Paula's Shift

Wednesday, 2:17 AM

Paula: Diego, 307 just triggered the call bell again. Third time in an hour.

Diego: what? Wasn't it empty since Monday?

Paula: Yeah. Mr. Ortega was discharged Monday at noon. I went to check, and the room was unmade, empty. I turned on the light and left.

Diego: and the bell's still going off?

Paula: Yes. It just rang again. I'm going in to check.

Diego: Hold on, better call security before you go in alone.

Paula: Security's dealing with an emergency in the ER. I'll go see if there's a confused patient.

2:29 AM

Paula: Diego. I went into 307.

Diego: anyone there?

Paula: There's no one. But the bed is messed up. The sheets look used, the pillow has an imprint. The glass on the nightstand has water in it.

Diego: maybe housekeeping hasn't been since the discharge

Paula: Diego. The water in the glass is warm. Freshly poured.

Diego: ok that's weird

Paula: Listen. The bell rang again while I was inside. There's no one in there who could press it—the button's on the wall by the headboard, and the bed is empty.

Paula: I'm out now. Diego, I need you to look something up in the system.

Diego: what do you need me to check?

Paula: Mr. Ortega's history. Room 307. When exactly he was admitted.

Diego: Paula.

Paula: what does it say?

Diego: Mr. Ortega was discharged Monday, yeah. But there's an entry from Monday afternoon. Exitus.

Paula: what do you mean

Diego: That the discharge was a transfer to the ICU. And he died in the ICU Monday at 5:43 PM.

Paula: but the bell's been ringing since yesterday