When DH#2 was in the hospital so much he had me go to the records office every day to get copies of his chart to read. We'd read all the nurse notes every day. They would make note of all kinds of stuff. They mentioned how the patient's wife stayed there overnight (they had a cot for me) and mention us cuddling. They would mention if he was agitated after a particular family member visited. Above and beyond all the medical stuff that the doctors don't tell you because they don't think you are smart enough to grasp it all, the random comments were endlessly fascinating. And even though they knew we got copies, still wrote all that stuff.

The ER notes how clean you are when you show up. Even at my ickiest they've never actually marked me down. I imagine when they see scuzzy, it's really scuzzy.

It always amuses us when we see page after page of notes with 'pleasant' patients then hit one that apparently wasn't.

Oh yeah, I love reading about the "pleasant" patients. This "well-dressed" patient was later also described as "reasonably well-appearing." Also, her social history includes the fact that she's a fourth-grade teacher (I guess because she could catch stuff from little kids?).

The only one that I can remember now is a sticky that reads - Fax to P. Enis. Yes, my staff is 12.

Ha!

That's comforting, ita.

Since my job is reading an reviewing medical records I've seen all that and more! And yes, what the others said about well dressed, it can be a sign the patient isn't able to care for themselves in a cancer case, for instance. Or dementia, or whatever. Can be as simple as "should the doc suggest a social worker referral for extra available services" not "omg, you are filthy! Clearly you're crazy!"

my current favorite is the baby whose medical problem list includes "big head". But then goes on to note that both mom and dad also have big heads. I picture Charlie brown.

flea and Kiba, thanks for the advice and lovely words. I will look into the volunteering thing and maybe talk to someone at SILS.

I had rice pudding for dinner tonight. This is becoming a frequent occurrance.

But then goes on to note that both mom and dad also have big heads. I picture Charlie brown.

I picture the Bigheads from Rocko's Modern Life.

But then how would you define Orthodox? By observance, or by what synagogue they belonged to, or something else?

Here's how the Hasmonean does it: [link]

Bet Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks wishes he just recognized progressive conversion, now.

Here's how the Hasmonean does it:

So, keeping kosher and "active participation" in an Orthodox synagogue.

There were a bunch of kids who went to the same Conservative synagogue I went to as a kid who went to an Orthodox school. I'm not sure if that's relevant to anything, but it didn't seem odd at the time. But there weren't any Conservative schools in the area then -- if you wanted a Jewish school, your only option was Orthodox.

Bodies are fucking weird. I seriously contemplated hopping home on one foot, the ankle was so bad, shooting pain with every step. Then I get home and am going up the stairs... and it doesn't hurt. I pay attention and....I'm stepping funny with that foot, aggravating it somehow. How I can forget how to walk after 34 years??!

(Actually, I kinda know why. Same reason I got shin splints this fall at a certain point in the hormone cycle.) So fucking weird and annoying.