June 15th, 2010 
judowolf Walking into the hospital, I thought about the people who view hospitals as germ-infested institution with super infections attacking healthy individuals rendering them sick with no cure, or the place-dying people come to die. These two assessments were true, but I felt as comfortable in one as in my own home.
My golf buddy (Phil) was recovering from lung cancer surgery; the cancer was contained within the tumor, the surgery was successful, and the recuperative period would be shorter as the surgeon used a new technique involving less incisions. Phil and his wife (Lynn) were glad I came, as they just removed Phil’s chest tubes. Lynn said over the past four days a multitude of friends and family visited but didn’t know when to leave.
I stayed half an hour knowing Phil needed his rest.
People who visit friends and family in the hospital don’t take cues from the patient and often over extend their welcome. The patient is a captive audience and visitors don’t realize rest is the most important aspect of recovery. A visit between ten and fifteen minutes is sufficient to express their concern and let the patient know they care and love them. The patient’s significant other should monitor visitor’s time and ask them to leave when they see the patient getting drowsy.
Walking out of the hospital, I approached a number of people going to visit loved ones; passing them, I hoped they didn’t over stay their welcome, as rest is more important than the visit.
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