Comments on: What’s Up, Cedars-Sinai? http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2007/04/04/whats-up-cedars-sinai/ Neil Kramer is a writer in Los Angeles (well, New York now). Citizen of the Month is his blog. Make yourself at home. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:01:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: It's Me... Maven http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2007/04/04/whats-up-cedars-sinai/#comment-189212 It's Me... Maven Sun, 08 Apr 2007 01:53:17 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2007/04/04/whats-up-cedars-sinai/#comment-189212 Get well wishes to Fanya... and I hope someone out there from Cedars-Sinai learns about this, and hopefully does something to remedy this. Get well wishes to Fanya… and I hope someone out there from Cedars-Sinai learns about this, and hopefully does something to remedy this.

]]> By: mrsmogul http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2007/04/04/whats-up-cedars-sinai/#comment-189136 mrsmogul Sat, 07 Apr 2007 18:52:27 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2007/04/04/whats-up-cedars-sinai/#comment-189136 This makes the British Health Care System seem fab! Anyway, did you hear the stars usually rent the whole top floor of the labor room, (like Britney Spears) and get away with having an entourage? This makes the British Health Care System seem fab! Anyway, did you hear the stars usually rent the whole top floor of the labor room, (like Britney Spears) and get away with having an entourage?

]]> By: [MetrobloggingLA] Sweating Bullets... http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2007/04/04/whats-up-cedars-sinai/#comment-188336 [MetrobloggingLA] Sweating Bullets... Thu, 05 Apr 2007 16:29:01 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2007/04/04/whats-up-cedars-sinai/#comment-188336 Neil at Citizen of the Month discovers the "world class" patient care at Cedars Sinai is more third world class if you don't speak English. (in all fairness, I think this has less to do with language barrier than the size of your pocketbook). Neil at Citizen of the Month discovers the “world class” patient care at Cedars Sinai is more third world class if you don’t speak English. (in all fairness, I think this has less to do with language barrier than the size of your pocketbook).

]]> By: Miss Syl http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2007/04/04/whats-up-cedars-sinai/#comment-188113 Miss Syl Thu, 05 Apr 2007 04:44:43 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2007/04/04/whats-up-cedars-sinai/#comment-188113 What a nightmare that hospital sounds like! Sophia, my best wishes for your mom's speedy recovery. I'm thinking of you and your family. What a nightmare that hospital sounds like!

Sophia, my best wishes for your mom’s speedy recovery. I’m thinking of you and your family.

]]> By: sbukophile http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2007/04/04/whats-up-cedars-sinai/#comment-188111 sbukophile Thu, 05 Apr 2007 04:24:25 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2007/04/04/whats-up-cedars-sinai/#comment-188111 I hope all goes well for Fanya! Unfortunately, I don't think it's just a language barrier problem. My 90-year old grandmother was taken to the hospital a couple years ago, transferred to a different one, we were all waiting in the ER with her (for hours) and I asked the nurses if she could have something to drink or an IV, because she hadn't had any food or liquids for about 8-hours. They told me her room was almost ready, they'd put an IV in then. A few hours later, they took her up to the room. Everyone said I could leave. I stayed because she still didn't have an IV. A few hours later they finally came and gave her an IV. It was more than 12-hours since she'd had food or liquids in her body. I thought it was appalling and could only imagine if I had not been there bugging them about it! I think it's important to make sure friends/family are there as often as possible to be advocates for anyone unable to be their own. I'm so sorry you are all going through this! I hope all goes well for Fanya!

Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s just a language barrier problem. My 90-year old grandmother was taken to the hospital a couple years ago, transferred to a different one, we were all waiting in the ER with her (for hours) and I asked the nurses if she could have something to drink or an IV, because she hadn’t had any food or liquids for about 8-hours. They told me her room was almost ready, they’d put an IV in then. A few hours later, they took her up to the room. Everyone said I could leave. I stayed because she still didn’t have an IV. A few hours later they finally came and gave her an IV. It was more than 12-hours since she’d had food or liquids in her body. I thought it was appalling and could only imagine if I had not been there bugging them about it! I think it’s important to make sure friends/family are there as often as possible to be advocates for anyone unable to be their own.

I’m so sorry you are all going through this!

]]> By: Lisa http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2007/04/04/whats-up-cedars-sinai/#comment-188108 Lisa Thu, 05 Apr 2007 03:57:53 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2007/04/04/whats-up-cedars-sinai/#comment-188108 Oh, I'm so sorry. That's so scary. And then made worse for her by the communication barrier. You and your family and Fanya especially are in my thoughts. I hope she recovers quickly. Oh, I’m so sorry. That’s so scary. And then made worse for her by the communication barrier. You and your family and Fanya especially are in my thoughts. I hope she recovers quickly.

]]> By: Not Faint Hearted http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2007/04/04/whats-up-cedars-sinai/#comment-188087 Not Faint Hearted Thu, 05 Apr 2007 02:54:08 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2007/04/04/whats-up-cedars-sinai/#comment-188087 Everyone has given great advice about keeping the pressure on the charge nurses, the patient advocates and PR department if necessary. They may also have someone called a "Care Coordinator" who could help with this. In the meantime, keep the records and take care of each other. My prayers are with you all and for Fanya's speedy recovery. Everyone has given great advice about keeping the pressure on the charge nurses, the patient advocates and PR department if necessary. They may also have someone called a “Care Coordinator” who could help with this. In the meantime, keep the records and take care of each other.
My prayers are with you all and for Fanya’s speedy recovery.

]]> By: Two Roads http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2007/04/04/whats-up-cedars-sinai/#comment-188082 Two Roads Thu, 05 Apr 2007 02:05:39 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2007/04/04/whats-up-cedars-sinai/#comment-188082 Wishes for a speedy recovery for Fanya. Wishes for a speedy recovery for Fanya.

]]> By: Pearl http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2007/04/04/whats-up-cedars-sinai/#comment-188081 Pearl Thu, 05 Apr 2007 02:02:15 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2007/04/04/whats-up-cedars-sinai/#comment-188081 Neil, "refuah shlema/speedy recovery" to Sophia's mom; hope all goes well. My father was recently in a Toronto hospital for 3 months; I noticed postings in central hall locations of staff members who speak other languages and are available for interpretation. These are not formal interpreters, just people with a common language. Lobby with the hospital administration that they should do something similar at least. It is pretty pathetic with the language barriers. My father was rooming in the hospital at different times with Russian speakers -- my father does speak Russian and sometimes played the interpreter when he was cognitive enough to do so. Otherwise what did the nurses do? They spoke LOUDER in English to the Russian speaker, as if that would make a difference...or they simply ignored their calls! Some commenter mentioned getting a celebrity with Russian ancestry to lobby for such intrepreters at the hospital -- who knows KIRK DOUGLAS? His parents were Russian immigrants to the U.S. He's used the hospital's services, no doubt, with his strokes; he's got some loose pocket change, no doubt. Get on the phone to him! You can do it, Neilochka. And if not you, your feisty maiden Sophia certainly can!!! Good luck. Neil, “refuah shlema/speedy recovery” to Sophia’s mom; hope all goes well.

My father was recently in a Toronto hospital for 3 months; I noticed postings in central hall locations of staff members who speak other languages and are available for interpretation. These are not formal interpreters, just people with a common language.

Lobby with the hospital administration that they should do something similar at least.

It is pretty pathetic with the language barriers. My father was rooming in the hospital at different times with Russian speakers — my father does speak Russian and sometimes played the interpreter when he was cognitive enough to do so. Otherwise what did the nurses do? They spoke LOUDER in English to the Russian speaker, as if that would make a difference…or they simply ignored their calls!

Some commenter mentioned getting a celebrity with Russian ancestry to lobby for such intrepreters at the hospital — who knows KIRK DOUGLAS? His parents were Russian immigrants to the U.S. He’s used the hospital’s services, no doubt, with his strokes; he’s got some loose pocket change, no doubt. Get on the phone to him!

You can do it, Neilochka. And if not you, your feisty maiden Sophia certainly can!!! Good luck.

]]> By: steppingoverthejunk http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2007/04/04/whats-up-cedars-sinai/#comment-188076 steppingoverthejunk Thu, 05 Apr 2007 01:31:15 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2007/04/04/whats-up-cedars-sinai/#comment-188076 people are stupid. How sorry that is that it is such a mess there, a world known hospital. I know many folks who have gone through there, my grandfather died there. It is strange to think they can't figure out all the needs aside from a big new renovation to make it a place that saves people and doesn't make stupid mistakes. Okay, that was a total ramble, but you catch my drift. people are stupid. How sorry that is that it is such a mess there, a world known hospital. I know many folks who have gone through there, my grandfather died there. It is strange to think they can’t figure out all the needs aside from a big new renovation to make it a place that saves people and doesn’t make stupid mistakes. Okay, that was a total ramble, but you catch my drift.

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