#HOSPITALS

[macgyvermedical]

Hospital Lengths of Stay

I think people outside the USA severely overestimate how long hospital stays are here.

Like, appendectomy, right? That's maybe 24-36 hours door-to-door if there's no complications. If the appendix actually burst it might be 3 days, but only because they're giving you IV antibiotics and setting up home care to do that at home would take longer than just keeping you in the hospital.

A scheduled surgery like a hysterectomy, cholecystectomy, mastectomy, or anything else they can do laparoscopically (though small "keyhole" incisions)? You're probably not staying overnight at all.

Planned surgeries that need some kind of after care (like bariatric surgery, knee replacements, hip replacements, total vaginal hysterectomies, bladder lifts, etc...) would be usually 1-3 days.

Minor heart attack? 2-3 days.

Fracture and surgical repair of a large bone (like the femur)? About 2-3 days.

What about the exacerbation of a chronic illness like asthma, COPD, heart failure, or hypertension? IF they admit you (not just stabilize and discharge from the emergency department), it will be generally less than about 3-5 days.

Gunshot wound to the abdomen with surgery to repair things? 3-5 days.

And a stroke, sepsis, gunshot wound to the chest, or major heart attack? That would be somewhere in the 5-7 day range.

Severe trauma with multiple severely broken bones and relatively extensive surgery? This might be somewhat longer, but usually for nursing and pain control reasons rather than the surgery or injuries themselves. 1-3 weeks would be usual.

In the hospital for a mental health reason like decompensated schizophrenia or major depression? A little less than a week is normal, though some people stay several weeks if medications aren't working well.

The people who stay in hospitals for weeks or months typically have whole systems that don't work, or are waiting for a major organ transplant. For example, I had a patient once whose entire abdomen was open and couldn't be closed surgically. She was on TPN (IV nutrition) and IV antibiotics and needed massive amounts of wound care done every hour or so because her intestinal contents were spilling out of her open abdomen. She was there for months and ultimately didn't make it.

Are there people who stay longer than these cases? Of course! These are just averages pulled from medicaid data and personal experiences, based on patients who are coming in relatively healthy. Patients who have other significant health problems usually stay longer than patients who come in with a single problem.

But if you are otherwise healthy except for the reason you came into the hospital, unless you fell off a building or were in a massive car accident you are probably not staying in the hospital very long at all.

[ebenrosetaylor]

Healthcare can be expensive depending on the country you live in, but it is impossible to attain when you live in a country/place where no doctors can perform the procedures that you need. It may be due to lack of equipment, lack of specialized doctors, or no hospitals at all.

I am raising $ for my friend's mother Nabila @nabila60 This is urgent. Her life is at risk RIGHT NOW and we don't know how much longer she can hold on without treatment. If you answered this poll, please reblog it to reach more people. If you have ever had expensive hospital visits, please show sympathy to a mother who will die without treatment. You can save a life! Every donation counts.

[mysharona1987]

[genderqueerdykes]

at the ER, dealing with enough pain to make me feel like I'm going to pass out. pain is traveling to other areas. hard to breathe and stand. will post updates

[kathaynesart]

Since people liked Out of Context Replica Donnie, have an Out of Context Replica Leo.

Note, these won't be making an appearance in the actual comic, they're just "what if" scenarios that I might consider for Patreon down the line. For this one? Let's just say things don't go so well in the early years at the Central Park Colony. Guess they forgot Leo can pretty much change anything metal to a weapon.

[sugas6thtooth]

It's fucking genocide.

[writer-in-theory]

"It's a wonder Steve's survived this long, Jesus H. Christ," Eddie hissed.

Eddie hasn't stopped pacing the hospital waiting room ever since Steve was taken back for 'testing'. The doctors had listed out various scans but there were too many acronyms to keep track of. All Eddie knew was that Steve had been hiding his pain for at least a day, maybe longer, until he collapsed at work with Robin.

That was the second worst call Eddie had ever gotten in his life.

"Harrington?" the doctor called out then, holding onto a metal clipboard tightly and looking around the busy emergency room. In an instant Eddie was on his feet, practically sprinting to where the doctor was standing.

"How is he, doc? Get to keep all his fingers?" He wanted to joke, but the words fell flat in the sterility of the room. The last time he'd been here had been after...No. The Upside Down had long since been closed off from their world and Vecna was disintegrated into that weird otherworldly ash. It was over.

"Are you family?"

Nancy and Robin had prepped him for this one, too. In everything but the law, Eddie and Steve were husbands. They'd had a wedding with Robin and Dustin as their Best (Wo)Men and Wayne as their officiant, in the middle of the night where no one would notice but them. They'd celebrated their fifth anniversary two weeks ago, they were the loves of each others' lives. But to the government, to this doctor, they weren't anything but friends who shared a bed. Fuck the nineties.

"Yeah, he's my brother-in-law," Eddie answered, knowing when Nancy showed up they could pass this lie off decently. "How's Steve doing?"

The doctor gave him a long look, but otherwise nodded and rechecked his clipboard. "Mr. Harrington is getting prepped for emergency surgery, currently, as he's s—"

"Emergency surgery? What do you mean surgery?" Already Eddie could feel the tell-tale warning signs of panic as his heart began to race and his palms got sweaty. Surgery wasn't good. They weren't supposed to do this. No more hospitals, no more surgeries, no more 'wait and see's. They'd promised after last time, Steve promised.

"Sir," the doctor pushed, looking more irritated than concerned. "This is a routine procedure, we see it all the time. Mr. Harrington has a case of appendicitis, pretty bad by the looks of it. Has he been feeling any pain lately?"

"Yeah, yeah the bastard has," Eddie hissed, not sure if he was about to laugh or cry. Appendicitis. Fucking appendicitis. He'd had that as a kid, he still remembered all the popsicles and ice creams Uncle Wayne let him have in the days after, cooped up in the trailer watching boring TV shows while all his friends were at school. "Is he already in surgery? Can I see him?"

"He's being prepped, but you can see him. We gave him some medication to calm him down and ease his pain, so Mr. Harrington may be...out of it," the doctor warned as he led Eddie through the maze of hallways behind the front desk. "Next time, let your brother-in-law know he shouldn't ignore this kind of pain."

"Oh don't you worry, doc, I'll make sure to pass on the message," Eddie answered, practically glaring at the closed hospital room door. Fucking appendicitis and Steve had ignored it, passed it off as a pulled muscle after a run.

Seeing Steve in a hospital bed didn't get any easier, though it was hard to be angry or scared when the man's head lolled across the pillow to reveal a brilliant, out-of-it smile Eddie had never seen before. "Eddie!" Steve cooed, reaching his arms out for the other man.

Eddie couldn't help but laugh, crossing the distance quickly so he could press Steve's arms back to the bed. "Hey, c'mon now, Harrington, don't wanna pull that IV line out."

"Did they tell you they're stealing my organ? They're stealing it, Eds!"

"It's a pretty useless one anyway, you won't even miss it."

Steve's face scrunched up at that, like he couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. "How dare you! Of course I'll notice one of my little guys got separated! What if he gets lonely?"

"You're..." Eddie tried not to laugh, if only because he's sure that'll make Steve fly off the handle even further. He scrubbed a hand across his tired face, sure his expression was full of nothing but fondness now for the man laying in the hospital bed. "You're afraid your appendix will get lonely?"

"I just...they're all meant to be together, you know? You can't separate one and expect it won't get lonely. Don't let them steal my organ, Eds."

"I," Eddie began, unable to help the smile that pulled on his lips. "Stevie, baby, it's not stealing if a doctor does it. They're taking it out because it's being a troublemaker. It doesn't belong there anymore, you can't keep trying to make it fit somewhere it doesn't."

"Never stopped me before," Steve answered with a little slur. "Maybe I like troublemakers." Then, leaning over with his hand by his mouth in a conspiratorial whisper, he said at full volume, "I mean you, Eddie."

There was no laugh like the one Steve was able to pull from him, of that Eddie had learned years before. He laughed until his chest hurt and tears gathered in his eyes, until even the nurse peeked their head in to check on the two of them.

"C'mon, Stevie. You go be a rockstar in there and I'll be right beside you when you wake up. We'll go get so much ice cream you forget about your stolen appendix," Eddie offered, pressing a kiss to Steve's non-IV lined hand.

"I'll be such a good rockstar you gotta put me in the band," Steve answered, blowing a kiss to Eddie as the surgical team came in to wheel him off. "Love you, Eds."

Warmth spread through his chest, warming him from the insides out until Eddie worried he might burn up from the intensity of Steve's love. "Love you too, Steve."

Eddie stands and watches as they wheel Steve out of the room, laughing as Steve yelled after him.

"I can't believe you're letting them steal my poor appendix, Munson! I won't forget this!"

[lottiestudying]

13.09.2024—being discharged home today, looking foreword to being back in my own space. final diagnosis for this admission is adhd and unspecified psychosis

[10yrsyart]

(alternative music only video)

"Can anything separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (-) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loves us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our fears about tomorrow- not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below- indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 8:35,37-39

transcript:

Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste It all revolves around you And there's no mountain too high No river too wide Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side Storm clouds may gather And stars may collide But I love you Until the end of time Come what may Come what may I will love you Until my dying day

[doctor--malpractice]

KEEP TALKING ABOUT PALESTINE

ISRAEL IS USING IRAN AS A DISTRACTION

[morganski-19]

Chills Right to the Marrow Part 6

part 1, prev part

cw: brief mentions of blood and injuries

The next morning, Dustin convinces his mom to drive him to the hospital. Anxious the entire way there. Begging the nurse with the look in his eyes to be able to go see Steve. It’s not like his parents would come home anyway. He needed family right now.

Robin jolts awake in her chair when he opens the door. Wincing at the crick in her neck. “Dustin, hey.”

“How is he?” He sits down next to her. Staring at Steve, fast asleep in his hospital bed. Listening as the monitor beeps. And beeps. And just keeps beeping. Each one a beat of his heart. He’s alive. That’s one crossed off his list.

“Fine. They had to give him some blood, he lost a lot. But they gave him stitches, there was nothing internal, which is good. There was a slight infection in the wounds, so they want to keep him here a few days to make sure it doesn’t get worse. And with all his head trauma, they want to give him a few scans to make sure nothing got worse there.”

Dustin nods along, half listening. Just focusing on the fact that he’s alive. Right here. Alive. “He should have listened to me.”

Robin scoffs. “Yeah, he should have. But you know Steve. He doesn’t ask for help even when he’s dying. Dumbass.” She blinks away the tears that gloss over her eyes.

“Did I,” Dustin starts to ask, the words getting caught in his throat. “Was this because of me? If I hadn’t of jumped through that portal again, Steve wouldn’t have collapsed.”

“No,” Robin stops him, placing a comforting hand on his arm. “No, this was not your fault. Even if you didn’t sprain your ankle, Steve still would have insisted you get looked at first, you know that. And Eddie’s here now, because of you. Because you made sure we found him.”

The room stills, sounds fading into the background. “Eddie’s alive?” Dustin asks is disbelief. In rising hope that something good happened in the chaos last night.

Robin nods with a small smile. “Yeah, he’s alive. Right across the hall, actually. The nurse told me about it this morning when I came in. There was a surgery, he lost a lot of blood, had some damage to his nerves, to some of his organs. They went a lot deeper than they did with Steve, they were angrier. But nothing some time can’t heal.”

Dustin starts to stand, ready to run across the hall. “I have to go see him, can he have visitors?”

Robin stands to catch up with him. “He can but-.” She takes a deep breath. “Dustin, there’s no easy way to say this. Eddie’s in a coma. They’re not sure how long until he wakes up.”

The hope drops to Dustin’s feet. “A coma?”

“But he’s alive. That’s what important here. He’s alive because of you, Dustin. Because you didn’t give up on him.”

“Will you come with me, to see him?” Dustin hates the vulnerability in his voice. How it makes him sound like such a kid. Too afraid to do anything by himself.

He is afraid. Images of Eddie’s dying frame still resting in his arms. The weight pulling him to the ground. The dread resting in the pit of his stomach. And tears pooling in his eyes. Repeating pleads of staying strong. To keep eyes open and breathing slow. Even if they were shallow.

Robin nods again. “Of course.”

They head across the hall, knocking on the door to see if anyone’s in there. The room is empty except for Eddie.

The blood is washed off his face, and he’s in different clothes. Dirt and grime of the previous week washed out of his hair. Fingers stripped of the chunky rings that normally adorn them. Visible stitches on his arms, some on his neck. More resting under his clothes, down his legs. So many tubes going in every direction. Keeping him alive.

Dustin’s eyes travel to the ring of silver trapped around Eddie’s wrist. Bound to the rail of the hospital bed. After all he’s been through, they had the audacity to chain him to the bed. He doesn’t even have the strength to breath on his own properly. How could he do anything to warrant being chained?

Tears fall down Dustin’s cheek. Seeing Eddie’s lifeless form as Steve performs CPR. Counting to thirty under his breath before giving Eddie more air. Repeating until his heart started pumping again. Seeing his body get picked up and carried back to the gate. A new rope made of upside-down stained fabric. A makeshift ladder built to transfer him over to the real world with the least amount of damage. Just to see the horrors of the world spit in two as they speed to the hospital.

Robin’s arm wraps around Dustin’s shoulder, holding him close. He forces himself to turn away, unable to see his friend like this anymore. Knowing that he’s alive, but at what cost. Will he ever open his eyes the same as he did before? Will the smile he carried to death ever have the same shine?

Will Eddie look at Dustin the same again? He was part of the reason he got dragged up in all this shit anyway. If he hadn’t gone searching for him, Eddie would have never been part of the plan. Never had been the distraction. Never have run right into the danger to lead the bats away.

“Are you ok?” Robin asks softly.

Dustin shakes his head. “He looks so helpless right now.”

“Maybe. But we both know that he is fighting as hard as he can to wake back up again. It’s just going to take some time.”

He nods, ready to leave. To let Eddie rest. Robin leads him out of the room. That two people crossed off of Dusin’s list. Both alive. Only one more name left.

A man is being led down the hall by a nurse, stopping in front of Eddie’s room. Holding the door open as the man takes in the person inside it. As Mr. Munson sees his nephew for the first time in a week, barely alive. Nancy comes down the hall a few minutes after him, two coffee cups in hand.

“Thought you could use it.” She hands a cup to Robin.

“I see you found him,” Robin says, cocking her head towards Eddie’s room.

Nancy nods. “Yeah. Took a while, but he deserved someone who believed him to tell him. Not the bastard cops.”

Dustin walks away from them as they continue talking. Knocks on Eddie’s hospital door, it squeaking open. “Excuse me, Mr. Munson.”

Mr. Munson looks up from the hands his face was rested in. Wiping away lines of tears. “Yes.”

“My name’s Dustin. I’m a friend of Eddie’s, was with him when he came in.” He reaches into his pocket, pulling out the guitar pick necklace. “I think this belongs with you.”

He steps closer to hand the necklace to Mr. Munson. Who takes it, letting the chain slide across Dustin’s fingers. A silent goodbye. It was burning a hole in his pocket anyway. Reminder of the time before.

Mr. Munson nods in thanks as Dustin backs out of the room. “It’s just Wayne.”

Dustin stops, turning around in confusion.

“Just call me Wayne, not Mr. Munson.” There is a recognition in Wayne’s eyes. He knows who Dustin is.

“Ok, Wayne,” Dustin smiles.

He heads across the hall again to Steve’s room, sitting in a chair. Robin and Nancy still talking outside the hall.

Steve stirs in the bed. Head turning to the side as his eyes start to open. Taking a deep breath. “Hey, Dustin,” he whispers quietly.

The tears start up again. “You’re a fucking pain in my ass, you know that.”

“Language,” Steve fake scolds. He doesn’t get to tell that to Dustin right now. Not after what he’s put him through.

“I hate you.” Dustin gets to his feet to awkwardly give Steve a hug. Steve half returning it, still tired.

“Yeah,” he breathes. Alive. “Love you too.”

Next part

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[mapsontheweb]

Hospital beds per 1000 people.

[wikipediapictures]

Packed red blood cells

[mysharona1987]

[sayruq]

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: Emergency doctor Amjad Alewah once saved lives at Al-Shifa hospital, the largest medical facility in the Gaza Strip. But after 200 days of war between Israel and Hamas militants, he now stands in its ruins. “We are now in the middle of the rubble of this great hospital,” Alewah, who returned to inspect the now charred emergency reception room, told AFP. Following the outbreak of war, Al-Shifa became a safe haven for the thousands injured or fleeing the Israeli onslaught on the Palestinian territory. “Every day, we received thousands of wounded,” he said, recalling having to work without enough medical equipment or fuel for electric generators. “We had picked up the habit of spending all our time here, as if it was our main residence.” But war came to Al-Shifa, with Israel launching multiple raids on the medical facility after accusing militants of operating a command center from tunnels below.

“Hospitals are entitled to very special protection under international humanitarian law,” [UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk] said. Alewah said he was saddened by the destruction of a “cornerstone of health for the whole north of the Gaza Strip,” calling on the international community and World Health Organization (WHO), which visited Al-Shifa to assess damages, to help rebuild. “We’re lacking operating theaters to treat patients, particularly patients on dialysis or those with heart conditions.” A rehabilitation medical committee has already been put in place, its head, Marwan Abu Saada told AFP, adding that they were working on building an emergency department in another part of the hospital complex. “We will not lose hope,” he repeated, despite acknowledging the difficulty of the task at hand.