After a few days of dreary training at the corporate office in Fountain Hills, on Jan. 19 I had my first on-site training, working the swing shift at a mansion in Scottsdale. I knew the area pretty well – it was about halfway between my apartment and Old Town Scottsdale, where I liked to hang out (not for the party scene that it is known for, more for the coffee scene).
I was given a tour of the big house, starting with the all-important Tech Office, outfitted with a computer to take notes, check emails and access the system that had a file for each client; locked cabinets where the clients personal items, medications and UA collection kits were kept; blood pressure cuff, finger oxygen sensor and thermometer for morning and nightly vitals; phone where clients would come in and make monitored calls.
I would train at several other of the company’s houses. The Tech Offices always had the same set up, but ranged in size from a cramped washing room with a computer slapped into a sweeping, executive-type office. The Tech Office at the RR house, which would come to be my home base, was about in the middle, size wise.
I was trained by JS, who as a Tech 2/“house manager” probably earned more than a Tech 1, my lowly rank. Contrary to the guidelines stressed in training, JS smoked with the clients and was very open about his recovery and “fuck ups” with them. He was gregarious with the residents, not so much with me.
His training was thorough. He had been on the job for close to a year, and knew it inside out – literally, both from the inside as an alcoholic in recovery, now from the outside as a rehab professional. I would learn that a good three-quarters of the Techs were in recovery; as a “normie,” I was, in this world, abnormal.
JS gave me a tour of the house, which was gigantic and beautiful. I later looked it up on Zillow, and found it had sold in mid-2014 for $1.4 million.
The Zillow description: “Beautiful five bedroom house with an elegant living room with a double sided fireplace. Large kitchen with granite countertops and custom cabinetry, appliances with a wolf 5 burner gas stove fit for a chef, plenty of storage in the walk-in pantry. informal dining in the large family room with built-in cabinet with wet bar. The master bedroom suite with fireplace has 2 separate walk-in closets and French doors leading to the resort style backyard with pool. The master bathroom has a wraparound shower with rain heads and designer tile trim, tub jets do not work, French doors open from all areas of the house onto large covered patios. Honed travertine floors are throughout the house except in bedrooms which are carpeted. Two laundry rooms with cabinets and sinks.”
Built in 2008, it was billed as just under 7,000 square feet.
I met the clients, or CT’s, a group of 10 guys who seemed to get along well. A couple of them were big dudes, white guys, 6-feet plus and well over 200 pounds. They were former college football players who had put on weight and years, and did a full workout, from calesthenics to sprints, in the big backyard.
Another guy, a black guy around 50 in pretty good shape, talked about how he used to be a professional boxer. He wasn’t a bragger, but he was quite a talker; when it was his turn in group therapy or the unofficial “open” (beginning of the day) and “close” (end of the day), he would go on and on, apologize for being long-winded, then keep going … He also led a prayer, before group dinners.
A new guy, DE, was transported from detox to our house early in the shift. JS had me take him to one of the laundry rooms for a down-to-the-underwear search. I didn’t have to frisk him, to my relief. I did have to go through all the items in his luggage, then put his clothes in the dryer (any contraband that I missed would theoretically get kicked out into the filter).
I made stupid small talk as I pretended to know what I was doing. DE was a white guy, tall, curly dark hair, clean cut, about 40. He looked like a normal, slightly-nerdy guy, but I would learn he was a pretty hard-core drinker.
He broke down a little bit as I did the intake, and squeezed his eyes to hide tears. I focused on going through his clothes and pretended not to see this, so as not to embarrass him – and because I didn’t really know what to say.
The rest of the shift, I spent learning the routine from JS, helping him with vitals, seeing where this and evening meds were documented, writing up the “communications log” or “com log,” a brief summary of the shift, with notes on each client and “significant events.”
1/19
Significant Events:
Bed 1-1 broke, submitted maintenance request. Trevor contacted.
Big Book Study tonight at 7pm over Chapter 8 “To Wives” attended by 6 CT’s.
Waiting for a requisition for UA for David E. Called and emailed Nicole.
MEDICATION COUNT:
All client medications have been counted. CT Chad N’s Trazodone and Lamictal are ready for pickup. Will have BHT III pick up.
1/23
UDS’S Collected:
New Admin UAs:
Robert F. 3:06 pm, K3JFRCPH
Ronald B. 2:35 pm, K3JFRCMK
Garrett B. 2:40 pm, K3JFRCNJ
Eric A. 2:49 pm, K3JFRCJN
William B. 3:09, K3JFRCKM
1/24
Significant Events:
New Admit Daniel S arrived at 2:20pm. All intake procedures were done by this tech.
Big Book Study tonight at 7 pm. Read “Acceptance was the Answer” – story 16. Attended by all CT’s.
MEDICATION COUNT:
Medications have been counted.
New admit Daniel S.:
- Methocarbamal 750mg. CT has 36 tablets = 4 days. He is to take 1500 mg every 8 hours.
- Omeprazole 40mg. CT has 5 days.
- Augmentin. CT has 9 days which will take him until Feb. 2. The blister pack says to stop on Feb. 2.
- Flonase. CT has none.
- Oxymetazoline Hydrochloride. CT has none.
5-2: David E..: CT was in bed upon my arrival. CT ate breakfast then did his vitals and meds. CT attended morning group. CT then ate lunch and attended afternoon group. CT is stable
UDS’S Collected:
Levi T.-UDS-01/26/17-observed UA at 7:09am-urine sent to lab
Significant Events:
William B was driven to the ER at Scottsdale Osborne for dehydration and wants to leave
Karl W stepped down to PHP
William B. left AMA today as he wants to be closer to his family and join an IOP program in his hometown. Tech called a cab for him and he was taken to the airport at 11:30am
Tech drove Ronald B to welcome center for doctor visit and they prescribed for him
Feb 3
New admit Bruce N
-Age Rebel & Protection Cream
-Clear Eyes 1-2 drops per eye
-Claims Forte Sleep Aid 30 pills 1 x day
-5 HTP Hdroxytrypophian 29 pills 1 x day
-Super Snooze w Melatonin 12 pills 1 x day
-Aleve 220 mg 83 tablets every 8 hrs
-Probiotic acidopholus 10 pills
New admit Victor G
| L-Methylfolate Calcium 15 mg PO 26 pills, 1 x day
Transportation employee took the company van to refill it with gas as well as to conduct various transportation tasks within the airport and detox. Maintenance Request Submitted: Bedroom 4’s bathroom sink is running despite having both faucets turned shut. The ceiling light bulb needs to be changed within the same room as well. Also, the floors in all rooms need a carpet cleaner to remove stains. Guest speaker meeting was attended by all, including by CTs from Mountain View. CTs Bruce M. and Victor G. have arrived from Detox. Tech conducted intake procedures. CT Victor B. is an AMA risk and is wanting to transfer from treatment companies and is persistent in doing so as he did not get his medication needs, “$5000 worth” of his medications were destroyed without his approval in Detox. CT will be discussing terms tomorrow. CT Jason P. has moved from rooms 2-1 to 4-1. |
|
Anastrozole 0.5 mg (1/2 tab) PO 2 1/2 tablets, 1/2 twice weekly
Testosterone CYP 200 mg/ml 0.25 ml IM
EMSAM 9 mg/24 hrs Transdermal 10 count
Propranolol 60 mg PO 92 pills, 1 x day
Gabapentin 1200mg PO 26 pills 2 x at bedtime
Prazosin 1 mg 20 pills 3 x day
Lisinopril 20 mg PO 4 pills, 1 x day (*advised RN to re-order)
Notes from the Shitshow 