December 28 update

Just a short message tonight since I have to get up bright and early tomorrow.

Su was accepted by Stuart Circle in Richmond today!!!! She transfers tomorrow morning bright and early at 0800; which I am sure will piss her off to no end, she has never been a 'morning person'.

The evaluator came down this morning and went through her record and I could tell she wasn't too happy with the picture based on what was written. Then she stood in the doorway and watched as the PT staff and I did a PT session with her. Su was outstanding...she did things today that she hadn't been able to do before. Based on the therapy session the evaluator called the admissions doctor and convinced him that they should take her. In this case a picture was worth much more than a thousand words.

Stuart Circle has an excellent rep as a sub-acute facility and since they don't have an acute program they work with other acute facilities when the patient is eligible for transfer. In fact they have worked with Riverside (here in Newport News where we want her to go) on a number of past cases so the lines of communication are already established. Making the eventual transfer that much easier to effect.

I will follow her up tomorrow and get her settled in and talk to the staff. In about two weeks, to give the staff time to get to know her and evaluate her, we will have the first weekly team conference. Everyone involved in her case from the doctors, different therapy staff, nurses and family sit down and go over her progress for the proceeding week. Goals are set and evaluated. Any questions that come up can be answered right away since everyone is there, no more chasing down a particular doctor to find out something. All in all, from the briefing I got today I think Su will do very well there and they will help Su on the road to recovery.

Once I figure out what room (all of them are private so that was another plus) she will be in I will let you all know, along with directions to the hospital. From my house it is about 20 miles further than to Norfolk General but it is all open road so the travel time is about the same. I have already received offers from several people in the area for a place to stay if the weather turns bad while I am up there.

All in all a very good day.

lawrence