Overheard at the Hospital

Posted on May 6, 2005 in Encounters Health

During the long spaces of boredom between beds or gurneys, I amused myself by writing down things I heard in the various waiting rooms or hospital corridors. I found myself laughing and cringing at these, recreated here exactly as uttered:

• It’s very hard to get ready for surgery two times and then go back to your room.
• First she was delayed: is she cancelled now?
• I can sing to you, run some water.
• Hello. You’re normal.
• The next time you see Deana, ask her what the red dot means.
• The bed tracking system will be down for thirty minutes. Please log out of the bed tracking system now.
• Your red is at 3.2. Your whites are up from yesterday.

It made Lynn uneasy that I was next to the oncology ward.