Fast Response about Non Accessible Hospital Bathroom

I finally found the slip of paper that had the Maintenance Dept. of the Hospital phone numbers on it. Just a quick update on what that's all about. When I went to get all the blood work done at the hospital a couple of weeks ago, I used the restroom off the lab waiting room. Luckily, I was using the walker then, as there was not a bar at the toilet. I complained to the lab people, and they gave me the phone numbers to call.

So I called today, and was called back promptly. The lady sounded a little defensive and agitated to me, but she was polite, as far as what she said. According to her, the bathroom I used was not a public restroom. I explained to her that it was directly off the waiting area, and that anyone would assume it was a public restroom. She assured me that it was not, and that she would have it marked accordingly. I asked her who I could talk to to get the assistance bar added, and she directed me to the hospital Administrator, giving me the phone number.

I called, told my story again, and was told they would contact their Facilities person. I again received a callback promptly, this time from someone who had actually gone to look at the waiting room and the restroom for himself. He agreed that anyone would think that it was a public restroom, but the dimensions of the room did not qualify it for handicap accessible designation. He explained that there was an appropriate restroom nearby. He, too, said that the restroom would be marked so that someone would know where the handicap accessible bathrooms were.

This is not a hospital we normally use, and that's the only occasion I've ever had to be at that lab. I'll probably never know if they really do put up a sign to direct people waiting in the lab area to the accessible restrooms, but at least I made them aware of the problem. I am pleased that they seem to have taken my complaint seriously.

Heavy Metals Tests & Access Problems

Yesterday we turned in my 24 hour urine catch to the lab for the test for heavy metals. Since we live within a quarter of a mile of what the EPA called one of the worst toxic waste sites they ever had to clean up, we're very anxious to hear the results on that one. Obviously, there are several metals that could cause the PN, so this is a key test. I started to just let DH take the container back by himself, but it's a good thing I didn't. They had such a hard time drawing blood Thursday that one of the vials had clotted, so they had to draw more blood from me yesterday. That would have been terrible, to go to the doctor next week and not have all the tests completed.

I'm finding the oddest places that I'm having trouble navigating with the walker. The door to the bathroom at the hospital lab was so heavy that I couldn't get it open and get the walker through it, too. DH had to get up and hold the door for me. Then, when I got in the bathroom, there was no hold bar -- in a HOSPITAL bathroom! I couldn't believe it! We got the phone number of the maintenance department from the lab people. That was the only number they could give us, figuring they would know who we would need to contact to complain about the bathroom not being compliant.

We went to an old Wendy's for lunch, and it took 2 people to hold 2 sets of doors open at the same time to get the walker through the vestibule doors, the way they opened on each other. That's crazy!! Nobody in a wheelchair would be able to get in that place alone. They're going to get a call, too. We've been talking to managers for years about maneuverability issues we saw pertaining to wheelchairs, but we've obviously missed some in places we never took my mother. You just don't notice things like that until you are confronted with them yourself.