Jerry's not at the bottom yet!

As I drove my usual route to the Northside, I began to think and pray for Jerry.

Jerry is a gentleman that sleeps outside the greyhound bus station.

I have written about him quit a bit.

I turned into the neighborhood looking for Jerry.

Sure enough as I was stopped at a red light, there he was literally standing at the corner.

I rolled down the window and asked him if he wanted to hang out with me.

We have had many a meal together.

I said I was going to pray at the church and then go out to breakfast.

Jerry is a man of God. 

As a matter of fact we have prayed together before.

On one occasion he shared with me his desire to one day be a pastor.

This day however he turned me down. He said he was meeting someone at 10am.

I assured him we would be back by 10am. 

It just so happens it was 6:45 am!

He said no and that he would stay in touch.

This was the second time in a month that Jerry has turned me down because he had to meet someone.

I want to think the best of someone, but the streets cause people to do things they may regret.

It's survival mode and not always a time to socialize.

I am still praying and waiting on Jerry.

I am believing that God can do a good work in Jerry's life.

It's not up to me to figure that out.

Jerry just hasn't hit bottom yet!

It doesn't have to be this way!

This has to stop!

We the Church can make a difference.

What are you called to do?

Released to The Great Beyond

"Released to The Great Beyond" is a saying that is used at the hospital for those patients that are discharged and have no one and no resources.

In other words if your homeless and are dismissed from the hospital then your on your own and the hospital doesn't seem to care about your future.

It's strange that a hospital will do all they can while your in the hospital, but they fail to ensure your care as soon as you walk out the door.

How can I say that?

Over the last few weeks I have seen it happen twice now in David's care or lack there of!

This second episode happened on Saturday evening.

David was being released from the hospital after being there for over a week.

As we were preparing to leave the nurse gave me a script for a miracle drug that is keeping David alive.

I asked the question where do we fill the script?

She very willingly called a few pharmacies to see who carried the drug.

No surprise here, no one had it in stock.

The drug is very expensive. $300-$350 A PILL!

Needless to say David could not afford the medicine.

I told the nurse that we could not leave without knowing where we were going to receive the pills he needed.

She made a call and we got one pill to carry us over till the next day. This was on a Saturday.

What would have happened if the question was not asked?

We were told to come back on Sunday to the pharmacy at the hospital.

At the hospital pharmacy David receives drugs using his Va Coordinated Care card.

On Sunday we made the trip and sure enough the pharmacy did NOT have the medicine!

How does this happen? It's not that complicated, but yes it is!

It's all about the money!

When I spoke with the Dr about the situation she alluded to the fact that David was insistent on leaving the hospital.

I agreed and could understand why, but what she was really saying was that he could only get the meds he needed if he stayed in the hospital.

Stay in the hospital just to take a pill? Literally!

After much discussion the Dr found a way to get David three more pills that will last him till Wed.

The next step would take place at his Dr appt on Tuesday.

I could write a book about how David would have died by now if he was still living in the woods.

The hospital is supposed to take care of all their patients and try to treat them.

Unfortunately there comes a time where the patient is released to "The Great Beyond" and the hospital seems to wash their hands of it!

HIPAA and the Homeless

Over the last few weeks I have seen the hospital on more than one occasion violate the federal laws that were put in place to protest ones privacy.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”)

This was taken from the US Dept of Health and Human Services website.

Your Health Information Is Protected By Federal Law

Most of us believe that our medical and other health information is private and should be protected, and we want to know who has this information. The Privacy Rule, a Federal law, gives you rights over your health information and sets rules and limits on who can look at and receive your health information. The Privacy Rule applies to all forms of individuals' protected health information, whether electronic, written, or oral. The Security Rule, a Federal law that protects health information in electronic form, requires entities covered by HIPAA to ensure that electronic protected health information is secure.

On one occasion I came to the hospital to meet with the Drs to discuss David's prognosis and treatment.

When the Drs came into the meeting I was asked from the attending physician who are you?

I was quite surprised by the question because David's nurse had set up the meeting for me.

I responded.

"Nelson Parker, I am his power of attorney, my name, phone number and such are all in his file."

The Dr then asked who the other man was that had a ball cap on and had been in the room on prior occasions.

I believe that might have been Tom one of David's friends from the retreat.

The Dr looked at me with a very flushed face, kinda like she had seen a ghost.

Turns out she thought Tom was me and had revealed all the patient information, prognosis, and treatment with him and not me!

She had been making plans for David's release with Tom and I knew nothing about any of it!

The story started here if you want to catch up!

Here's another example of federal laws being broken.

Then last week I received a letter from the hospital addressed to David.

It was a hand addressed letter with David's name on it.

I took the letter to David and he opened it and began to read it.

He wasn't feeling all that well at the time.

He was confused reading the letter so he gave it to me.

I too was quite confused at first, because none of the Drs names or information in it were familiar.

It turns out that the letter was actually medical records of ANOTHER patient!

I have since lodged a complaint with the hospital compliance officer and waiting to hear back from them.

My eyes and ears have been awakened to a very sad situation.

The most I have learned from this experience is the need for an advocate for the homeless (or anyone who is alone) that goes into the hospital. 

The Drs can not depend solely on the patient themselves to help in their own treatment even though I was told this goes on all the time!

There needs to be an advocacy group for patients like these.

I have seen David put out on the street from the ER at 4 am.

He was released with no money, no phone and no ride home!

This is just plain wrong!

Patients rights are being violated far too often.

Great News!

David is doing much better, as a matter of fact I have never seen him so upbeat!

Thank you for the prayers!

He's feeling good and has begun to show his sense of humor!

Yesterday he got the news that his sodium levels were back at a normal level so he began to celebrate.

The hope is that he will be able to return home tomorrow.

I am not sure I have ever seen this side of David since I have known him.

Funny and crazy!

He'll fit right in at home with my family!