Apparently, He Also Forgot How To Be A Patient Patient
I am working at the patient information desk at a hospital when I get the following call. The person on the other end sounds like an older gentleman.
Caller: “I was briefly hospitalized yesterday. I fell and hit my head on a rock, and police advised that I go in.”
Me: “Okay. And how can I help you?”
The caller repeats himself.
Me: “I understand. How can I help you?”
Caller: “Well, I want to find out what happened.”
Me: “I’m not too sure.”
Caller: *Now getting upset* “Are you not understanding?!”
Me: “I’m sorry, I am not.”
The caller then more or less repeats himself again, but then he mentions that he isn’t sure if he was at [My Hospital] or the other major hospital in the city. Ah, something to go on, finally!
Unfortunately, though, I cannot find any record of his name in my system for yesterday. I inform him of this.
Caller: “Well, what am I supposed to do, then?!”
Me: “You could try calling the police? Do you know if they brought you in?”
Caller: “I don’t know!”
Me: “You could try the other hospital, then?”
Caller: “You’re no help!” *Click*
I truly felt sorry for him that he had some memory loss. Had he not gotten so angry or not hung up on me, I would have directed him to the health organization’s health information line, where patients can speak with a nurse about their medical information. They may have had some information, but only if the gentleman indeed did get to a hospital. But I was honestly expecting him to show up in our system and felt a bit thrown off by how angry he got. Hopefully, he can get some answers!
