BEWARE OF PATIENT RELATIONS DEPT whose policy is t...

BEWARE OF PATIENT RELATIONS DEPT whose policy is to protect Froedtert.

Because the staff doctor in the ER refused to come near me during his so-called exam, later the PA explained that I should stay overnight to do a stress test on the treadmill the next morning as a convenience. Meanwhile, my heart assessment was very good and in fact did not necessitate an immediate stress test. However it was 10 p.m. or later and I wished not to disturb friends to come pick me up. I remained in an Observatory room in the ER overnight.

At 8:50 a.m. I was taken to the area for the stress test. Once I arrived I found out that they intended to inject radioactive isotopes into my blood stream twice, one time before and another during the treadmill challenge. I was never told about this type of nuclear procedure. I found this exceedingly disturbing. (Please note that prior to taking the injection I explained to the technician that I am not comfortable with any form of drug especially directed into my veins.) At this time the tech should have explained to me that there was also the option of an echocardiogram. Instead she simply remarked that after 15 years of serving in the nuclear department no one has suffered from side effects. I explained in great detail that I have had serious venous problems in the past including but not limited to Von Willebrand. In fact I wear a medical alert bracelet because of this disorder.

The PA failed to mention anything about radioactive isotopes as part of the procedure. I was therefore subjected to an irreversibly damaging treatment. Exposure to radiation may be a minor concern for doctors trained to administer it in spite of research substantiated by facts its deleterious effects.

Further, no pricing was given upon any of my enquiries. How does one make an informed decision without essential information the hospital possesses but conceals from patients desirous to manage expenditure and appropriate care?

Having taken the first round of the venous injections with this type of invasive approach, another gentleman was rolled into the prep area and was surprised to learn that injection would be administered. He said that he was accustomed to the Echo. In other words, he, too, was misinformed about the procedure prior to the actual execution. These are signals of egregious oversights when informing patients of what to expect. Patients generally are in compliant mode while under care trying to trust the healthcare system.

Following the test I was told I needed to have another blood draw because they had diluted the first attempt at a draw making it unreadable. I requested no charge should be incurred due to their errors. The nurses and other staff members informed me that they must submit the charges according to electronic protocol.

And another nurse missed a vein keeping the needle in my arm filling it with fluid so obvious yet never addressed until later when I finally brought to their attention my discomfort.

A day later lesions mysteriously broke out all over my body. I took pictures to document side effects. When I went to see my Froedtert doctor and showed her the pictures of the sores and current ones she explained that she does not deal with this sort of matter.

The Nuclear Dept. never asked to examine me even after I shared with them my symptoms. The doctor in that department sent me the ingredients, and it turns out that metal was part of the solution. In the past I react to metals. Had I known this in advance I could have avoided this ongoing issue.

And don't be fooled by the Patient Relations veneer of caring for patients. Their job is to protect Froedtert. They dismissed my concerns without seeing me face to face or interested in observing first hand all the lesions on my body. My issues dismissed was closed and final.