Hi Christine,

I guess I have had to be my husband's CCC, trying to coordinate everything. I thought that by going to Emory we were going to get something like that, especially when they wouldn't even consider operating until his tests were reviewed and disccussed by the Tumor Board. But that hasn't happened. We have found that each and every doc is afraid to step on the others "turf".

The Head and Neck Surgeon found the Fistula (which caused the infection) on a Thursday and said "you need to see the Plastic Surgeon as soon as possible". We weren't able to get in to see him until the following Tuesday, but by Sunday, my husband was admitted to Emory with an infection.

At the last appointment with the Plastic Surgeon, where he told my husband he wanted to "fix" the bone, he also told Chris (it's about time I gave my husband a name - huh) that he needed to see the Head and Neck surgeon before he would consider operating. You would think they would talk to one another instead of having to wait and get appointments and duplicate everything.

I have had to push the docs to get orders for rehab. So far they have only ordered the shoulder rehab and that is after we asked. There has been no rehab for speech or swallowing. He has had to learn that on his own. Chris pushes himself to take 8 cans of protien formula each day thru the NG tube (it takes 90 minutes for 2 cans to drip thru). This takes care of his nutrition and he has learned how to swallow milkshakes, which he adds protien to, and he was excited the other day when he finished an entire can of tomato soup.

Our last problem was when the Radiologist said he didn't want to start the radiation until we say the Plastic surgeon (whom Chris had just seen the week before). We lost it at that appointment. I think that doc knew we were about to just give up because he stopped everything and got on the phone with both surgeons to coordinate while we waited in his office.

I should have known what to expect when I couldn't even get the docs to remove the catheter at the hospital. There was a point where it was obvioulsy no longer needed, but each team of docs that came into his room said that had to be done by the other team. I got so frustrated. Finally the "big cheese" doc came in. You wouldn't think that it would take a Head and Neck Surgeon to remove a catheter. I couldn't believe how everyone kept passing the buck on something so simple.

OK - I'm rambling now -- sorry. I hope it makes others on this post feel better about their quality of care.