Hospital

University Hospital

In RL Albuquerque, University Hospital is actually just one of several facilities which make up the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. At Masquerade, we obviously have to present a smaller, more compact version of the hospital, although "our" hospital does have a trauma center, a psychiatric ward, and in-patient services. The Custom Care Recovery Center, a specialized convalescent facility just north of the hospital proper, is also housed under the umbrella of University Hospital.

Fate administers the hospital on Masq, and is always accepting hospital-related PCs — doctors (ER, surgeons, general, psychiatrists), nurses, paramedics, orderlies, etc. Medical types on Masq do not need to go through a special application process.

Hospital Policies

HOSPITAL SECURITY

There are closed-circuit security cameras in patient rooms and all public areas of the hospital. Characters with Obfuscate, the ability to enter the Umbra, etc. must be aware of this. Patients: You are monitored for your own safety and security. If you wish to circumvent the camera in your room, whether it be through supernatural or normal means, you must contact staff (preferably me). You are not to just assume that you were able to turn off the security camera or that you were able to block its view of the room or that it malfunctioned.

YOUR CARE

Unfortunately, PC health care personnel and Masq staffers are not always available to RP out patients' hospital stay. As a patient, you must realize, however, that you are not being left to languish ICly. NPC doctors, nurses, and orderlies are always present and monitoring your condition around the clock. So, unless you are told otherwise by a Masq staffer, you must RP your hospital stay accordingly.

VISITING HOURS

Being stuck in the hospital without visitors can be boring and lonely. Thus, for the sake of RP, a "Visiting Hours Zone"; is in effect at the hospital, which means that +time is suspended during visits and it is considered to be between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., i.e. regular visiting hours. Situations where someone wants to visit "after hours," wants to hold a bedside vigil, etc. will be dealt with by staff on a case by case basis. When in doubt, ask staff first.

CONDUCT

If you think that a hospital environment is a perfect opportunity to get a cheap TS thrill, you will be very much disappointed. This is not a motel. Patients and visitors caught TSing at the hospital will be dealt with as follows: Visitors: After one warning, you will be fined $250 for public indecency and subsequently barred from the hospital by security personnel. Patients: After one warning, depending on your Health Level status, you will either be discharged summarily and/or you will lose another Health Level due to overstressing your system.

Hospital FAQ's

I've been injured, now what?

So, you've been shot in front of the Cantina and you want to go to the hospital. What must you do? The first thing you should do is type +hospital/staff to see if there are any PCs online who could possibly RP out your hospital scene with you. If no one is around, try typing +staff and finding an online and on-duty staffer to help you. If that fails also, make sure you know the hospital policies, then find yourself a room, +mail and +cc hospitalstaff with the conditions of your arrival, then wait. Someone will be along eventually to help you out.

On a similar note, you want to leave the hospital, you have to be "officially discharged" both ICly (by a doctor) and OOCly (by the code). If there are no PCs around to assist you, +mail Fate and +cc hospitalstaff. The hospital has finely honed security and patients will not be allowed to leave without being properly discharged. If you want to make a break for it, you'll need to contact staff.

Lastly, the hospital doesn't accept charity cases. If you don't have insurance IC, chances are high that you will be discharged rather quickly.

How fast does damage get healed?

The following is the standard healing chart for non-aggravated injuries in the World of Darkness. We do not use "bashing" damage on Masq. Healing on Masq is a completely automated process.

Incapacitated: -7. Healing Time: at least 3 months or longer (at the storyteller's discretion) to reach -6. At least one Attribute point will be permanently lost.
Crippled: -6. Healing Time: 3 months to reach -5.
Mauled: -5. Healing Time: 3 months to reach -4.
Wounded: -4. Healing Time: 1 month to reach -3.
Injured: -3. Healing Time: 1 week to reach -2.
Hurt: -2. Healing Time: 3 days to reach -1.
Bruised: -1. Healing Time: 1 day until a full recovery.

So, basically, it takes approximately 11 months or more for someone at -7 to recover fully from their injuries. Unfortunately, damage is cumulative, so if you are at -2 and you get hit again for -3, that adds three months to your healing time. However, depending on the situation, it is often possible to work something out to avoid ridiculous effects.

What exactly is the Custom Care Recovery Center?

The CCRC is basically a way for severely injured characters with a lot of $cash to heal damage at a faster rate. Yes, it means that rich people get better health care, just like in the real world. There are two options: staying at the CCRC for $1,000 a day or in-home care for $1,500 a day.

Option #1: Staying at the CCRC

Incapacitated: -7. $45,000 and 45 days to reach -6.
Crippled: -6. $45,000 and 45 days to reach -5.
Mauled: -5. $45,000 and 45 days to reach -4.

In other words, what would normally have taken 9 months to heal, now takes 4.5 months and $135,000.

Option #2: In-Home Care

Incapacitated: -7. $60,000 and 40 days to reach -6.
Crippled: -6. $60,000 and 40 days to reach -5.
Mauled: -5. $60,000 and 40 days to reach -4.

In other words, what would normally have taken 9 months to heal, now takes 4 months and $180,000.