July 2009

Hi Kumar,

Sorry for the late reply as I was busy the whole week balancing work and hospital.

As spoken twice in the tele conversation last week, I am extremely unhappy with the way my grandmother, a patient of AMKH from July 6th to July 15th , is treated in the hospital. She has a leg fracture and completed the operation in Tan Tock Seng, and was deemed fit for therapy before the transfer to AMKH.

#1. There is no communications between the nurses. There is 1 instance which i asked 2 nurses if the patient has done her toilet needs and taken her breakfast in the morning but I was given 2 different answers. I am surpirsed because i would expect all these to be documented clearly in the patients log book.

#2 Being the spokesperson , I was not informed or given any mental preparation that the patient have the possibility to be transferred out. We only got to know during the visiting hours at 12pm. When we ask the nurse in charge where my grandmother is going, she said “I dont know”. The doctor told me is a “last minute decision”. I do not buy into that explanation because I would have expected the hospital to inform the family that they are doing certain tests on the patient and if the results turns out negative, they might have to send her back to Tan Tock Seng for treatment. All those did not happen.

#3 There is at most just ONE therapy session during the 9 days, citing reasons like fever and breathless state which is not siutable to conduct therapy. I am able to accept that but when i asked the doctor for a reason why this happens , I was told “I dont know” I have never seen a doctor say “I dont know” so many times before.

#4. Since this is a transfer, there is no proper system of handover to TTSH. AMKH just discharged the patient and we are supposed to go to A&E to re register my grandmother and treat as a new case at TTSH

The hospitalization charges amounted to approx. $1400 after subsidy. Even though this is not a big amount, I totally felt the money is wasted because there is NOTHING done to improve her condition. In fact her condition got worsen at AMKH. I did a side by side comparison of the nurses care with Tan Tock Seng and there is so much difference in terms of the quality of treatment and concern given to the patient.

This is very disappointing because we are relying on the hospital to take care of our family and loved ones and any wrong judgement by the hospital will result is life and death situation.

I am not sure what you can do or what the hospital can do to make me feel better, but i can assure you i WILL NEVER recommend anyone back to AMKH and I will continue to pursue this if I have to.

Regards,
Andy Chan
96366220

Granny 2nd visit to TTSH has reached its 1 week mark. Today morning, the staff nurse gave me a ring and requested me to make a trip down to the hospital to have a meeting with the vascular surgeon. I was a little bit afraid as usually these arent good news.

Anyway i still have to go and i decided not to tell my aunt first since no point having one more person worrying about what is “the news”. Anyway this is the condition of my granny

- leg fracture has recovered. Operation is a success. Physio mentioned the exercise is doing her good. She can walk with the walking frame.

- Lung infection can be treated with medication.

- Bladder infection, they removed the urinal tube today , and will check her condition if she can uriner without assistance.

- One of her vessels seems bigger than normal. Doctor say there is a 30% probability that it might burst. The vessel is big enough for operation however doctor recommend no operation because it is high risk for her age and there might be  a 70 % chance she will get paralyzed due to the operation and the vessels affecting the spinal nerves.

My decision is very clear. No operation. No doubt there is a 30% chance it will burst. But the operation is going to degrade the quality of life. With her being at 86 years of age, enjoying and having a relaxed paced life will probably be a better choice then to suffer through the pain and live her remaining time on a wheelchair.

I made the decision this morning, and i still think that decision is the best for her and the family.

My first Union Orientation Cam was in 1997 when I am a freshmen in Nanyang Technological University.

12 years later i am back. Lol. Some say i am too old for it. Some say i am boliao to go and do this again. But the S-Spirit is still in me, and if i have the time, i will go. I still remember the time when i am still in school i was very active . even after i graduate , i still make the effort to join the camp. people who did not go through the camp will not understand why the spirit never dies. Till now, the only people i keep in touch after graduate are not my course mates.. but the friends i make during the camp, year after year. That is why i have friends who are much younger than me too!

I have not been attending the camps for the last few years because of my work. But now, I have the choice to choose to be the funloving Tigger or sad sacked Eeyore. Made this video last night. Check this out

Was reading The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. There was a paragraph there which i like . It is under the Chapter “Never Give up “

Brick Walls are there for a reason. And once you get over them – even if you need someone to practically throw you over, be thankful and it will be helpful to tell others how you did it

That is why we need to  NETWORK!!

Wooh..i should have gotten this long time back.

Allows users to enjoy 6 beverages at only $29.90. Shiok

The Public Communications called me up for a follow up. I explained to them the incident again . If you like to know the details you can read Ang Mo Kio Thye Hua Kwan Hospital Saga Part 1.

As usual, PR are trained to say “Yeah, i understand”. “Oh.. i will follow up..”

Anyway i just told them that, “i spend $1400 for my grandmother 1 week stay in the hospital. Other than telling me her ECG is not normal, tell me what else did the Hospital do to improve her condition ?”

He answered me “I will get back to you by next week”