Talk about fun

Yesterday I got to make a phone call to Parkland that was probably one of the most satisfying one's I've ever made. Some outside funding has become available to give to Parkland and I pitched my idea to Bruce. First, though, I had to find out if we could earmark the funds for a specific area. Being a veteran of hospital budgeting and knowing all to well what can happen with department wish lists, I got r-e-a-l specific about what we wanted to do with the money. Sort of Deal or No Deal, without the briefcases.
All too often it's the sexy, flashy, or big income producing departments that get all the dough. Well, yes, they do need to remain competitive with other hospitals but the meat and potatoes departments continually take it on the chin, over and over again, and the staff morale plummets. And it doesn't just go down--it stays down. When you don't have what you need each day, to do your job in a way that makes you feel proud of the job you are doing, it's just a daily whippin'.

That said, 8 East at Parkland is about to hit the jackpot. It's the Physical Rehab floor in the "old" building where Brian was transferred when he was ready to start PT and OT. Oh, Lordy....can you say depressing, old, and dark?? How about skanky?? And the pipes rattle when you turn on the water. We are talking o-l-d. Having just come from 7N, part of the "new" building, the difference was startling. Yes, a brand new Parkland is in the works but that's 5 years away and when we were there, this floor didn't even have a working ice machine for patient use. One was requisitioned but let's get real here. If the money's not available, you aren't getting an ice machine and who does that directly impact? Patients. Staff was schlepping ice in biohazard bags from another department, and throwing them in their freezer, for patient use. Eeeeeewwww. Not exactly hygienic, folks. And when staff gets tired of schlepping for that day, or is too busy, guess who gets no ice? Patients.

I can hardly wait to see 8 East's wish list. I was specific that I wanted Mona Frazier, Nurse Manager of 8 East, and the staff, to create the list. Not Mona's boss, not her boss's boss--the actual staff who works that floor. Nobody knows better than they do, exactly what they need to do their job, and what would make their job easier each day. Hello, increased job satisfaction. Hello, decreased staff attrition from 8 East. And the trickle down here is that guess who also benefits?? The patients. And isn't that who we were really trying to impact anyway?
Wooo hoooo!. Christmas in October. It just doesn't get any better than this.