The Transplant Wing....wow.

We are in the 9200 wing of DUH (love that acronym)this morning.

Entry to the wing requires double doors to close behind you, and check-in at the glass-enclosed window - I have seen less security in banks in Bogota. The hand washing is manditory, food and drinks not allowed, and each room is closed with blinds controlled from the hallway (not by the patient). A very different kind of place.

However, in many ways, it feels friendly. Very competent staff, very bright lights, VERY CLEAN, and very technical. Each soundproofed room has all the medical equipment you have ever seen - and nothing rolls from room to room. Flat panel screens with every device for monitoring everything (even the bed controls have a display). Five network ports for the equipment, plus wireless for the patients and visitors. A movie list to make Blockbuster drool. A well-stocked frig and three patients per nurse/assistant team. (CMC was six to eight per nurse, which we thought was impressive.) An exercise room, and plenty of walking halls, all pressurized and hepafiltered. Smallish rooms, but with limited visitors, not bad.

Drew was mostly impressed. A few rules seem tough, like not leaving the floor for a month, and not unhooking the continuous IVs after next week's transplant for 20-30 days (a long time on a leash). But all of the rules are geared toward limiting infection and constant monitoring, and they were well-explained.

We are in. Well, actually, we can leave this afternoon for dinner, and then return. Day T-9. Room 9213.