"My parent's admission to ED and the medical ward"

My parent lives in permanent care with a primary diagnosis of Alzheimer's Dementia with Short Term Memory Loss.  They were admitted to the local hospital by their care facility recently early in the morning following an episode of vomiting.

By midday that day, our family had received notice that our parent was suffering a suspected bowel obstruction.  They were transferred to Midland SJOG Public Hospital for further investigation, and we received further advice that they were to receive a CT scan, and would possibly require major abdominal surgery, from which they might not recover. 

For myself and my siblings who all live more than 2000km from Perth, this was very difficult news to receive.  After 3 phone calls to the ED at Midland Hospital, late that night, I managed to have a brief conversation with an ED Doctor who advised that my parent did not in fact have a bowel obstruction, but had other symptoms which required intervention.  There was no explanation offered as to why they had initially suspected a bowel obstruction, and the doctor I spoke with was seemingly unable to describe symptoms which would lead them to assume that this was the case.  This doctor did not request any medical or social history, or ask for any input which might explain my parent's behaviour, which was proving to be difficult at this point.

My parent was admitted to the medical ward 3C at Midland SJOG some time during the night.  Over the course of the next two days, I spoke with nurses caring for my parent a total of 4 times.  The nurses were able to report on my parent's general well-being, but were unable to give me any details regarding a diagnosis, any investigation results, or a definitive plan for their treatment.  I requested each time that my parent's treating team of doctors call me to provide further information, but my calls were not returned. 

Late in the afternoon on the third day I became frustrated with the lack of response from the medical team and forcefully demanded to the ward clerk that the medical team return my call.  Within 1 hour of this call, I received a telephone call from a doctor in the medical team, who was willing to answer my questions regarding my parent's diagnosis and treatment plan.  During this conversation, I was able to ascertain that the medical treatment team were unaware of my parent's diagnosis of Alzheimer's Dementia with short term memory loss.  I believe this knowledge would have been extremely useful for the medical staff when forming their diagnosis, as I believe that they were under the impression that they were delerious as the result of an infection.  This was despite the results of blood tests and urinalysis not showing infection. 

While both my sibling and myself are listed as next of kin, and have dual Power of Guardianship for my parent, only my sibling was contacted with regard to any treatment decisions.  This is despite the fact that my sibling requested each time they were contacted, that I be called as the first point of contact for my parent, as I live in the same state (and time zone) as my parent. 

Thankfully, at the time of writing this, my parent has improved to the point where they can be discharged.  I do believe though, that a timely telephone call returned to myself would have provided important information regarding my parent's medical and social history. This would have freed up SJOG Midland valuable resources, and provided safer and more patient centered care for my parent.