Hospitals

Nobody wants to be in the hospital, but if you need care, its a great place to be.  My dad just had a heart attack a few days ago.  My mom rushed him to the hospital about 20 minutes away from their rural home, and that hospital brought him by ambulance to the Royal Alex. 

Before my mom and I could get to the hospital and see where he was in the process, he had already been to the Cath lab and had an Angiogram and a Stent put into his artery.  They then moved him up to a recovery room for monitoring and care.  This is the third such go round for my dad and this was his 7th stent.  My dad is in good shape as he has never been overweight, never smoked or drank much at all.  He eats ridiculously healthy, however, he has the dreaded "genetics".  His dad died in his 40s of heart issues, my dad is now 70, so in the scheme of things he is doing well. 

Unfortunately he has a few major arteries that are 90% blocked and others on the way, so he is now waiting in the hospital for a transfer to the new Mazenkowski centre for a Bypass.  I am hopeful all will be well, he will get the bypass and if no problems will likely feel wonderful once he has all that blood flowing like it should.

I have to say though, that our family has had great care at the Royal Alex and  University hospitals.  The Royal Alex is a crazy place if you have ever been to their emergency room.  If you are not dying you may spend several hours waiting for care.  You will likely sit by someone that is bleeding from the latest bar fight they were in.  If you get into a bed in the emergency area, the guy that drank aqua velva will be yelling out expletives at all the nursing staff.  I swear that guy has been there every time!  And of course there are the people that clog up the system that have a cold or flu that should look up the term Emergency in the dictionary.

However, having said all that, if the staff see you are in cardiac arrest or some real life threatening situation, they are on it.  I have seen staff at that hospital run, and juggle so many patients it boggles the mind.  So as my dad waits in the hospital for his bypass, I know he is in the best care.  I know our health care system is not perfect, but I for one am glad we have equal care for all people and that my mom doesn't have to now worry about paying a huge medical bill on top of worrying about my dad.