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Caregiver Tip #3 Become a Patient Advocate

FROM THE NOTEBOOK


2-27-14

Can more pain meds be given?
Rash on back
Mild fever
jaundice returning
concerned he may be bleeding internally from procedures.


By this time we had already decided that Mathew would never be alone, that meant for the most part, that I was with him overnight. Not that he slept much.

TIP: I learned that while Mathew had company during the day, the best use of my time was crunching the timeline. Checking which orders were coming through, checking with the case manager to see what was happening towards getting Mathew to Moffitt.

You can’t just sit and wait. 

They knew when they saw me walking up to them that I wanted an update. Someone was sitting at a desk in the hall outside of Mathew’s room working on the logistics. I was impressed, but I know my nudging made a difference.

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