that’s what they call this new basic medicine unit.

it opened a few months ago, and i have been floating for almost three weeks now, but last night was the first time i actually set foot on this new famous place.

in line with the new thing of being in a healing environment, the goal is to make the unit look like anything but a hospital.

there are pictures of hills and valleys and flowers that will prompt one to start singing…”the hills are alive…”. the walls are painted with soothing colors. plasma screen tv, ergonomically designed chairs, keyless access to all supplies and meds. paper towels, bactericidal cream, hand soap, are all dispensed automatically. fancy lamps. brand new computers. and staff who are wearing solid scrubs that are supposed to promote a sense of calm, and initiate release of healing energy to possess every patient.

everything fascinated me, because everything was new and different.

the patients however are a totally different story. they are not new, they are not different.

two are extremely yellow, not because they want to match the healing environment. one was confused and screamed to be left alone for the whole night, not because she feels the surge of the healing energy. and two wanted dilaudid and phenergan, not because my scrub was not solid and soothing.

so yeah, it looked like a five star hotel. and yeah, the patients are still sick.

i guess that makes it look like the “healing environment” is way overrated. or i am just boringly cynical.