Disclaimer: All persons, places and things in this document are imaginary; any resemblance to actual persons, places or things is purely coincidental.
The Madhouse needs a little fresh air, so I'm opening the door!
I work at the State Madhouse and have just been "counseled" for the second time about going outside the system when trying to help patients. This time, the "counseling" was very stern...and contained a warning that if I kept up this unacceptable behavior, I might even be terminated. My stupidvisor insisted that I must tell her everything if I experience any further impulses to help patients. And, in the interests of cooperation, and hoping against hope to avoid termination, I figured I'd write down all such impulses here and make them available. This way, not only my supervisor, but also my co workers, her co-workers, the families of patients, the funding authorities, the regulatory agencies, President Bush...everyone...will be advised if I should have an impulse to help a patient in an "outside the system" way. Complete transparency, that's my goal. Absolute cooperation with the powers that be. Fresh Air for All!!
Allright.
So my plan is to write up a little synopsis of each shift I work there, being very careful to protect all identies and thus to conform absolutely to the fabulous new, helpful HPPA law. Here's the first shift since my "counseling".
Childrens Unit: Evenings, Saturday.
I haven't been on this unit since the big freeze when the pipes in the ceiling burst, flooding the entire unit, I'm told, with several inches of water, about six weeks ago. When I open the door to the unit's kitchen, I smell mold....the cupboards are open, empty, torn up, piled up...this is clearly not where the children's food is kept any longer. Team staff tell me they're making do with the staff fridge. The carpet has not been taken up since the flooding. I'm told that at the time an unpleasant goo dripped from the vents. Apparently years ago when the building was treated for its asbestos, the cure was to pour glue onto the asbestos in the ceiling, which would keep it from blowing around, etc....and this now dripping goo was the disolved glue, asbestos combo according to gossip, underwritten by somebody in the construction trades who asserted that, yes, indeed, if you soaked glued asbestos with water, it would dissolve as described.
So now we have, perhaps, an unfortunate mixture of mold, asbestos and children. A state supported combination. Facilities Management has apparently assured everyone that it's completely safe.
One employee, at least, has a doctors order to avoid the unit for health reasons.
The children, as ususal, are a pleasure. One tiny little girl plays the drums at the resource center with complete abandon, stretching her legs to reach the peddle on the big drum, pounding the symbols, making wonderful noise; I play pool with an 8 year old, just my speed. Then we walk back to the unit for dinner...and therapy...
We'll teach them how to cope with their mental illnesses...I hope to god we're not giving them some physical ones while we do it. I confess to an impulse to call OSHA or the health department.
Tomorrow: the Assaultive, Dangerous Unit!
Best regards,
Gaddefly
10 comments:
Oh... My... God!
If even half of this is ture the health of these poor people, these childern is in severe danger. Why is it that no one is taking action to help clean things up?
Why was that man's pain not treated? His depression not addressed?
And more to the point, if you are being "Counseled" to not help the clients what is the point to having the "Hospital", as I assume this is, in the first place!
Shut it down, burn it and open one that is safe and ran by people that care!
What is the "MadHouse" "profession" coming to? Shameful.
The sad sad truth is that this is all true. Every word. I have had the advantage of seening this hospital with my own eyes and I can tell you it is a horror! Why does this happen... not because theres no money, if we cared we could find some, but more because the people who live here are of no value to anyone in the "real" world. If they don't have a powerful story that hollywood can tell on the silver screen no one cares. Well, I know one who dose care, however he/she may soon be swept away as easily as the people he/she is trying to save. When that day comes you won't blink... your life will go on, unchanged. Just hope that you never crack under the stress of the "real" world and find yourself in this hospital, becuase you may find we all forget about you, just as we forgot about them.
Such a great nation, such great care we take of the sick. The Comments above are so true and it all comes down to the mighty dollor. If it were the childern or loved ones of the those in power would they be so quickly forgoten?
To madhouse, Could it be that the staff has begun to feel like Prison Guards and there is No Therapy going on ,just team leaders and head nurses[ who have a NAZI MINDSET ] WHO ONLY CARE ABOUT EATING[ MOST WEIGH ON THE AVERAGE 250 PLUS ] AND CAN ONLY ORDER LINE STAFF TO PUNISH AND SNOOP INTO STAFFS PERSONAL LIFES.It is clear to me there is no theraputic relationship with the clients.
THIS IS NOT WHAT MENTAL HEALTH SEVICES IS SUPPOSE TO BE LIKE. Lets contact the govenor, media, health dept, anyone to STOP THIS abuse from happening. the 300 pound head nurses should be placed in seclusion for 30 days and be treated the same as they have treated clients. An unbias outside agency should INVESTAGATE THIS ACTS OF TORTURE AND THE GUILTY PARTIES BE IN PRISON.
The bottom line is that more funds need to be allotted for Mental Health Services to even begin to meet the needs of the "consumers" of our community. Our clients are victims of these strange, mysterious illnesses and sometimes afflictions known as Mental Illness that public attitude and apparently government to this day foster shame, concealment and ignorance. As well as prejudice. It's time for the powers that be, including us day to day people, to step up and provide enough funding for humane therapy, adequate housing, safe environment (meaning staff and/or patient doesn't have to worry about getting assaulted). It's time to unite and no longer tolerate the abuse of our client AND staff.
This is to Annoys # which-ever that implied all head nurses had punitive "Nazi mindset" with big butts or whatever. Your work experience must be very limited. Our head nurse is absolutely concerned about the treatment of the clients on our team as well as the welfare of all her staff. ALSO NOTE, apparently of personal interest to you, she is trim. There are many, many of us concerned about the plight of the mentally ill. It doesn't stop here. But maybe we can start it. -cricket
I must say that I believe the staff that work with the Children are doing everything they can to continue their work under disastrous circumstances. Much juggling going on as they carry on in a construction zone-like atmosphere. I'm told that some of the "suits" walked through the unit and when structural damages were pointed out that need fixing, one of them kept saying, "That'll pass code. That'll pass code". Is that is only interest? Wonder if he'd allow his child to live like that or his spouse to work in a "sick building"? Some of the children are being forced to sleep in "QA" which is a place designated for bad behavior. Clients are usually sent to "quiet area" when they need space to calm, act out or whatever. It is never intended to be their "safe place" which is what their bedrooms are for. Come on FACILITIES step up. Do the moral thing instead of considering your budget first.
I'm late jumping into this since I just figured out that I could "comment" as well as "blog"...egad, it's hard to keep up, really.
Anyhow, thanks to all of you who are writing and talking about your experiences in this place. It really helps, I think, to talk about it with one another..and we're pretty separated while at work, with little time to get perspective or support.
I'm loving this blogging thing..hope you are, too.
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