Consider Pat Kavanaugh's Kafkaesque quest for a swine flu shot.
The Plainfield native, community activist, and retired Star-Ledger reporter told me she has been trying to get a shot for the better part of a month.
A newsie, she is well aware there have been both production and delivery issues with the vaccine. She was led by the story in Sunday's Ledger of Union County's misadventures -- in which fewer syringes than vaccine were supplied, leaving officials scrambling for needles (see here) -- to try once again.
You see, she had already been in touch with Plainfield's Health Division and suggested enlisting the aid of Assemblyman Jerry Green (as she notes, 'the third most important member of the Assembly'). The woman at the Health Division thought that was a wonderful idea and suggested that Pat make the outreach, which she did.
Yesterday, she learned that the Assemblyman had instructed his aide to call Plainfield's Health Division. Click, Kafkaesque happenstance number one.
That was in the course of reaching out the to the Health Division (got voicemail), the mayor's confidential aide Barbara James (busy), and the City Administrator (answered by the Mayor's office, told he was 'in a meeting').
Called the Health Division AGAIN, got a real person and asked for the Health Officer.
"He's out sick."
"Who's in charge?"
"No one's in charge."
Click, Kafkaesque happenstance number two.
Pat then called the Union County Senior Citizens office, which told her to call the Plainfield Senior Center. Pat countered by asking to be transferred to the Union County Health Department. The woman didn't know how to transfer the call.
Moving up the chain, Pat then called the Union County switchboard and asked for the county Health Department.
Connected, she asked for the Director, Lester Jones.
"He's in a meeting."
Pat read the list of the towns the Ledger reported had received the vaccine.
"That's because Freeholder Proctor is the health officer for those towns."
Click, Kafkaesque happenstance number three.
Ever resourceful, Pat called the county switchboard yet again and asked to speak to Freeholder, and Plainfielder, Rayland Van Blake.
Was told Freeholder Van Blake would be back in touch.
Then the man in the freeholder's office called back to tell Pat she could go to Linden for a shot on the 10th, the 12th, or the 16th.
"You mean tomorrow (the 10th)?
"I don't know today's date, so I don't know if tomorrow is the 10th."
Click, Kafkaesque happenstance number four.
Pat called his attention to the fact that as a government employee he would be off on Wednesday the 11th (for Veterans Day), so he should be able to figure out that the day before is the 10th.
She says she noted to him that in mental hospitals, the date is posted to help keep patients oriented, and perhaps the County should try that to help its employees do the same.
Still no word of if or when swine flu shots will be coming to Plainfield.
Perhaps after the season? Perhaps never?
Kafkaesque?
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2 comments:
Dan: to be fair - as I know you strive to be, as I do - I wanted to give you a follow-up. The guy in the freeholders' office who didn't know the date told me Freeholder Van Blake was "working" so wouldn't call me back. This guy Barry hung up on me, as I was hung up on by Dana Liccone in the cty mgr's office. However, the cty health officer Lester Jones did put me in touch with the Plainfield Health Center. Everyone there was super helpful - from the receptionist, to the admitting clerk, the medical assistant named Hart, the nurse and Dr. Galen Centeno. They don't promise they can give you the swine flu shot but they sure do their best. Pat
Dan, I know 1024 Park Ave has both flu and swine flu shots, they are also taking patients without insurance.
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