the hall of records

[May 2002]

An enormous room full of records- that would explain the equally vast room of empty file cabinets. This mound of documents exceeds 3 feet high in some spots. It represents many years of record keeping (or some poor records management); files from 1970 lay next to those from 1990. At some point, someone unsuccessfully tried to set the pile on fire, many of the papers are singed. Carbonous stacks of ledgers are still readable inside. It was a truly half-assed attempt. The most disturbing discoveries are patients' medical folders, detailing very personal information. While urbanlens respects patient confidentiality, we don't mind revealing this hospital's pigeon problem.