This is record of events during Harold's stay at UT Health East Texas in Tyler. In general the staff was excellent, however response times could have caused serious issues if family hadn't been there to assist.
July 6th, 2021
10:00
Spent time with family and ready to go in.
12:30
Ended up receiving a quad bypass, they changed out trach and feeding bag connector for an unknown reason.
July 7th, 2021
03:00
11:00
Family able to visit
13:00
Harolds brother started a stop watch while he was chocking, 2 minutes 33 seconds for someone to arrive. Family spoke with nurse about issues he was having, not able to breath, the phlegm from intubation was suffocating him with the trach getting clogged and nurse ignored them.
This went on for several hours till respiratory therapy agreed he should not be in the furthest bed down the hall, the furethest from the nurses station possible and made steps to get him moved right in front of nurses station and to get an experienced nurse at shift change.
19:00
Long night but no major issues as staff was prompt and very assistive.
July 8th, 2021
07:50
No major issues last night
19:00
Different staff tonight, explained the trach, call button urgency and what to do.
July 9th, 2021
11:00
Nurse arrived within a few minutes and attempted to clean the trach but took over two hours to try and figure it out. Harold told her to get hot water, even go get some from a microwave and she said she wasn't supposed to use the microwave! It's apparent some staff are not as experienced but their should be other help they can get when they have a question / issue.
19:00
Long night but no major issues as staff was prompt and very assistive.
July 10th, 2021
08:00
No major issues last night.
13:00
No one returned to remove the mask just left it on when it was supposed to be 10 - 15 minutes, at 20 minutes took it off and someone came by 45 minutes later.
19:00
Got cleaned up, fresh bandages, trach band, clean socks.
July 11th, 2021
10:00
No major issues last night
19:00
family stayed, explained trach and urgency of not being able to breath on that call button. Nurse said "I've been a nurse a long time, I know what I'm doing, I've got it covered"
21:00
Called nurse and requested pain meds, he was eligible to receive them (it had been enough time)
22:13
Moved to bed, reinforced importance of response time on the call button and nurse again reassured "we got this"
July 12th, 2021
10:00
Same nurse that stressed she had been a nurse for a long time left him, ignored the call button and did not assist him for over 30 minutes. Harold's son spoke with hospital staff and had a new nurse assigned for this evening. Was informed he would be going home in two to three days.
19:00
fantastic Nurse, no issues.
July 13th, 2021
09:00
Originally set to be sent home but needed so much care that staff and doctors agreed he needed to be transferred to a swing bed.
13:00
Was told that would be a couple minutes but was getting transportation ready to take him to Pittsburg.
16:00
Was told that would be about 2 more hours
18:30
Was told could be another hour but it will be soon
21:30
At least two more hours before he would leave for the 1 1/2 trip to the facility