Monday, June 28, 2004
Show me Yours and I'll Show You Mine
Ethics - The Department of Veterans Affairs is quick to drag out a dog and pony show these days. Through the wonders of endless repetition they protect us from those who would shower federal employee with endless baubles designed to hawk their wares. They shelter us from the luncheons that fill us with empty calories and and pad our CME hours with lectures proving beyond a doubt that research proves that the latest drugs are truly the greatest drugs medicine has ever known.
And yet...
The administration here in Canandaigua forgets one of the basics of ethical foundations, it is found in the Hippocratic Oath and Florence included it in her pledge for nurses. Indeed it is the foundation for medical practice worldwide.
That is to do no harm...
Today I saw a nurse that when faced with an ethical dilemma remembered her obligation to her patients and to her peers. She did the "ethical thing" to insure that they would not be placed into a position where surely harm could come to others and/or themselves.
In essence ethically she stood her ground and did what was right and just. She proved her integrity. Of course the data demon was pulled out of the closet to justify what the nurse knew was not in her patients best interest, and after all her numbers were just as good as theirs and she knew it. So she stood her ground.
Needless to say we all were impressed, the tit for tat response held as much water as the administrations and and ultimately it was ethically correct.
In the past a manager who blatantly challenged management this way could depend on the waters becoming troubled and rough. What happens next will remain to be seen, like in any pissing contest you show me yours and I'll show you mine.
Ethics - The Department of Veterans Affairs is quick to drag out a dog and pony show these days. Through the wonders of endless repetition they protect us from those who would shower federal employee with endless baubles designed to hawk their wares. They shelter us from the luncheons that fill us with empty calories and and pad our CME hours with lectures proving beyond a doubt that research proves that the latest drugs are truly the greatest drugs medicine has ever known.
And yet...
The administration here in Canandaigua forgets one of the basics of ethical foundations, it is found in the Hippocratic Oath and Florence included it in her pledge for nurses. Indeed it is the foundation for medical practice worldwide.
That is to do no harm...
Today I saw a nurse that when faced with an ethical dilemma remembered her obligation to her patients and to her peers. She did the "ethical thing" to insure that they would not be placed into a position where surely harm could come to others and/or themselves.
In essence ethically she stood her ground and did what was right and just. She proved her integrity. Of course the data demon was pulled out of the closet to justify what the nurse knew was not in her patients best interest, and after all her numbers were just as good as theirs and she knew it. So she stood her ground.
Needless to say we all were impressed, the tit for tat response held as much water as the administrations and and ultimately it was ethically correct.
In the past a manager who blatantly challenged management this way could depend on the waters becoming troubled and rough. What happens next will remain to be seen, like in any pissing contest you show me yours and I'll show you mine.
Saturday, May 08, 2004
By the Dawns Early Light
Today is a day that will go down in history as a day of infamy.
Over the past two years a battle has raged in Western New York. Clearly it was a test of wills, on one side a formidable “Band of Brothers” on the other a bureaucrat.
Granted the bureaucrat was once a social worker, one that at every chance he gets reminds those around him that he once cared for those less fortunate than himself and in his estimation did it well.
The “Band of Brothers” on the other hand stood for keeping the promise that Abraham Lincoln made to those who bore the burden of battle in the name of their country.
For two years they both have locked horns on more than one occasion, indeed the little band had gained ground during that time. They had allied with powerful people, senators and representatives in Washington, Assemblymen and local politicians from their own state and communities. Indeed they had won the hearts and souls of many in their own communities, newspapers reporters, and radio and television anchors had heralded their cause.
While no one expected total victory they could see that compromise was the order of the day, concessions would be made, and overwhelmingly the band knew that victory would be theirs. After all they had played by the rules, they had built their war machine form the bottom up. Now it wasn’t all fighting they talked, they talked till they were blue in the face. Slowly those who were doubters had come over to their side, slowly they understood that the truths this little band held as self evident were just that. The Truth
The other side though was cunning, they sat in their bunkers and waited, then they delayed, they stalled and bided their time. They believed that the other side would grow weary, tired and want to go home. They knew that eventually the “Band of Brothers” would look for comfort and they sanctity of they own beds and they would be free to carry out their assault and win the war with very few losses on their part. And time was on their side.
Well the battle was fought today and the assault they planned was a brutal one, none of the concessions that the “Band of Brothers” expected would ever materialize and they did exactly as they had said they would. And it was a dark day for those who had given so much for those that had born the burden of battle.
But this morning in the dawns first light I had this awakening, this battle has been fought and clearly the winner has been triumphant but the “Band of Brothers” now knows where it stands, it knows the strength of the enemy and has a moments rest before they stand up and will be counted again. Their numbers will grow and there determination will grow strong. And another battle will be fought.
One they can not help but win…
Today is a day that will go down in history as a day of infamy.
Over the past two years a battle has raged in Western New York. Clearly it was a test of wills, on one side a formidable “Band of Brothers” on the other a bureaucrat.
Granted the bureaucrat was once a social worker, one that at every chance he gets reminds those around him that he once cared for those less fortunate than himself and in his estimation did it well.
The “Band of Brothers” on the other hand stood for keeping the promise that Abraham Lincoln made to those who bore the burden of battle in the name of their country.
For two years they both have locked horns on more than one occasion, indeed the little band had gained ground during that time. They had allied with powerful people, senators and representatives in Washington, Assemblymen and local politicians from their own state and communities. Indeed they had won the hearts and souls of many in their own communities, newspapers reporters, and radio and television anchors had heralded their cause.
While no one expected total victory they could see that compromise was the order of the day, concessions would be made, and overwhelmingly the band knew that victory would be theirs. After all they had played by the rules, they had built their war machine form the bottom up. Now it wasn’t all fighting they talked, they talked till they were blue in the face. Slowly those who were doubters had come over to their side, slowly they understood that the truths this little band held as self evident were just that. The Truth
The other side though was cunning, they sat in their bunkers and waited, then they delayed, they stalled and bided their time. They believed that the other side would grow weary, tired and want to go home. They knew that eventually the “Band of Brothers” would look for comfort and they sanctity of they own beds and they would be free to carry out their assault and win the war with very few losses on their part. And time was on their side.
Well the battle was fought today and the assault they planned was a brutal one, none of the concessions that the “Band of Brothers” expected would ever materialize and they did exactly as they had said they would. And it was a dark day for those who had given so much for those that had born the burden of battle.
But this morning in the dawns first light I had this awakening, this battle has been fought and clearly the winner has been triumphant but the “Band of Brothers” now knows where it stands, it knows the strength of the enemy and has a moments rest before they stand up and will be counted again. Their numbers will grow and there determination will grow strong. And another battle will be fought.
One they can not help but win…
Friday, May 07, 2004
Celebrate, Celebrate Dance to the Music!
Well I guess I'll have to eat crow, Senator Schumer gave Anthony Principi another come "upance" by up staging him yesterday and letting the cat out of the bag.
So let the parties begin, Canandaigua VA has been reborn today, the Senator announcing that the facility will stay open, indeed it is the Department of Veterans Affairs hopes that the unused space at the hospital be used as a Health Related Facility. Ralph Calabrese, Gene Simes and the whole veteran community can be proud that things have turned around. Indeed the whole Canandaigua Community and it's neighbor should be bursting with pride this morning with the announcement that Canandaigua is the only facility on the VA's closure list to be reconsidered and given a new lease on life.
Or should it?
As part of the announcement Mr. Schumer does note that the fate of the Acute psychiatry Program is in the hands of Mr. Feeley the VISN Network Director.
Oh God we are doomed, doomed I tell you.
Take a moment and step back for the elation Mr. Feeley was the one who originally wanted to place the facility on the sacrificial alter. The fact that he is still selling an Outpatient Clinic in close proximity to the facility or even on it's grounds give me pause. The fact that the ultimate fate of those 25-50 beds assigned to acute psychiatric care are in his hands can only mean one thing.
Yes We're Doomed....
So I say again what of the promise that those beds will be reduced, not eliminated but phased down to a reasonable number. How many? Fourteen, twelve, eight or what was the number he used in October - 5. Five beds, short stay use for observation? Sounds like his original plan doesn't it, all we are missing is the buses that will transport those veterans the 90 miles to Buffalo or Syracuse. Oh and the shuttle for their families so they can visit their estranged loved one.
But don't worry be happy the check is in the mail.
Ok, Ok so for now we will rejoice, be happy at least the facility is OPEN AND SAFE FOR NOW. We will have additional time to deal with the continued threat of a slow death. At least his ultimate plan is stalled for awhile.
We have a little time to plan our next battle.
I hear Canandaigua may get a million man march out the next round of fighting.
Where do you put a million people up for overnight accommodations anyway?
Well I guess I'll have to eat crow, Senator Schumer gave Anthony Principi another come "upance" by up staging him yesterday and letting the cat out of the bag.
So let the parties begin, Canandaigua VA has been reborn today, the Senator announcing that the facility will stay open, indeed it is the Department of Veterans Affairs hopes that the unused space at the hospital be used as a Health Related Facility. Ralph Calabrese, Gene Simes and the whole veteran community can be proud that things have turned around. Indeed the whole Canandaigua Community and it's neighbor should be bursting with pride this morning with the announcement that Canandaigua is the only facility on the VA's closure list to be reconsidered and given a new lease on life.
Or should it?
As part of the announcement Mr. Schumer does note that the fate of the Acute psychiatry Program is in the hands of Mr. Feeley the VISN Network Director.
Oh God we are doomed, doomed I tell you.
Take a moment and step back for the elation Mr. Feeley was the one who originally wanted to place the facility on the sacrificial alter. The fact that he is still selling an Outpatient Clinic in close proximity to the facility or even on it's grounds give me pause. The fact that the ultimate fate of those 25-50 beds assigned to acute psychiatric care are in his hands can only mean one thing.
Yes We're Doomed....
So I say again what of the promise that those beds will be reduced, not eliminated but phased down to a reasonable number. How many? Fourteen, twelve, eight or what was the number he used in October - 5. Five beds, short stay use for observation? Sounds like his original plan doesn't it, all we are missing is the buses that will transport those veterans the 90 miles to Buffalo or Syracuse. Oh and the shuttle for their families so they can visit their estranged loved one.
But don't worry be happy the check is in the mail.
Ok, Ok so for now we will rejoice, be happy at least the facility is OPEN AND SAFE FOR NOW. We will have additional time to deal with the continued threat of a slow death. At least his ultimate plan is stalled for awhile.
We have a little time to plan our next battle.
I hear Canandaigua may get a million man march out the next round of fighting.
Where do you put a million people up for overnight accommodations anyway?
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
The Party Is Over
Well this will be short and sweet, plain and simple the party is over, today in the Veterans Advisory Council Meeting the announcement came out of Washington that Mr. Principi has scheduled a press conference from Las Vegas on Friday at 2PM to make public his plans for the VA as it relates to the CARES Commission Report.
In a word....Canandaigua and the Acute Psychiatry Program will in all probability be history...
The Behavioral Health Care Line Manager made it clear that planning for the future has a few options that don't include the unit that currently maintains 20 inpatient beds.
The Veterans in attedance made it clear the battle isn't over yet despite the set back. For the sake of tommorrows vet, we can only pray.
Well this will be short and sweet, plain and simple the party is over, today in the Veterans Advisory Council Meeting the announcement came out of Washington that Mr. Principi has scheduled a press conference from Las Vegas on Friday at 2PM to make public his plans for the VA as it relates to the CARES Commission Report.
In a word....Canandaigua and the Acute Psychiatry Program will in all probability be history...
The Behavioral Health Care Line Manager made it clear that planning for the future has a few options that don't include the unit that currently maintains 20 inpatient beds.
The Veterans in attedance made it clear the battle isn't over yet despite the set back. For the sake of tommorrows vet, we can only pray.
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
War Isn't Healthy, for Children and Other Living Things
Cliché's are so cheap, it is easy to draw on the work of others in order to drive points home. The news was quick this week to drag out the ghosts of the past in order liken Iraq to Vietnam, Korea and the travesty that that it reported from Iraq this week.
Without hesitation I can sit at home and pass judgment on the soldiers responsible for the humiliation of the prisoners held in Baghdad that covered the evening news and rang through the airways on every radio station across their homeland.
But I am not there and Lord knows I do not pretend to know the whole story, neither the soldiers story, nor their captives story, I do not know who they are, nor what they know.
But I do know that my thoughts are torn between three problems.
One what could drive someone to first commit the travesty's that seem to have occurred, what possibly could be gained and to what end did they believe that they could accomplish with their actions.
Two what does the media hope to gain by hashing and re-hashing this story over and over, could there be something to gain. Possibly they hope to rekindle the aura and fervor of the seventies. The protests and demonstrations would surely add so much to the November's election and yes maybe even its outcome.
But the third thought is the one that trouble me the most, who will be there to pick up the pieces that will lay at these men's feet when the war is over for them. If this has occurred for the few guards who are in the limelight what of the thousands of other men and women who occupy and go on living in such a hostile arena. Who will deal with their nightmares and the trauma that they will have to live with when they come home.
When they do come home it will be there family, their friends and neighbors who will be the support they need to carry on. Hopefully the services of the VA and it's employees will ease there minds and hearts, for they have been there before. They have heard it so many times before. They have seen it in other soldiers that came home from places in Europe, in Asia and so many other places around the globe.
That is unless the current administration succeeds in diminishing our nation's commitment to keeping the promise it made of caring for those who have bore the burdens of war.
But then again there are so many wars that need to be fought aren't there.
Cliché's are so cheap, it is easy to draw on the work of others in order to drive points home. The news was quick this week to drag out the ghosts of the past in order liken Iraq to Vietnam, Korea and the travesty that that it reported from Iraq this week.
Without hesitation I can sit at home and pass judgment on the soldiers responsible for the humiliation of the prisoners held in Baghdad that covered the evening news and rang through the airways on every radio station across their homeland.
But I am not there and Lord knows I do not pretend to know the whole story, neither the soldiers story, nor their captives story, I do not know who they are, nor what they know.
But I do know that my thoughts are torn between three problems.
One what could drive someone to first commit the travesty's that seem to have occurred, what possibly could be gained and to what end did they believe that they could accomplish with their actions.
Two what does the media hope to gain by hashing and re-hashing this story over and over, could there be something to gain. Possibly they hope to rekindle the aura and fervor of the seventies. The protests and demonstrations would surely add so much to the November's election and yes maybe even its outcome.
But the third thought is the one that trouble me the most, who will be there to pick up the pieces that will lay at these men's feet when the war is over for them. If this has occurred for the few guards who are in the limelight what of the thousands of other men and women who occupy and go on living in such a hostile arena. Who will deal with their nightmares and the trauma that they will have to live with when they come home.
When they do come home it will be there family, their friends and neighbors who will be the support they need to carry on. Hopefully the services of the VA and it's employees will ease there minds and hearts, for they have been there before. They have heard it so many times before. They have seen it in other soldiers that came home from places in Europe, in Asia and so many other places around the globe.
That is unless the current administration succeeds in diminishing our nation's commitment to keeping the promise it made of caring for those who have bore the burdens of war.
But then again there are so many wars that need to be fought aren't there.
Friday, April 30, 2004
As Iraq rears it's head out of the sand, our nation has begun to question the wisdom of fighting another war that seems to be an alley with no escape. Our sons and daughters face an enemy that has no mores when it comes to destroying a foreigner. Leaders at least are calling for silence when it comes to stories that can serve only to demoralize our armed forces and wreck havoc with their morale.
What worries me is the fact that whether we win or lose those heroes will eventually come home and look from support from their community, family and friends. When their problems become to much to handle they will turn to the Veterans Adminstration for help, sadly to find there is no help. The VA is slowly being decomisssioned and left as scrap. This year seven hospitals are being shrunk in an effort to strip them of any value and ready them for obscurity(closure).
And where are our politicians trying to decide if one of them had anything to do with 9/11 a abomination that happened two years ago and obviously was born outside this nation.
If something isn't done soon we will have healthcare workers who know nothing about the horrors of war trying to figure out why our fallen heros are drug addicts, alcoholics and homeless pity's. Instead of standing with them they will be standing away.
What worries me is the fact that whether we win or lose those heroes will eventually come home and look from support from their community, family and friends. When their problems become to much to handle they will turn to the Veterans Adminstration for help, sadly to find there is no help. The VA is slowly being decomisssioned and left as scrap. This year seven hospitals are being shrunk in an effort to strip them of any value and ready them for obscurity(closure).
And where are our politicians trying to decide if one of them had anything to do with 9/11 a abomination that happened two years ago and obviously was born outside this nation.
If something isn't done soon we will have healthcare workers who know nothing about the horrors of war trying to figure out why our fallen heros are drug addicts, alcoholics and homeless pity's. Instead of standing with them they will be standing away.
