Albert Rodney & Victoria Jeanette
Thursday, October 16, 2003
Questions and Answers from Dr. Hoover
I called Dr. Hoover today...
1. Does Dr. Hoover Wipple do procedure or supervise?
has done 7 in last 4 months; 60-70s y.o.; 4-5 hours; he does it but supervises team
2. How many has LVH done in last 12 months?
15 -20 /year (I saw data that showed 10 per year for 2001)
3. What is surgical mortality/morbidity rate for this at LVH?
Mortality rate < 5%
No mortality for "quite a while"
Morbidity 1 pulmonary embolism and died day he went home
Recent complication; pancreatic fistula required drain
4. What was the age of the oldest pt?
79 or 80
5. Routine IV antibiotics? TPN?
No IV drip; No TPN;
Enteral nutrition by intestinal feeding tube to bypass all surgical areas
Chemo and radiation followup post op perhaps; tumor board would decide if warranted
6. Estimate of length of hospital stay?
6-7 days stay and w/ feeding tube
Eating by 4 or 5 days
7. Does insurance pay?
Medicare YES
Notes:
Dad is to be scheduled for stress test next week.
Dad is scheduled to see Hoover and Kleaveland on 10/29.
Hoover scheduled Dad for possible surgery on "either 10/31 or 11/4" pending clearance from medical doc (Sciala?) and cardiologist (Kleaveland).
Kleaveland will need results of stress test.
I will contact Sciala.
I called Dr. Scialla, the Internal Med doc who managed his care at LVH.
Said Dad has very high CA 19-9 marker (2,379;normal is 0-36). This is a pancreatic cancer marker. He was very surprised that Hoover said he was candidate for a Whipple. "Certainly Albert is high risk."
William Scialla, DO
Internal Medicine
Lehigh Valley Hospital
Pager: 610-402-5100
Pager: 3297
Work: 610-402-1150
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
NewSeasons and Missing Wheelchair
I called Lorri Nowicki (NewSeasons Concierge) to make sure she scheduled Dad's stress test on 10/23, 24 or 27.
Dad had told Hospice that he didn't want the wheel chair they just provided(?). He told them to take it away, but they took the wrong chair.
Talked to Chenique in Nurses Station about missing wheel chair. It was returned on 10/16.
Hospice Social Worker
Robin Hyler left message on Dad's home phone about making an appointment. Puzzled, I called Hospice and talked to the head social worker. Jennifer was very nice. I filled her in and she said she would visit Dad week of 10/20.
Jennifer Warg
Social Worker
LV Hospice
Work: 610-402-2392
Mobile: 484-239-5667
Monday, October 13, 2003
Dad called me two times today to complain about his clogged drain again. He
didn't call for help. I reminded him again to pull the string and if they
don't come within an hour, then call Hospice.
Dad saw Hoover today, but they did not call me when he was in the office.
Hoover's office said he would call me but he didn't.
When I asked Dad about the visit he said it didn't go well -- Hoover wants
him to be stronger; he must be able to walk. Set another appointment in 2
weeks.
He seems even more depressed and complained about Mom. He asks her to do
things for him but she can't. He talks about giving up.
I'm going to suggest that Hospice sends someone to talk -- mostly listen to
him. He is obviously very scared of dying.
