Apparently hospital cleaner threw out essential items?
November 14, 2020 12:23 PM Subscribe
Hospital cleaner apparently threw away my son's essential items, including his glucose meter?
Our diabetic, autistic son is hospitalized after suffering a mild stroke. My husband, who was staying with him, left the hospital briefly to come to our nearby home to shower and change clothes. Upon his return he discovered that a bag containing our son's clothes, electric toothbrush, full tube of toothpaste and other personal items, including his very essential glucose meter kit, was missing. A search produced no sign of the items, and they were not in the hospital lost and found.
Does this happen often in hospitals? It seems that an overzealous cleaner threw everything away?We realize that in these turbulent Covid times, such things may occur, but I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced an incident like this? Our son has brittle diabetes, which needs frequent checking, more often than the usual hospital schedule of checking vitals so we were upset at the loss of his meter.
Our diabetic, autistic son is hospitalized after suffering a mild stroke. My husband, who was staying with him, left the hospital briefly to come to our nearby home to shower and change clothes. Upon his return he discovered that a bag containing our son's clothes, electric toothbrush, full tube of toothpaste and other personal items, including his very essential glucose meter kit, was missing. A search produced no sign of the items, and they were not in the hospital lost and found.
Does this happen often in hospitals? It seems that an overzealous cleaner threw everything away?We realize that in these turbulent Covid times, such things may occur, but I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced an incident like this? Our son has brittle diabetes, which needs frequent checking, more often than the usual hospital schedule of checking vitals so we were upset at the loss of his meter.
I too find this unusual, and I have never had nor heard of anyone having this experience (granted, not during COVID times). I agree you should speak with someone about this; I hope that they were simply put "away" somewhere. Is this bag the only item missing?
posted by sm1tten at 12:39 PM on November 14, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by sm1tten at 12:39 PM on November 14, 2020 [4 favorites]
Response by poster: There were two bags, now both missing.
posted by ragtimepiano at 12:49 PM on November 14, 2020
posted by ragtimepiano at 12:49 PM on November 14, 2020
Things disappear from hospital rooms, even during lockdown. It was likely not the cleaning crew. It is possible the non-valuables will turn up in a trash can eventually, but it could also be a trash can on the other side of town so I wouldn't spend a ton of effort searching.
Throughout various family hospitalizations, we largely stopped trying to keep anything there unless there was a decently-locking drawer we could use (which was rare).
Do tell someone on the floor or in hospital security/admin because it might turn up.
posted by Lyn Never at 1:01 PM on November 14, 2020 [6 favorites]
Throughout various family hospitalizations, we largely stopped trying to keep anything there unless there was a decently-locking drawer we could use (which was rare).
Do tell someone on the floor or in hospital security/admin because it might turn up.
posted by Lyn Never at 1:01 PM on November 14, 2020 [6 favorites]
Please contact management/the ombudsman’s office immediately. This is not something normal that you should have seen coming.
posted by michaelh at 1:25 PM on November 14, 2020 [18 favorites]
posted by michaelh at 1:25 PM on November 14, 2020 [18 favorites]
Yeah, I have gone to the hospital plenty of times. Whether in ER or just being admitted directly the floor, the nurses have me strip to put on a gown and my stuff ends up in a Patient's Belongings bag. I'm assuming you had something similar?
posted by Fukiyama at 1:56 PM on November 14, 2020
posted by Fukiyama at 1:56 PM on November 14, 2020
I always keep my meter in the nightstand drawer or tray table because I’m super paranoid about something like this, although it’s never happened. Either I or my family always has to fill out a list of personal items if I’m admitted as an inpatient, so I’m assuming there must be some kind of procedure in place. I second contacting administration/ombudsperson.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 2:04 PM on November 14, 2020
posted by The Underpants Monster at 2:04 PM on November 14, 2020
In the meantime, if he doesn’t have a backup meter, maybe his endocrinologist’s office has a loaner he could use until it can be replaced.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 2:07 PM on November 14, 2020
posted by The Underpants Monster at 2:07 PM on November 14, 2020
My mom’s wedding ring disappeared this way. It was in a bag and she figured someone threw it out.
posted by FencingGal at 3:07 PM on November 14, 2020
posted by FencingGal at 3:07 PM on November 14, 2020
This happened to my aunt in pre-covid times. It seems to be pretty common in US hospitals from what I've heard from people I've told the story to.
posted by entropyiswinning at 3:42 PM on November 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by entropyiswinning at 3:42 PM on November 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
Oh yeah, my grandma's rings were stolen from the hospice where she was dying. I think my family figured anyone who would steal a dying person's rings must have really needed them.
posted by aniola at 4:11 PM on November 14, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by aniola at 4:11 PM on November 14, 2020 [2 favorites]
My father in laws hearing aids were thrown out while in the hospital. They were on the bedside table.
posted by kimdog at 5:58 PM on November 14, 2020
posted by kimdog at 5:58 PM on November 14, 2020
My dad lost not one but sets of hearing aids during various hospitalizations. This is really, really common. In my dad's case it may have been an error by cleaners or other personnel when my dad was off having a test or having surgery, and the room was cleaned as though a patient had been discharged. The hearing aids were never found, and because they were so small it's probable they were sent with the dirty linens to be washed.
It is also true that there are a lot of people on hospital units, and visitors are not under constant observation by the staff. Empty rooms are tempting places for circumstantial thieves. I worked in hospitals for many years and have seen many, many thefts from patient rooms. It's impossible for nurses to monitor empty rooms in addition to needy patients. I'm so sorry this happened to your son.
By all means call Patient Relations. I don't know what remedy they are able to offer, but they should know about this. The head nurse (nurse manager in common parlance) should also know. I'm sure they will be able to provide diabetic needs while he is hospitalized, and a call to the doctor who prescribed the monitor will result in a new script. It might take a call to the insurer, but I believe they will replace his monitor and testing strips on discharge. And the doctor can also call the insurer to emphasize the urgency.
posted by citygirl at 6:06 PM on November 14, 2020 [3 favorites]
It is also true that there are a lot of people on hospital units, and visitors are not under constant observation by the staff. Empty rooms are tempting places for circumstantial thieves. I worked in hospitals for many years and have seen many, many thefts from patient rooms. It's impossible for nurses to monitor empty rooms in addition to needy patients. I'm so sorry this happened to your son.
By all means call Patient Relations. I don't know what remedy they are able to offer, but they should know about this. The head nurse (nurse manager in common parlance) should also know. I'm sure they will be able to provide diabetic needs while he is hospitalized, and a call to the doctor who prescribed the monitor will result in a new script. It might take a call to the insurer, but I believe they will replace his monitor and testing strips on discharge. And the doctor can also call the insurer to emphasize the urgency.
posted by citygirl at 6:06 PM on November 14, 2020 [3 favorites]
Yes, this happens occasionally.
I am a nurse and when I worked bedside items would get thrown out by mistake. Oftentimes it was hearing aids or dentures left on meal trays or in the bed. The majority of time these items are retrieved by dietary or found.
Items in patient belonging bags should not be thrown out. I am sorry this happened. Glucose meters are inexpensive. I would still contact administration or "patient experience" and report the items missing. They may be able to locate a new meter for you (Diabetes Education often gets free samples from vendors) and/or some sort of apology of compensation. I think there may be some sort of signature that you're responsible for items you bring to room. This is why admitted patients are encouraged to send home money, wallet, valuables, etc.
posted by loveandhappiness at 4:13 PM on November 15, 2020
I am a nurse and when I worked bedside items would get thrown out by mistake. Oftentimes it was hearing aids or dentures left on meal trays or in the bed. The majority of time these items are retrieved by dietary or found.
Items in patient belonging bags should not be thrown out. I am sorry this happened. Glucose meters are inexpensive. I would still contact administration or "patient experience" and report the items missing. They may be able to locate a new meter for you (Diabetes Education often gets free samples from vendors) and/or some sort of apology of compensation. I think there may be some sort of signature that you're responsible for items you bring to room. This is why admitted patients are encouraged to send home money, wallet, valuables, etc.
posted by loveandhappiness at 4:13 PM on November 15, 2020
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posted by amanda at 12:31 PM on November 14, 2020 [1 favorite]