In the last few years, I've had experience with E.R. and inpatient care at various local hospitals. When care is good, it's very, very good (as in the case of a relative who was in intensive care after complicated surgery) and it can be very, very bad (as when she was sent to an ordinary hospital room to recover for several days).

Recently, in fact, for the past several days, I've had a relative in the E.R. and in an ordinary hospital room where he waits while the hospital (and various physicians) decide what to do with him. He's very well-insured; I can't help but think this is a factor in their keeping him in the hospital. He has a 'home' in an assisted-living facility that we would like to return him to.

We come home angry, sad, frustrated - and not because of his condition, which we understand very well and it is not life-threatening. In fact, as an elderly man, he is in the pink, so to speak. We come home with all these emotions because we have had to deal with the hospital and the physicians. As well-meaning as everyone is, and they believe they are doing their jobs well, they are NEVER appalled at the mistakes or rush to correct them. They know the system, they know the system is seriously flawed and they have to work within it.

Everyone should pray to have supportive relatives who can monitor what's going on when old age happens. Because believe me, it is a nightmare to be at the mercy of the dis-organization of the institution and the very well-qualified people who work there. Start having lots of children now - and hope one of them will stand by and take care of you through these situations! Your income and your credentials are not going to save you.