The Atrocities Begin:

Looking at so many scenarios, I will focus on my own personal experiences.Let me start with pre-COVID. My husband had an ischemic stroke in 2018 and went to our local Catholic hospital, here in town.  The Emergency Room was quite efficient and they were relatively quick to get him a C- scan to locate the specific problem as well as administer medication to prohibit further strokes.  In addition it was in fact a Catholic hospital.

He was diagnosed with a blockage of his carotid artery on the left side. We were fortunate to find an excellent surgeon who specialized in artery surgery, and he performed an Endarterectomy within a couple of days. My husband made a remarkable recovery and came home. The hospital did not provide him with a shower or bath for the five days he was there, and I also noticed a lack of effort in maintaining the room’s cleanliness. However, it was a small community hospital, and there was a resident priest who provided the Blessing of the sick and communion daily, which gave us confidence in his ability to recover. 

In retrospect, health care was starting to slip back then.  The medical and Ancillary staff were terrific, while the housekeeping staff left a lot to be desired. 

In retrospect, health care was starting to slip back then.  The medical and Ancillary staff were terrific, while the housekeeping staff left a lot to be desired. At that time, they were a small hospital struggling, as many were during that period.Doctors, Dentists, and Optometrists were flourishing and getting into any one of those fields was relatively simple. Yet, it definitely felt different. I couldn’t put my finger on anything, but I felt a different vibe in the hospital. I had not been a Nurse in all of thirty years, so I assumed times were different and so were treatments. I should have been more alert to my gut instinct back then. Something was off, and healthcare was starting to change. It was a movement slithering right under our noses.