A woman, calling a local hospital, said, "Hello, I'd like to talk
with the person who gives the information regarding your patients. I'd
like to find out if the patient is getting better, or doing as
expected, or is getting worse."
The voice on the other end of the line said, "What is the
patient's name and room number?"
She said, "Sarah Finkel, in Room 302."
"I will connect you with the nursing station."
"3-A Nursing Station. How can I help you?"
"I would like to know the condition of Sarah Finkel in Room 302."
"Just a moment. Let me look at her records. Oh, yes. Mrs. Finkel
is doing very well. In fact, she's had two full meals, her blood
pressure is fine, her blood work just came back as normal, and she's
going to be taken off the heart monitor in a couple of hours and if she
continues this improvement, Dr. Cohen is going to send her home
Tuesday at twelve o'clock."
The woman said, "Thank God! That's wonderful! Oh! That's fantastic
... that's wonderful news!"
The nurse said, "From your enthusiasm, I take it you must be a
close family member or a very close friend!"
"Not exactly, I'm Sarah Finkel in 302! Nobody here tells me shit.