. When I got home from work he seemed bigger.

OK, so this hat is not really a good look for her. Someone gave it to Sean at his birthday party. I thought maybe Khloe could pull it off but even she wasn't rocking it.

Science Class

As he was getting ready for bed Sean was telling me about his day . It went something like this: Sean, "today in science I touched a pig's heart. It felt like muscle but it was squishy. It almost made me throw up. The throw up came all the way up to here (he points to the top of his neck)." Me: "Did the way it felt make you sick?" Sean, "no, it was the smell." Me, "hm." Sean, "I wonder what would have happened if I had picked up the heart and sang 'Rock a bye baby'." (At this point he is making sweeping rocking movements.) Me, "Did you want to pick the heart up and sing?" Sean, "no, I just wonder what would have happened if I did." 
If he had picked up that pigs heart and started singing I would hope someone would have the good fortune to capture it in a video so I could watch it over and over.

Lovely oh Lovely

Lovely, you've been with me since I was a wee little baby. You were bright and fuzzy, I was little and fuzzy.

My first trip to a ski resort and you kept me warm.

When I was miserable and sick with hand, foot, mouth disease you comforted me.

When I needed a soft place to lay my head you were always there.

My first trip on an airplane and you came too. It was the first of many trips we took to Illinois.

Sometimes I'm just adorable with my favorite blanket Lovely.

Went I went on a cruise you came too.

Our first trip out of the country. Hanging out on the beach in Mexico.

At a Walmart in Mexico

Catching a nap on a plane

On our way to Catalina Island.

Sick and miserable at Disney Land. I didn't care about Goofy but I did care about my blanket.

                                                  

                                               Long drives in the car are much better with Lovely.

Hanging out with Alika and Lovely.

                                          

                                             My sisters having a sleep over with me and Lovely

In Idaho at Lava Hot Springs. Hey Alika you are lying on Lovely!

                                              

                                                        Indoor camping with Lovely.

Headed down a crocodile infested river in Costa Rica.

Trying to keep Lovely dry on the Salt Flats

Holy crap Batman I broke my arm and I am not happy. As always Lovely is there offering support. In this case supporting my arm.


On a tour bus headed towards the Grand Canyon.

Sick and in the hospital and you were with me every minute. Well, except for the hour you were in the washer and dryer after I threw up on you.

Got my bottle, my parents and my blanket. Everything will be OK.

I've got my PICC line and Lovely. Oh and some candy and a bottle too.

Another sleep over.

Headed to China with my freshly patched Lovely.

Sleeping on the floor with my sisters and a bunch of blankets.

I went to Iceland. Here I am hanging out with my blanket and my lap top. Lovely has spent a lot of time in hotel rooms.

Sometimes I share Lovely with my niece, Khloe.

Kylie next to me, Brie and Lovely on top of me.

Under the mosquito netting in Kenya Africa.  

Lovely and I have some serious jet lag. Lovely also has some serious patches due to holes. At night mom and I make up stories about magical Lovely. Lovely flies us all over the world and can grant wishes. I said I wish Lovely could heal all her holes with her original fabric. The patches don't feel as good as the real fabric. Sad:( but I know Lovely is still underneath.

Another hospital admission for pneumonia. As always Lovely kept me company.

I know it's hard to tell but that's Lovely I am holding, Lovely is more blue than polka dotted. There are just a few original spots showing and those have holes in them. I still love Lovely and sleep with him every night.

Visiting Santa

I was at work so I missed the festivities but Don, Phoebe, Sean, Jake, AJ, Steph and Khloe all went to the tree lighting ceremony at the Centerville park. This year Santa sat inside of city hall instead of in the park. It's nice for the kids not to have to wait outside in the cold. Khloe doesn't look to sure about the fat man.

Sean's decided maybe he believes in Santa. He's convinced that the elf on the shelf in his classroom winked at him.

Gingerbread house

We did gingerbread houses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving which is early but I wanted to do it while the girls were visiting. Lynn and Wendy and the twins came. There was no family drama this year. Emma played with Rory.

Khloe got into the festivities.

Tyson and Jameson

John and Julie came with their kids. I appreciated the effort it took to drive an hour two times in one week with a 3 week old baby. Their girls had a good time as did Catherine's boys.

Khloe and Caleb playing the piano. Caleb took a truck and ran it up and down the keyboard. Sounded cool but was totally cheating.

Larissa and her house.

Don and Caleb

Catherine and Sarah.

Khloe and Caleb undecorated the tree.

Harrison with Sarah. Harrison was so grown up and pleasant the entire evening.

The only downside to the evening was Kylie. She ate two bowls of chili and I have no idea how much candy. She complained that her stomach hurt. I told her to lay down for awhile. The kids watched a movie and she said she felt better. Initially they wanted to sleep downstairs in the game room so I put up the blow up mattress. After the movie they wanted to go upstairs. Kylie decided she felt better and ate a bunch of strawberries. About 11 she is in the hallway yelling "grandmaaaaaaaaaaa I'm sick." I said "RUN KYLIE!" She made it to the bathroom before she barfed two bowls of chili, a bunch of strawberries and candy. She felt better after that but wanted to call her mom. Lanette told her she would come pick her up but she didn't want to go home she just wanted her to know she was sick. The kids did so great there was no drama. Usually Kylie gets her feelings hurt at some point but not this time.