As mentioned previously, Ooma contracted, for the third time, COVID-19 sometime during our 4 days in VA. Two days ago she tested negative on a home test. Yesterday, because she was still feeling short of breath, she decided she would like an X-ray of her lungs, to see if she might have pneumonia. So at 10am we headed to UMASS Memorial Medical Center, University Canvas, to try to get an X-ray. She had tried to get an X-ray at an urgent care facility but they were totally unresponsive (how does “urgent” square with “unresponsive”?). After waiting nearly 6 hours, we left without the X-ray. On the way out we learned that one of the possible reasons for the delay was that Ooma had tested positive for COVID-19 during the intake screening, which meant that a portable X-ray machine would have to be used. No one told her that and no one told her to take any special precautions while waiting, which we found puzzling. Or maddening.
We went home, had dinner and a nap and, at 8pm, went to UMASS Memorial Hospital, the older UMASS facility in Worcester. This time, after a wait of “only” 3 hours, she got the desired X-ray. But it took another 2 hours to get the results which were, sadly, not terribly enlightening: she has COVID, her lungs are fine, she just needs to rest. No cause for her distressing shortness of breath.
After this frustrating and depressing day, her response was “this is the kind of medical care you get at one of the best hospitals in Massachusetts?” She thought she would have learned more in Florida.
I found it curious that I was asked to leave the waiting room at Memorial because I had been in contact with Ooma, who had tested positive (I waited in the car). No one asked me to leave the waiting room at University. This kind of inconsistent protocol simply highlights the fact that the medical profession, after two years of pandemic, still has no clear idea of how to deal with COVID-19 patients.
Frustrating. And a bit disturbing. And a miserable, unproductive day in Worcester.