"Rockyview Hospital Admission"

Three years ago my father was admitted to Rockyview Hospital for a suspected pneumonia. It was not his first time there but it was notable for being eight days of concern for my father. A complete opposite of the normally high level of care we had previously and since experienced within the AHS. 

   The first incident was the feeling of hostility I felt by the unit management about my intent to stay with my father. His dementia had meant, in the past being left without me that he had fallen or been put in restraints. Two days of appeals by myself and our GP lead to my being permitted to stay. Staff expressed their support for my position and their sympathy in how I had been treated though I felt they were afraid to speak up. 

  I felt the hospitalist with every intervention made my father's condition worse. I was very concerned when there appeared to be IV fluid overload and the continued insistence not to compensate with a diuretic. This Dr was adamant that my father was too close to death to continue treatment. He did eventually acquiesce to use a diuretic and not discontinue antibiotics  but made clear this was only to appease me and would have to medical benefit. Within hours of diuretic administration the inverse appeared to be true. Two different RNs expressed their opinion that my father was improving. I was however advised by the hospitalist that to move or sit my father up would likely cause his immediate passing. He advised to let him die in place or at most transfer him to a hospice.

 Thankfully throughout this ordeal I had daily conversations with our GP. I instead opted to take my father home where he continued to recover. Though collaboration with our GP learned there were inconsistences in my father's goals of care and in the discharge summary. 

 I subsequently made a complaint through AHS where I achieved some satisfaction. I did not however takes this complaint an further, which I somewhat regret. My father had further quality of life for almost another three years and I do not regret following my own path.