Another E.R. Visit

10:28AM: I am writing today from the Multi-Care Emergency Room on North Division. It’s way up north and I chose it because I was hoping it would have a low patient volume. There are not a lot of people in front of me but it remains to be seen how long this takes.

I’m here because my PICC line is not aspirating properly. Last week, when the nurse came to change my dressing, she will normally inject a little saline sauce into the line and then try to pull out on the plunger until she sees blood. Then she shoots the rest of the saline into the picc line and all is well.

I’ve gone two weeks now with no blood return. So, they say I need a TPA. It’s a procedure where they shoot something into the line and let it sit for about 20 minutes while it dissolves whatever clot or blockage is preventing the blood return.

I’ve had it done once before several months ago and they just came to the house.

They have since discovered that Medicare will not pay for the procedure in a home setting. It must be done in a clinic.

In talking to the Providence Infusion people, they do not have a clinic setting set up for such a procedure. They told me that any Emergency Room could do it.

The last time I went to an E.R., I waited for se7en hours only to be told to go see a Dermatologist.

As I said, I picked this facility because Deb, the Infusion Nurse, told me they do not get huge numbers and it might be quicker here.

So, here I am. It’s been about half an hour since I walked through the door. I have checked in, been to triage and explained my problem, and now I am sitting in the comfortably appointed waiting room with four other people sitting here. I like those numbers.

Stand by!

11:10AM: I’ve just been called in. Let’s see what happens.

11:16 AM: I came in, took a seat and explained the sitch to the nurse. She asked if they had me raise my arm. I said they did not. She got a saline flush, pushed in, pulled out and got no blood. She had me raise my arm, she pulled out and we got red stuff.

Now I’m sitting here waiting for the Doctor to give me his blessing. This turned out to be easy.

11:40AM: It took the Doctor a while to get to me but when he got there, he looked at me, asked a few questions, listened to my chest and sent me on my way. I’ll be using that facility again.