When you're waiting for your 8:00 new patient, and out the window you see 2 cops escorting a HUGE guy in an orange prison jumpsuit, with cuffs on his hands and wrists, into your office building...
It's a great sense of relief to see them take him into someone else's office.
The first time I saw the term "forensic patient" on my schedule I got all excited, thinking David Caruso would somehow be involved. Turns out that was my clinic's code for patient will be wearing orange jumpsuit and cuffs. Buzzkill.
The first time I saw the words "forensic patient" next to a patient's name on my schedule I got all excited, thinking David Caruso would somehow be involved. Turns out it was the clinic's code for the orange prison jumpsuit patient. Total buzzkill.
I find the prisoners very polite for the most part, I don't mind them in the ED.
It's the drunks and high mai women that kick up the most fuss. But I guess you don't see many people totally bazooed during business hours at the clinic...
A friend who works at a state prison says the inmates fake all kinds of things to get taken to a hospital or doctor visit--he says they are pretty open about calling it "taking a vacation day".
One thing I learned while a patient once in the ED--if the police bring a patient in strapped to a gurney on a forensic hold, and if they apologize profusely to one and all as they bring the patient in, fun times are a-coming. The patient of the day had a deep sense of injustice and a propensity for yelling. At one point everyone heard, "And I am NOT DUMB! D-U-M! NO! N-O!!!"
I find most inmates to be very polite and enjoyable to work with, especially after they get their Ativan.
I also go out of my way to be extra super nice to all inmates. Should they ever get out of prison and I run into him in a dark alley I want to be remembered as the nice lady from the hospital. =)
I was at the doctor's office for an appt. when an officer came in escorting a guy in shackles. They took their seats diagonally from me. The inmate kept staring at me, I could see him out of the corner of my eye. I tried to ignore him, but he was unnervingly staring. I saw the officer move, so I looked over at him. He had turned to look at the prisoner and then looked at me, and back at the prisoner again. The officer then leaned over to him and said something. The guy shifted around a little and they were called in. I was so glad when they called them back.
The exact thing happened at the med office where I used to work. Ironically, the prisoner was there to see a neurologist in our building, after stabbing his social worker to death. Quite disturbing to see, though!
This blog is entirely for entertainment purposes. All posts about patients may be fictional, or be my experience, or were submitted by a reader, or any combination of the above. Factual statements may or may not be accurate.
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24 comments:
that would have been fun, no? ;-)
But it would have been an interesting exam.
Do you get many/any prisoners in your practice?
Rare. I'm not contracted with any prisons.
So he had cuffs on hands and wrist?
Was there a cuff for each finger or
was there 1 for them??
HAHAHA! Love your site!
BTW...my word verification is..
Hundol! Is this new medicine to
vaccinate us from Huns? Are they
planning to invade?
The first time I saw the term "forensic patient" on my schedule I got all excited, thinking David Caruso would somehow be involved. Turns out that was my clinic's code for patient will be wearing orange jumpsuit and cuffs. Buzzkill.
The first time I saw the words "forensic patient" next to a patient's name on my schedule I got all excited, thinking David Caruso would somehow be involved. Turns out it was the clinic's code for the orange prison jumpsuit patient. Total buzzkill.
oops - sorry - double post.
You're probably better off taking your chances with him than an unidentified crazee patient going off on you!
How did Jill and Willy have the same exact thought? lol well, its possible, but using the same words!? wow
See? Your office doesn't ALWAYS attract the crazy ones...
I find the prisoners very polite for the most part, I don't mind them in the ED.
It's the drunks and high mai women that kick up the most fuss. But I guess you don't see many people totally bazooed during business hours at the clinic...
That's like seeing the flashing red and blue in your rearview mirror only to have them zoom past you. Whew!
A friend who works at a state prison says the inmates fake all kinds of things to get taken to a hospital or doctor visit--he says they are pretty open about calling it "taking a vacation day".
I always enjoyed the interviews with patients in shackles. It added some spice and a dash of danger to an otherwise mundane H+P.
One thing I learned while a patient once in the ED--if the police bring a patient in strapped to a gurney on a forensic hold, and if they apologize profusely to one and all as they bring the patient in, fun times are a-coming. The patient of the day had a deep sense of injustice and a propensity for yelling. At one point everyone heard, "And I am NOT DUMB! D-U-M! NO! N-O!!!"
Sounds like fun to me! I work in the ER of a large urban county hospital, love to get my ghetto on.
I find most inmates to be very polite and enjoyable to work with, especially after they get their Ativan.
I also go out of my way to be extra super nice to all inmates. Should they ever get out of prison and I run into him in a dark alley I want to be remembered as the nice lady from the hospital. =)
Think of all those patients that you WISH were in cuffs and orange jumpsuits.
Oh heck, yes!
I was at the doctor's office for an appt. when an officer came in escorting a guy in shackles. They took their seats diagonally from me. The inmate kept staring at me, I could see him out of the corner of my eye. I tried to ignore him, but he was unnervingly staring. I saw the officer move, so I looked over at him. He had turned to look at the prisoner and then looked at me, and back at the prisoner again. The officer then leaned over to him and said something. The guy shifted around a little and they were called in. I was so glad when they called them back.
I deliver the babies of jail birds from time to time. Some are sweet and sad girls...
Some make me scared for my life.
I remember the first time I saw "d/c to jail" in the chart when I was on rotations in pharm school. I was so surprised.
Don't hold your breath. I bet the doc who has that patient asks for a neuro consult!
The exact thing happened at the med office where I used to work. Ironically, the prisoner was there to see a neurologist in our building, after stabbing his social worker to death. Quite disturbing to see, though!
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