Curse of email, social media, etc. & loved ones

[shootingstar]

I'm sorry to hear your father is very sick. It is a terminal disease or temporary?

At the very least, the hospital should allow communication devices in common meeting/recreational areas for patients. And have a computer or 2 permanently installed.

[OakLeaf]

It is a terminal disease or temporary?

Well, among other things that make his life chronically very painful, he has emphysema, but he's expected to recover from whatever it is that put him in the hospital now (they're not entirely sure, which is true for more than one of his chronic and recurrent conditions). I'd be headed that way for sure if they thought his death was imminent...

Thanks for your good wishes.

[Crankin]

Oakleaf, my dad has been in and out of the hospital (pancreatic infection that had complications) for the past month, in San Diego. He had his cell next to him at all times, but I did call the room phone a few times when he didn't answer. It's been frustrating to communicate with my brother, who lives there, though. He has no computer or email. Because of the time difference, and the fact he works weird hours (he's a kitchen designer for Home Depot), we hardly ever can talk. And, it's complicated, obviously, by the fact that I can't keep my phone on at work. For some reason, my brother doesn't call my home phone, where it might be easier to catch me.
A few years ago, DH had to spend the weekend in the hospital, before his stent surgery. They said they didn't have wireless for patients, but DH was able to quickly tap into their network. The hospital he actually had the surgery at, had bedside computers, which DH thought was the best invention, ever.
We communicate by Skype when he is in Europe, but sometimes a day goes by where I don't hear from him. It's always because of his busy schedule/time difference. I don't get overly concerned. We don't talk during the work day, unless there's some real reason to communicate, i.e. plans change, etc. So, he knows that if I call, there's a good reason. Neither of us text and I don't even have a data plan on my ancient flip phone, nor do I know how to text.

[shootingstar]

Oakleaf, my dad has been in and out of the hospital (pancreatic infection that had complications) for the past month, in San Diego. He had his cell next to him at all times, but I did call the room phone a few times when he didn't answer. It's been frustrating to communicate with my brother, who lives there, though. He has no computer or email. Because of the time difference, and the fact he works weird hours (he's a kitchen designer for Home Depot), we hardly ever can talk. And, it's complicated, obviously, by the fact that I can't keep my phone on at work. For some reason, my brother doesn't call my home phone, where it might be easier to catch me.
A few years ago, DH had to spend the weekend in the hospital, before his stent surgery. They said they didn't have wireless for patients, but DH was able to quickly tap into their network. The hospital he actually had the surgery at, had bedside computers, which DH thought was the best invention, ever.
We communicate by Skype when he is in Europe, but sometimes a day goes by where I don't hear from him. It's always because of his busy schedule/time difference. I don't get overly concerned. We don't talk during the work day, unless there's some real reason to communicate, i.e. plans change, etc. So, he knows that if I call, there's a good reason. Neither of us text and I don't even have a data plan on my ancient flip phone, nor do I know how to text.

Well things get backs to normal when he returns to Canada next wk., meanwhile he's fuming away not having hotel Internet access in his Madrid hotel because it's me, and business reasons he needs it alot.

The hospital patient need situation will only grow ...big time. I can fully appreciate not to allow in-room cell phone conversation for patients because if one shares sleeping room with others, then it's highly disruptive.

But at least for common eating areas, etc.

[malkin]

After a trip to Mexico last year, my brother wrote:

There are some things that we take for granted and don't notice until they're gone, things like air, water, and high speed internet.

[emily_in_nc]

There are some things that we take for granted and don't notice until they're gone, things like air, water, and high speed internet.

Ain't it the truth!