Well gentlemen, as some of you know, I was absent for several days last week attending
to my annual physical check up at the VA Regional Medical Center. I will say that I have
spent most of my adult life receiving health care from either the military or VA.

I have always found this care to be compassionate and professional. In my case,
as I am in the sixth decade of life, I am required to have certain internal exams that men
in their forties have not experienced as of yet. I am by no means saying that this is an adventure
to look forward to. However it is necessary and something to be tolerated. In the interest of being quite through,
we old retired veterans are required to endure a number of tests that if we had to be financially responsibly
for we most likely would fore go. At any rate after all of the blood was drawn and the aforementioned exam
completed (I never really wanted to see the inside of my colon) , EKG, X-rays I visited with several specialists,
including a Cardiologist, who I've known for years. I have always been quite healthy and aside
from a few battle wounds over the years
and a old compression fracture from an ejection many years ago, I have lived a clean and virtuous life....

The Cardiologist stated that my blood pressure was elevated again, and that it would be necessary to change
my medication, and we would re-check it on a weekly basis for several months at the local clinic.
I stopped by the pharmacy at the Out patient clinic on my way out and picked up a 10-day supply of the medication
(All long term medication are mailed to patients from Murfreesboro, Tenn.) so I had enough to get me started.
Becky and I returned home after stopping at the casino in Gulfport, to make a contribution to their pension plan.

I took my meds as I always do in the early AM.
Becky went into town for groceries, as we had been gone about five days, and I was answering e-mail, and returning
to my duties at Oddassy as a responsible mentor, and I started to feel quite light headed. I was headed to my
favorite couch, which I share with our dog Sam, and never made it. Becky came home some time later and
found me on the floor of our cabin with Sam lying next to me. She called 911 and I was taken to a local civilian
hospital and admitted to ICU. Now there is an experience I have not enjoyed in a long time…..lol….after
all the tests, tubes and further insults to my body, it was determined that I was stable enough to be transferred
to the local VA hospital. And more importantly, could remove that damn catheter that was the size of a garden hose.

I was there for several days, and was feeling well and really wanted to leave. (Mystery meat and lime jello is
not my idea of gourmet food). Nothing appeared to be going on as far as my care was concerned,
it seemed we were in a holding pattern. After many years of giving orders, I have to assume the poor nurses had
about all they could take from me, and called the Head Physician.

I was told that the Chief of Staff and someone from administration needed to talk to me before I could be
discharged and it would be several hours before they could come down.
I was a captive, what else could I do but reluctially agree, but I ask for a phone,
which they gave me right away. (Big Mistake)

I placed a call to my Cardiologist in Houston to discuss what was going on, and then called my wife to bring
a specific set of old clothes.

It seem that a pharmacy technician had put the label for my medication on someone else’s bottle,
and I received theirs. This not only lowered my blood pressure, but slowed my heart rate to a point
that when I stood up and started to move I passed out, and due to the slow pulse remained semi-conscious
until found. Simple medication error. Well…..my last four days had not been fun, so it was time for a bit
of my type of sick humor.

I told the nurses to call the Chief of Staff and inform him I will visit him in an hour at his office,
if this is not convenient I will see the administrator. (They were still not aware that I knew what happened)
I showered and had a fresh shave. My wife had brought one of my old uniforms with all of the ribbons and decorations
on it, (it has been my experience that sometimes people forget who these veterans were and what they did,
and tend to show a bit more respect if you are dressed and not having your butt hangout the back of a gown).

I presented myself at the Chief of Staffs office at the appointed time and found him, the hospital administrator
and the hospital’s attorney present; they had apparently been having a meeting as I arrived. Pleasantries over, they proceeded to soft peddle the issue of medication error, even if it was at a different facility. My patience was thin
and I wanted to leave. I stood up, thanked them for their time and stated that I expected to be dismissed forthwith,
and the error issue will be dealt with in due course. Wished them a good day and left.

My discharge was at hand when I arrived at my floor and I was released.

I will not pursue this issue of medication error, that is just not how I handle things,
but they don’t know that.

.........................................................jim