It is the Economy Attitude, Stupid

Extract

This editorial begins with apologies to former President Clinton's campaign manager James Carville for the paraphrasing of his now famous motto.

A patient was required to remain unmoving for several hours after a cardiac catheterization. Her glasses and dinner were on the bed tray which was moved by the nurse when vital signs were taken. The tray was not returned to its original place, the patient didn't get to eat dinner. While she never got dinner, she did get a headache from trying to see without her glasses.

The Out Patient waiting room was filled when the phlebotomist came to the doorway and yelled, “Pat”. Three women and one man rose from their chairs. They all looked at each other and the phlebotomist who then called out the last name. Three people sat down, embarrassed.

Another patient told the phlebotomist that she was acutely allergic to adhesives. The phlebotomist put on a strip of tape, saying that this one wouldn't be a problem. The woman stood up, peeled the tape off in front of the phlebotomist, and they both watched her skin bleed as she threw the tape away.

A woman was seated by her husband's bed as they waited nervously for a bone marrow biopsy. A person from the laboratory entered the room, set up the biopsy tray, and assisted the physician in the collection of the specimen. The wife later said, “Who was that in the teddy bear pajamas? If anything she does is ever correct, it must…