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Intercom
Duke University Medical Center
VOLUME 24, NUMBER 28
JULY 15,1977
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
Lock Car, Hide Valuables,
Public Safety Recommends
CB radios are popular not only
with medical center personnel, but
also with the thieves who
occasionally break into their cars.
The parking garage, where
crowded conditions make it easy for
someone to hide, continues to be
particularly susceptible to crime, and
the most prevalent crime there is
stealing CBs from cars, according to
public safety Capt. Tim Wheatley.
Wheatley said there also is some
theft of tape decks, as well as a high
concentration of breakins to steal
suitcases left lying on the seat.
Thieves Are Curious
Evidentally the unknown contents
of a suitcase whet the curiosity of the
thief, he said: "They don't know
what it is. It might be dirty
underwear or it could be valuable
jewelry.”
Wheatley suggests some things
individuals can do to protect against
such burglaries.
One is the installation of
quick-release mounting for CB
radios. The owner then can remove
the radio easily and lock it in the
trunk or take it inside any time the
car is parked.
Burglar alarm systems also are
available for cars, Wheatley said,
noting that some car thieves can
break into a car as quickly as the
owner can open it with a key.
Use Your Trunk
All valuables should be locked in
the trunk. "I don't know of any
incident in our garage of someone
breaking into a locked trunk,"
Wheatley said.
He further suggests borrowing an
etching tool from the Durham Public
Safety Department and engraving
one's driver's license number in the
metal of a CB and other valuables.
Wheatley noted that theft in the
garage is about equally divided
among the three decks.
He said that most thieves drive
into the garage so they can haul out
what they steal. Biit they did catch
one man walking out of the garage
and carrying three CBs in a pillow
case.
"He's serving time for that right
now," Wheatley said.
THAT'S A BIC TtN-FOUR—CBers can prevent theft of their radios by following the
example of F. A. Ward, parking attendant, and installing a quick-release mounting. A
simple pull of the lever and it slides right out to be locked in the trunk or carried
inside with you. For a related story and photos see page 3. (Photo by John Becton)
Exit Interviews in Orthopaedics
Are There Any Questions Before You Go?
By John Becton
(From a report by Carolyn Bradley,
reporter, Ambulatory Nursing.)
Since a number of people are
inclined to seek medical help only
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when they absolutely have to, they
may be neglecting less obvious
medical needs, as well as preventive
health measures.
Recognizing this situation, as well
as desiring that patients get the most
out of their treatment, the
Orthopaedic Outpatient Clinic
(OPC) has begun conducting exit
interviews.
The depth of the interview may
vary with how busy the clinic is, and
presently not every patient is
interviewed with every visit. But
while the interviews once were
conducted in the hall, now they take
place in a room designated for that
purpose.
Becoming Part of the System
"It's still somewhat informal, but
we're working it into our routine,
and it is our hope that eventually all
patients will have exit interviews,"
Head Nurse Pam Falls said.
All interviews are done by Falls,
RN Annie Johnson or ALPN Jessie
Smith.
They make sure the patient
understands any home treatment
that may have been prescribed,
including exercise, cast care and
medications.
Patients' reactions to the
interviews were described by Falls as
"very receptive and complimentary,
for the most part. They appreciate
someone sitting down and talking
with them, after possibly having
been rushed through."
Prevent Problems .
The interviews also prevent future
problems which arise when patients
go home without a complete
understanding of their problem or
care needs, she added.
"Sometimes patients don't
understand or have forgotten what
the doctor has said. Or they may not
have asked questions because of the
inuge of doctors some have. It is
simpler to talk with them while they
are still in the clinic than for them to
have to call with questions later."
Patients often are asked if they are
having any other medical problenis
and are referred if necessary.
A recent case is an example.
High Blood Pressure
A male patient, in his 40s and
slightly overweight, had been
admitted to the hospital for a
lacerated hand. His post-operative
care was provided in the
Orthopaedic OPC.
Responding to the nurse's
question about his general health, he
mentioned that he had been told
during hospitalization that he had
high blood pressure (hbp).
According to the patient, nothing
else had been said or done about the
condition. This raised several
questions: Did he really have hbp?
Should he be treated? Did he
understand what hbp really is?
The nurse's assessment revealed
(Continued on page 3)
BEFORE YOU GO HOME—Pam Falls, RN, Orthopaeaic Outpatient Clinic head nurse,
goes over home exercise instructions with a patient as part of the patient exit
interview. (Photo by John Becton)