I wonder if there's some way to fill this need

[eDJ_]

Overland One wrote:

Well, in this day and age of tech, could not someone monitor someone virtually? As a business this could be good as one person could monitor several folks simultaneously. (within reason) So, the patient assures the hospital that they have both a ride and monitoring once home. We use virtual meetings for doctors visits, court appearances, and business meetings so why not this?

Agreed ! They seem to expect us to do everything else today with App's and as Spiff says:

We don't know why hospitals require someone with you for 6 hours (especially no qualification other than breathing). Is it a sound medical practice or CYA because of getting sued in the past or just because 'this is how it has always been done'?

...............and App's seems to be how we're doing it now. Whether it's Google Hangouts, Zoom, Skype etc. AND, what's the percentage of cases where the procedure results in failure and the "designated monitor" has to report an issue to the Hospital ?

When I had a cataract replacement, I spent more time in recovery than the time it took for the simple operation. I think the monitor was more about assuring the patient got home and safely into a place to rest for the 6 hours. (no car wreck or falling down during transport)

I was so elated to have my vision back in that eye that I wasn't going to do anything to jeopardize it. I made sure to have a good friend with a dependable car to serve as my monitor. Anyone needing a "monitor" to transport them and follow up should value that service accordingly.

 

[Happy Camper]

When Can I Drive After Surgery?

Driving after surgery should wait until it can be done safely. Find out how long you should wait before driving after a procedure.

www.verywellhealth.com

 

[john*thomas]

This could be a service that even people who have people might employ. I can see a son or daughter using this service for a parent so they don't have to miss work.

 

[user 36441]

So here's a need for workers that's going unfilled -- but I'm not sure how to turn it into a viable job. I'm guessing it probably wouldn't work for most, but I'm just going to throw it out here in case someone can figure out how to run with it.

I just had my second cataract surgery.* Like many outpatient surgeries now, it was mandatory to have someone drive you home and stay with you for 6 hours. I'm new in town and didn't know anyone I wanted to impose on. It was really hard to find anyone willing to do this for pay -- even most of the home-health-care agencies won't. I finally found someone fantastic, but even that agency had literally only one person willing to take it on because nobody (in that field anyway) wants short-term gigs. I can't say I blame them since the $%^&* surgicenter gives less than 24 hours notice of your schedule, so the person has to basically block the whole day off their calendar.

There was a New York Times article sometime in the last month on this problem. Apparently it is widespread, and people are even doing without medical procedures because of it.

I don't think it would be easy to set up a service. Customers would need a good reason to trust you -- easiest if you went through some existing agency's vetting service -- and you would need a good way to feel safe in strangers' houses -- again easiest if you worked through an established company, I'd think -- and a business-friendly vehicle -- and a lifestyle that worked with multiple short random gigs rather than one steady one -- and you'd probably want basic CPR/first aid even though it's not mandatory (they just require a warm body >18 y.o. willing to sign a form). But this is what capitalism is supposed to be good at -- matching up weird needs with weird availabilities -- right?

edited to add: and there could be liability issues, so you might need a basic contract + insurance -- yeah, would probably only work through an existing agency -- but you might be able to pitch it to one -- "my" guys sounded interested in expanding into this if they could have found the staff to do it.

Anyway, if there's the 1 in 1000 out there who thinks they could run with this, here it is FWIW.

*

I'm currently vanning in Tucson and need cataract surgery and don't know anyone here, so here's what I'm thinking of doing. Take out a Craigslist post in "gigs". Offer $100 to meet me at the hospital, wait for the surgery to finish, and then escort me back to my van. $20 up front, the rest afterward. Some may think $100 is too much, but I'm talking about my eyesight here, and I don't thimk $50 is enough to really motivate.
I see some good ideas here, and I hope someone comes up with a good one.

 

[bullfrog !]

Wander out to Caballo Loco south of Three Points. They have a bulletin board there or call the office see if they can post it for you. I have some family in Tucson if you don’t have any luck. At the price of fuel and as spread out as Tucson is it doesn’t sound unreasonable but trusting someone one Craigslist maybe!

 

[Carla618]

I'm currently vanning in Tucson and need cataract surgery and don't know anyone here...

You might be able to post an ad on the bulletin board at University of Arizona's Student Union. The union is smack in the middle of campus. Map:

Public Map

Public Map - University of Arizona

map.arizona.edu

 

[rruff]

We don't know why hospitals require someone with you for 6 hours (especially no qualification other than breathing). Is it a sound medical practice or CYA because of getting sued in the past or just because 'this is how it has always been done'?

I'd just lie and tell them I have someone watching me. It's a silly rule.

 

[user 36441]

You might be able to post an ad on the bulletin board at University of Arizona's Student Union. The union is smack in the middle of campus. Map:

Public Map

Public Map - University of Arizona

map.arizona.edu

Thanks, Carla

 

[DrivenNomad]

I'm currently vanning in Tucson and need cataract surgery and don't know anyone here, so here's what I'm thinking of doing. Take out a Craigslist post in "gigs". Offer $100 to meet me at the hospital, wait for the surgery to finish, and then escort me back to my van. $20 up front, the rest afterward. Some may think $100 is too much, but I'm talking about my eyesight here, and I don't thimk $50 is enough to really motivate.
I see some good ideas here, and I hope someone comes up with a good one.

I just had my 2nd cataract Surgery in Vegas a month ago. The 1st one was done back in October. I was camping on BLM land in Pahrump at the time of both surgeries. I knew nobody well enough to ask them to drive me back-and-forth from Pahrump to Vegas, and on top of that I'd have to return to vegas the next day for a follow up check with the doctor. I explained my predicament to the doctor and had him put me in touch with the administrator at the surgery center. They agreed to let me park my rig in the parking lot at the surgery center and let me walk out after the surgery and stay there for the rest of the day and night. In the morning I was able to see well enough to drive the 5 miles to the doctor's office, and an hour later I drove myself back to Pahrump.
They are only worried about you until the anesthesia and it's effects have worn off. The whole scenario played out so well that when it was time for the 2nd surgery I arranged it with a simple phone call. They even had someone bring dinner out to me in my rig, and in the morning they brought me coffee.
You'll never know what you're gonna get if you never ask.

 

[Overland One]

I just had my 2nd cataract Surgery in Vegas a month ago. The 1st one was done back in October. I was camping on BLM land in Pahrump at the time of both surgeries. I knew nobody well enough to ask them to drive me back-and-forth from Pahrump to Vegas, and on top of that I'd have to return to vegas the next day for a follow up check with the doctor. I explained my predicament to the doctor and had him put me in touch with the administrator at the surgery center. They agreed to let me park my rig in the parking lot at the surgery center and let me walk out after the surgery and stay there for the rest of the day and night. In the morning I was able to see well enough to drive the 5 miles to the doctor's office, and an hour later I drove myself back to Pahrump.
They are only worried about you until the anesthesia and it's effects have worn off. The whole scenario played out so well that when it was time for the 2nd surgery I arranged it with a simple phone call. They even had someone bring dinner out to me in my rig, and in the morning they brought me coffee.
You'll never know what you're gonna get if you never ask.

That was an awesome way to work that out. Good thinking.

 

[rruff]

They are only worried about you until the anesthesia and it's effects have worn off. The whole scenario played out so well that when it was time for the 2nd surgery I arranged it with a simple phone call. They even had someone bring dinner out to me in my rig, and in the morning they brought me coffee.

^^ That's service!

It's great to see any overly regulated service actually be sensible at times. I'm going to remember that if I ever have surgery.

 

[rpmhart333]

First thing I thought of in this context was "local church". The second was "local adult center". The third thing I thought was "chocolate cheesecake", but that has nothing to do with the discussion. It's just that I think of chocolate cheesecake a lot. So I told myself "this is important stuff. get back on the topic", but have come up with nothing else. Please don't take the discussion off-topic and make me guilty because I have ADD.

 

[Happy Camper]

You could use chocolate cheesecake as an incentive to get a person to assist you possibly.

Cash + chocolate cheesecake.