Doors Revolving

Lin Lune

The Science

You can rotate concepts into and out of infinity. For example, 1/3 is 0.3333333 repeating. One number is infinite, one number is not. The circle when viewed from above is as endless as pi, but when viewed on its edge in one dimension becomes a finite line. Using that rotation as metaphor for problem solving, I describe the lack of holistic care access leading to emergency department (ED) burnout in Canada's healthcare system as both a series of vicious cycles when viewed from above, and a stack of solutions when viewed from the side.

Revolving doors refers to “frequent flyers” in the ED. Failed by the system, patients hurt ED staff in turn, creating a vicious cycle of trauma. There is no beginning of who first was at fault, and this non-blaming point of view is conductive to changing the cycle. Approaching more practices without blame, the harmful standards of midnight blood draws causes patients to leave against medical advice (AMA). By approaching solutions outside of the hospital, at home, breaks the cycle. Opioid overdoses are quickly reversible, which gives the harrowing possibility of the same person overdosing twice in one day, a common tale passed around ED staff. In supervised injection sites, another solution outside the hospital, people get sanitary, holistic, and easy to access prevention.

The Poet

Lin Lune builds scientific fiction containing actionable solutions. Based in Canada, her/their work invokes deep thought about the human condition and prosocial futures. Find her interactive chapbook of 2-player poetry, Luminiferous Matter, on her website. Notable works: Contributor to NATO 2099, fictional intelligence publication. Contributor to Stories from 2050, an EU funded climate fiction anthology.

Next poem: Everything is Simple by Evangeline Beeching