How well do you communicate with your patients?

A sweet grandmother telephoned St. Josephs Hospital.  She timidly asked, 'Is it possible to speak to someone who can tell me how a patient is doing?'
     
        The operator said 'I'll be glad to help, dear. What's the name and room number?'  The grandmother in her weak tremulous voice said, 'Norma Findlay, Room 302.' The operator replied, 'Let me place you on hold while I check with her nurse.'
      
       After a few minutes the operator returned to the phone and said, 'Oh, I have good news, her nurse just told me that Norma is doing very well.  Her blood pressure is fine; her blood work just came back as normal and her physician, Dr.Cohen, has scheduled her to be discharged on Tuesday.'

   The grandmother said, 'Thank you. That's wonderful! I was so worried!  God bless you for the good news.'  The operator replied, 'You're more than welcome. Is Norma your daughter?'  The grandmother said, 'No, I'm Norma Findlay in 302.  No one tells me shit.'

Ohhhh, it happens. We just do not tell our patients what they need to hear.