It is hard to believe that I am winding down this assignment. Time seems to pass quicker when you don’t want something to end. That is how it is right now. I don’t know that I will miss the location, but I will certainly miss my coworkers.
Time also passes quickly when you are trying to achieve something and a deadline looms near. I perform my own casual assessment of each facility that I visit. The goal is always to find gaps, establish processes, and leave the facility in a better place than I found it. This isn’t just surrounding clinical issues, I usually include an informal financial analysis as well -if I am included in that realm. I was brought into that area here. The administrator gave me an expense report and asked if I could review it for cost containment. It was quickly apparent to me that the facility is paying for items that could and should be billed elsewhere. I had two immediate questions: Why are we paying for urological, ostomy, and wound supplies when they could be billed through Med B? Why are we paying for glucometer strips, lancets, and diabetic supplies when most of the residents qualify for a free CGM (which benefits the patients and provides better insight for diabetic control, as well)?
There was not a clear answer to either of these questions. Sometimes it is related to a lack of knowledge and sometimes it is related to the amount of time and effort that is required to initiate these processes, but the incredible cost savings is worth it. I am not always in a place long enough to follow through with projects, but my goal is to at least get them initiated and train/educate someone to carry through. I am hoping to have both of these completed prior to my departure.
We spent this past weekend in Kennebunkport, ME. We have visited it multiple times, but this time we knew it would be our last chance. We rode around on a scooter taking in the sights and sounds. The beach there is one of the most beautiful ones that I have ever seen and the town could be described as picturesque (the kind of photography that you see in puzzles). We purchased some wild blueberry syrup and preserves for our daughter (her special request). Wookie had a great time running on the beach and greeting all the other dogs (dogs are rarely on a leash there and all very friendly).
Although I am sad about leaving, I am incredibly excited about being back in a desert climate and ecstatic about the prospect of living in my camper again. The RV resort is on a river, so we are packing our paddle board/kayaks and the rest of our outdoor gear so that we can enjoy it to the fullest.
It looks like I will be driving from here to the next location (47 hours). My husband flies back to Texas this week to prepare the camper. He will leave Texas pulling the camper and meet me at the next assignment. He should arrive a few days before me and have everything set up and waiting for Wookie and I.
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