Posted by dove on December 1, 2004, at 8:53:00
In reply to Re: On the psychiatric ward..... » ed_uk, posted by ladyofthelamp on December 1, 2004, at 8:26:01
Everyone in the Mental Health Unit of the small local community hospital, is given a thorough physical within 24 hours of admittance by one of the ER docs on call. The psych-staff are very aware of physical conditions which exacerbate, mimic and/or accompany mental illness.
We had one person who contracted influenza and some kind of stomach bug during the last 3 days I was inpatient. They told all of us right away, kept the person in their room, and allowed a limited number of staff (only) to enter that room. No one else got sick during my stay.
On that note, the staff was constantly reminding us to wash our hands during this patient's illness and one of the OCD patients took that to heart, until their hands were conspicuously cracked and bleeding from overwashing. I must say, that I did indeed gain some firsthand experience and knowledge about other mental illnesses while inpatient, and what a difference meds can really make. I am still friends with this patient, and meds have changed their life drastically and for the better.
dove
poster:dove
thread:420511
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041201/msgs/422738.html