"Supporting a Family Member in Health Care"

I recently supported my family at an appointment at the Namao 160 MIC Medical Imaging and then at the Northeast Community Health Centre emergency care department.

We went to MIC as my family member required an ultrasound to determine if it was a blood clot causing their leg swelling. The staff at Namao 160 MIC were patient with my family member who has mobility issues post a stroke. My only ask is that staff remember to talk to the patient not over them. Sometimes family can be quick to answer but really the person who should be answering is the person who is the patient. My family is very capable of speaking for themselves and asks for support when need. Yes it might take a little longer, but it helps people to feel less excluded when the care is about them.

I must commend the radiologist who came in to see us to talk about the results. They radiologist explained where the blot clot was, that they recommended we go to an emergency department, to begin anticoagulant medication. They could see the look of dread on our faces as we waited hours in an emergency department with two senior seniors with health issues. The suggested we consider the Northeast Community Health Centre or even look up waiting times and find a smaller emergency department to go to. What was needed was more care than a doctor’s office could provide though not life and death kind of care. The doctor and the staff member both pressed the importance of going to my family member, their spouse, and me.

While we were on our way to the emergency department, staff from office of the physician who order the test called to ensure we were in fact going to the emergency department. Which both surprised us and shows that the doctor was on top of my family member’s care.

We arrived Northeast Community Health Centre emergency department, where there was signage asking people to wear a mask, which we all did. There was no waiting to see the triage nurse, or at the registration desk. In fact, they called my family into the patient area before anyone of us had a chance to find a seat.

The staff there asked my family member their question, who called on his entourage when usure. Though there were 3 of us to support one person the staff did not tell us to leave. We took turns being the area with our family member so as not to overwhelm the space. It was good thing we were there, as the support staff kept trying to take our wheelchair thinking it belonged to the department.

We figure we were about five hours in the emergency department. During which time necessary treatment started, explanation of what to watch out for, along with a small meal. Good thing as breakfast was a long time ago, and seniors do become weaker fast without food and fluids.

All this to say thank to all the staff who show compassion and care even amid an overloaded health system that is stretched to capacity.