Read Online The Imposter by Judith Townsend Rocchiccioli - Free Book Online
Authors: Judith Townsend Rocchiccioli
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irritated. "What? Who?"
"Angela
Richelieu, the nurse who was attacked, beaten, and raped last night between the
Psychiatric Pavilion and the parking deck."
Don
was clearly annoyed. "Oh yeah, her. What a pain. Bette Favre told me
about it. Too bad. Tawdry affair. Deal with it, you're the hospital’s
lawyer." Don shook his head, dismissing the incident quickly and
returning to his printouts.
Alex
was furious at the nonchalance in Don's voice. She glared at him, her anger
reflected in her face. Montgomery was a pompous man, a real horse’s ass, a
weak, self-serving leader and completely useless in times of stress. Alex had
hoped he would leave Crescent City Medical Center after a conspiracy against
the hospital earlier in the year had nearly put the medical center out of
business. Unfortunately, Don had siphoned bits and pieces of the catastrophe
and used it to his advantage. He'd given several interviews to the press and
had emerged in the news as a media hero -- a man intent on saving his hospital,
preserving quality, and keeping it private and solvent in the changing health
care environment. Don was a proverbial cat, always landing on his feet.
Alex
's voice was calm, but forceful, as she addressed him. "Don, this
situation is precarious. Angela Richelieu has been an employee at CCMC for
years and is an excellent nurse. She's in the O.R. right now, fighting for
her life. The hospital could be at fault here for not providing her safe
access to her car …."
The
CEO interrupted her rudely, "That's bullshit, Alex. Favre told me that
all the nurses had been instructed to call for a security escort after hours.
She did not. It's her fault if she was raped. It certainly is not the fault
of the hospital."
Alex
wanted to jump over his desk and rip out his carotid arteries. "You're
wrong, Don. Totally wrong. How appalling you are." Alex's voice was
clipped. "Her fault? How could it possibly be her fault? That's
ludicrous."
Montgomery
dismissed her, "Really, Alex, I am pretty busy. Can you make an
appointment with Latetia," he said, picking up his phone to make a call.
Alex's
fury mounted. "Really, Don. Are you this dumb? How do you think a
jury would view this? We've got a nurse who stayed overtime for three hours
and didn't get paid for it because the hospital no longer pays nurses, or
anyone, for overtime. She stayed late because of patient violence on the
unit. Then she's raped and beaten on the way to her car.... Really, Don.
For God's sake, what is wrong with you? Think about it. It's not a pretty
picture."
Don
was quiet for a moment, obviously thinking. Alex continued, "We've had
numerous meetings about the safety of staff, patients, and visitors traveling
between the Psych Pavilion and the main hospital. We've had tons of
complaints from physicians, nurses and visitors that are on record. We've got
to make some changes. I'd like a meeting this afternoon with Dr. Desmonde
and the administrator that manages behavioral health under the contract
agreement. Elizabeth needs to be there as well, as does Dr. Ashley. We have
to hand this appropriately with the media."
Don
interrupted her, "No way, Alex. Not going to happen today. I'm too
busy. What is it that you don't understand? I am busy! I am running this
hospital and I don't have time to stop for a stupid, 'called' meeting. Forget
it."
"No,
I'm not. It's a huge image concern and we all know how you worry about
...," Alex said, her voice trailing off momentarily, “the hospital's
image.” With these words, Alex hit her boss where it hurt him the most. Don
lived and breathed, breathed and lived, CCMC’s image. It was his lifeblood
because, after all, it was his hospital and no one else had anything to do with
the place.
Don
straightened up and looked alert. "Huh, an image
"Angela
Richelieu, the nurse who was attacked, beaten, and raped last night between the
Psychiatric Pavilion and the parking deck."
Don
was clearly annoyed. "Oh yeah, her. What a pain. Bette Favre told me
about it. Too bad. Tawdry affair. Deal with it, you're the hospital’s
lawyer." Don shook his head, dismissing the incident quickly and
returning to his printouts.
Alex
was furious at the nonchalance in Don's voice. She glared at him, her anger
reflected in her face. Montgomery was a pompous man, a real horse’s ass, a
weak, self-serving leader and completely useless in times of stress. Alex had
hoped he would leave Crescent City Medical Center after a conspiracy against
the hospital earlier in the year had nearly put the medical center out of
business. Unfortunately, Don had siphoned bits and pieces of the catastrophe
and used it to his advantage. He'd given several interviews to the press and
had emerged in the news as a media hero -- a man intent on saving his hospital,
preserving quality, and keeping it private and solvent in the changing health
care environment. Don was a proverbial cat, always landing on his feet.
Alex
's voice was calm, but forceful, as she addressed him. "Don, this
situation is precarious. Angela Richelieu has been an employee at CCMC for
years and is an excellent nurse. She's in the O.R. right now, fighting for
her life. The hospital could be at fault here for not providing her safe
access to her car …."
The
CEO interrupted her rudely, "That's bullshit, Alex. Favre told me that
all the nurses had been instructed to call for a security escort after hours.
She did not. It's her fault if she was raped. It certainly is not the fault
of the hospital."
Alex
wanted to jump over his desk and rip out his carotid arteries. "You're
wrong, Don. Totally wrong. How appalling you are." Alex's voice was
clipped. "Her fault? How could it possibly be her fault? That's
ludicrous."
Montgomery
dismissed her, "Really, Alex, I am pretty busy. Can you make an
appointment with Latetia," he said, picking up his phone to make a call.
Alex's
fury mounted. "Really, Don. Are you this dumb? How do you think a
jury would view this? We've got a nurse who stayed overtime for three hours
and didn't get paid for it because the hospital no longer pays nurses, or
anyone, for overtime. She stayed late because of patient violence on the
unit. Then she's raped and beaten on the way to her car.... Really, Don.
For God's sake, what is wrong with you? Think about it. It's not a pretty
picture."
Don
was quiet for a moment, obviously thinking. Alex continued, "We've had
numerous meetings about the safety of staff, patients, and visitors traveling
between the Psych Pavilion and the main hospital. We've had tons of
complaints from physicians, nurses and visitors that are on record. We've got
to make some changes. I'd like a meeting this afternoon with Dr. Desmonde
and the administrator that manages behavioral health under the contract
agreement. Elizabeth needs to be there as well, as does Dr. Ashley. We have
to hand this appropriately with the media."
Don
interrupted her, "No way, Alex. Not going to happen today. I'm too
busy. What is it that you don't understand? I am busy! I am running this
hospital and I don't have time to stop for a stupid, 'called' meeting. Forget
it."
"No,
I'm not. It's a huge image concern and we all know how you worry about
...," Alex said, her voice trailing off momentarily, “the hospital's
image.” With these words, Alex hit her boss where it hurt him the most. Don
lived and breathed, breathed and lived, CCMC’s image. It was his lifeblood
because, after all, it was his hospital and no one else had anything to do with
the place.
Don
straightened up and looked alert. "Huh, an image
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