amanda griggs

Review of PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical...

While I had a wonderful experience in Labor and De...

While I had a wonderful experience in Labor and Delivery and so appreciated the outstanding staff when my daughter was born at St. Jospeh's nearly three years ago, my most recent visit to the ER was not one that ever makes me want to go back in a crisis. My 18 month old daughter was very seriously ill and had a rapid heart rate, high fever and shallow breathing. Being blessed with an extremely healthy little one this was the first time we had ever been into an emergency room and we only did so because the nurse we spoke with on the Peacehealth nurse advice line felt she needed to be seen right away. It was a Friday night around eleven so I knew to expect long wait times and a lot of chaos, but we were actually checked in and seen very quickly and all of the nurses were extremely efficient and pleasant. The doctor we saw diagnosed my daughter with an ear infection and prescribed an antibiotic. She has had severe ear infections in the past and I knew that these symptoms were entirely different, I tried to explain that I really did not think that was what was going on but they completely wrote me off and refused to listen. I mentioned that the nurse I had spoken with previously thought her symptoms sounded like Hand, Mouth, Foot- a common but serious viral illness that spreads among children 1-3. The physician's assistant was extremely put out and so unprofessional- he shined a light in my daughter's mouth for a split second, told me she was fine and that it was merely an ear infection and sent us on our way. The next morning I took her to the pediatric after hours clinic where she was promptly diagnosed with Hand, Mouth, Foot. The pediatrician was very confused as to where the diagnosis of an ear infection came from as my daughter's mouth and throat were covered in tiny blisters that would have been completely visible to the physician's assistant had he simply taken another moment to look. She saw no visible redness or signs of infection in either ear. It is so important to at least hear a parent out who brings their sick child in, communication with your patients is everything in healthcare and is vital to helping people get well. My main thought after this turn of events was what a disadvantage a non English speaking individual, a handicapped individual or someone suffering from a mental health crisis would be at with a doctor who does not appear to care about their diagnosis and will not take the time to listen or understand.