Letters
Role of liaisons
in ER clarified
After reading the article "Liaison program links patients,
volunteers" (News, Feb. 23), I feel a few corrections and
clarifications are in order:
Believe it or not, I’ve never watched an episode of "ER," but
"chaos" is not a word I would use to describe the UCLA Emergency
Medicine Center (EMC). Indeed, as an industrial engineer, I’m
usually impressed by how well organized the EMC is when conditions
are in a state of flux.
Dr. Baxter Larmon is the coordinator, not the founder, of the
EMC Patient Liaison program. Several individuals were involved in
the formation of the program and it continues to evolve with their
input and that of the liaisons themselves.
Most of the quotes in the article are taken out of context and
I’m not sure how accurate they are, given that the Bruin reporter
was not recording our interviews. The quote attributed to me was a
paraphrase of what I actually said during the course of a broader
discussion, so I assume the other "direct" quotes were similarly
constructed.
The Patient Liaisons do not check on a patient’s "mental, rather
than physical state" – that’s the function of the social worker on
duty. The liaisons see to non-medical needs, such as getting
blankets and magazines, making phone calls, listening to concerns
and so on.
Pam Shade is an Administrative Nurse II (ANII) who is excellent
at patient interaction but the function of the ANII is primarily
administrative (hence the name). The six or more primary care
nurses on duty are the ones who actually see the patients under the
supervision of the ANII but the article makes no mention of this
fact.
The patient who sent flowers and cookies in gratitude included
all of the doctors and nurses who helped her, not just the liaison,
which happened to be me, as the article states.
Training for the EMC Patient Liaison program involves a minimum
of 20 hours: a four-hour shift shadowing an experienced liaison, a
four-hour classroom session, two four-hour shifts shadowing
different EMC personnel and one four-hour trial shift in which an
experienced liaison shadows the recruit to provide immediate
feedback.
Liaisons do learn about the different "shifts and schedules" and
"Do’s and Don’ts" within the EMC but the "focus" of the program is
to provide a positive experience for patients by acting as a
liaison between EMC staff, family and visitors.
Students who wish to become EMC Patient Liaisons must first work
a minimum of 100 volunteer hours in one of the other departments at
UCLA Medical Center. In addition, we ask that all prospective
volunteers commit to the program for at least six months to justify
our investment in training them.
In conclusion, I appreciate the positive attention given to the
EMC Patient Liaisons but I’m afraid the article did so by unjustly
portraying the caring and dedicated EMC staff in a negative
light.
Rich Thigpen
Patient Liaison volunteer
Emergency Medicine Center
Reduce and reuse before recycling
While I agree that UCLA needs to increase its recycling efforts,
I feel that the Daily Bruin missed the big picture.
The mantra "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle," which was misstated in the
margin above the graphic accompanying Julie Bernstein’s story
"Recycling program targets paper products" (News, March 10), is in
that order for a very good reason. Recycling should be the last
resort, not the focus of UCLA’s efforts.
The emphasis should be on reducing the waste stream in the first
place. Among other methods, food centers should have washable
plates, cups and cutlery to reduce plastic and paper trash. Stores
should carry more refillable pens, pencils and highlighters, and
fewer disposable ones. Purchasing agents should favor products that
use minimal packaging. Computer centers should collect and reuse
paper printed on one side only. Food waste should be turned into
mulch for trees and plants. The campus should be full of stands
where people can leave newspapers and other reading material for
others to enjoy.
If UCLA made a serious effort to reduce and reuse waste,
recycling what is left would not be such a daunting project.
Kay M. Gilbert
Graduate student
Urban planning
TV news lacks
tact, credibility
I would like to compliment Alicia Roca for her column
"Sensationalistic news trivialize real issues" (Viewpoint, March
12) on the ridiculous and sensational news stories we are
constantly bombarded with. This practice is nationwide but appears
worse in Los Angeles.
I think we should all e-mail the TV news stations telling them
that this type of reporting is unprofessional and unacceptable. I
am so sick of the Hollywood gossip repeated on every channel during
every hour of prime time. Who cares?
I am also appalled by the lack of dignity and decency on the
part of the news media when covering violent stories and would also
like to see more international news covered in-depth. We might
actually learn what’s going on in the rest of the world.
Carol Grese
Academic Specialist
Kinsey Administrative Group (KAG)