My father recently had a stroke. His left side was weak, and he had difficulty communicating - when he tried to talk, his words came out sounding garbled. Most of my father’s caregiving duties fell to me, given that my siblings lived further away. I took my father to the emergency department (ED), filled out his admitting paperwork, and ensured that the staff had whatever information they requested from my father.
When they decided to admit my father to the hospital, I was told I had to leave due to COVID-19 protocols. The hospital staff said I would be able to visit, but not until the attending physician gave his permission for me to do so. Although I didn’t want to leave my dad’s side, I respectfully followed the staff’s instructions. It was late in the evening by the time I left the hospital, so I wasn’t surprised that I didn’t hear from anyone about my father that night. The next morning, I called the nurse’s station to check on my dad. The ward clerk said she would have the attending physician call me so I could visit my dad.
Instead, it was the case manager who called me with an update on dad’s condition. The case manager said that the doctor would be inserting a feeding tube due to the stroke. However, I wasn’t sure that a feeding tube was necessary - dad had been able to drink some water before we went to the ED. I told the case manager that I wanted a swallow study to be done first and that I wanted to speak with the doctor about the treatment plan. The case manager said he would set up a conference between myself and the care team.
A few hours later, I still hadn’t heard from the case manager or the doctor. At this point, I was extremely frustrated that I couldn’t go to the hospital and see how my dad was doing. I was frustrated that I couldn’t get any information about his condition. I was angry that they were proceeding with a treatment plan that I didn’t understand. I was worried about my dad, and I needed some help.
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Because I had been my dad’s caregiver for a few years and had helped him many times before, I already had the Medicare representative form filled out. When dad and I attended a seminar on Medicare fraud last year, the volunteer with the Senior Medicare Patrol told us we could call Livanta if we needed help communicating with my dad’s care team.
I called Livanta and explained the situation to the representative. The next day, the representative called me back and let me know that she spoke with the case manager, who said someone would contact me right away. I received phone calls from the attending physician and a specialist within the hour. They explained that my father would receive speech therapy to help him re-learn how to swallow, but that he needed a feeding tube temporarily to ensure that he received appropriate nutrition while he healed.
That afternoon, the Livanta representative arranged a conference call with the case manager. I confirmed that my questions were answered, and I had been able to visit my father by that time. In fact, I was sitting in his room with him, waiting for his speech therapist to come and work with him. Thankfully, my dad’s outlook is good. Thanks to just one phone call to Livanta, I can cheer him on as he regains his skills so he can come home.
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Charting the Course of the Healthcare Journey |
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Knowing that the signs and symptoms of a stroke can make a big difference in lessening the damage it can cause. Because recognizing a stroke and getting a patient to the hospital quickly is so important, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created the F.A.S.T. test to help people ascertain whether a stroke has possibly occurred.
F—Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A—Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S—Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
T—Time: If you see any of these signs, call 911 right away.
Why is it important to call 911?
Emergency medical technicians are trained to begin treatment on the way to the hospital. They can gather important information and pass it on to the hospital while the patient is in transit, so the hospital knows what to expect. If there is a specialty hospital nearby that may be able to better treat a stroke patient, the emergency medical technicians may be able to reroute to that facility.
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National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Video about Stroke:
Mind Your Risks Quiz from the National Institute of Health:
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Happy Holidays from Livanta |
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On behalf of the entire team at Livanta, please accept our best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season. We are grateful for your support and readership since the first issue of The Livanta Beacon was published this year.
The next issue of The Livanta Beacon will be published in January 2022.
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About this Publication
The Livanta Beacon includes true-to-life stories of barriers and challenges faced by Medicare beneficiaries and family members, caregivers, or advocates, as told to Livanta staff who assisted them. Details have been altered to protect patient privacy. Although The Livanta Beacon focuses on positive results, not all encounters with the medical system have such outcomes. Nevertheless, Livanta strives to help each Medicare beneficiary, family member, and caregiver get the best possible outcome in every situation.
Following discharge from inpatient facilities, many Medicare beneficiaries experience difficulties managing medications, obtaining transportation to follow-up appointments, preparing meals, and completing other daily tasks. Through Immediate Advocacy, Livanta plays an instrumental role in resolving these barriers.
Each true-life account is meant to encourage beneficiaries and their caregivers. With these stories, Livanta inspires hope and confidence that those in need can successfully navigate their healthcare journey - with Livanta’s support.
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