redbird | Letter from the hospital (Reply)

I just spent a few minutes filling out a survey on what I thought of my hospital care. I told them I was mostly pleased, with specifics: for example, that the person who drew my blood was reasonably skilled and very polite and considerate. I also took the opportunity to mention the time I had to ask the night nurses to close my door so I could sleep through their loud chat; the one nurse who was quite demanding that I acknowledge her in the terms she felt appropriate after she had awakened me for no other reason; and that lukewarm water plus a teabag does not equal tea. Also that the OR staff were particularly good at explanations of both procedures and delays. I think my most serious complaint was about the discharge nurse, which I've posted about here: that she was too focused on "everyone should eat a lowfat diet with more fish" to give me information specific to my condition, even in terms of "standard post-gall-bladder-removal instructions." (I wouldn't really expect specifics based on my vital signs.) I'm glad to have given them some potentially useful information. I left a few questions blank (they said to skip those that don't apply), including whether they'd cared for my spiritual needs (since there was no space for "no, because I didn't have any") and how I would rate the cheerfulness of the hospital.

When I saw the return address on the envelope, my first thought was that it was a bill, for the emergency room copayment if nothing else. (I had expected to be asked for that amount when I was admitted, since my insurance card says how much it should be.) As an incentive to return the surveys, they say that one person a week who does so will win a $200 Amex gift check.