David Washam

Review of Crozer Chester Medical Center

I was admitted to Crozer Emergency Trauma Unit on ...

I was admitted to Crozer Emergency Trauma Unit on 5.25.19 with a gunshot wound to my right knee. In the ambulance, they cut off my pants which is understood but they also cut off my designer t-shirt which I could've removed with ease. In the examining room, a security guard came for my property: wallet, cellphone, black duffel bag with phone charger, legal paperwork, composition BOOK, hat, sneakers and destroyed pants n shirt, and underwear (all cut off of me). My injury required 2 surgeries to reconstruct my busted kneecap. After surgery no.1, I was moved to a room where no one could tell me where my property was. The nurses helping me assured me security had my belongings so I believed them. Only after the hospital complained about placing my calls did I request my wallet to rent tv and phone @9bucks a day. Security brought up my wallet and brown bag with only my cut up clothes, hat, and sneakers. I asked where was my cellphone and black duffel bag and the aforementioned contents. The guard said the rest of my stuff was already stored away but I never received or signed a property sheet. I ordered the phone/tv on 5.29.19 and was given a white plastic bag to put my wallet into and other items was on list from brown paper bag. Again, I asked why my cellphone and black bag was not listed. Security guard said he would bring up separate bag for me to sign. So, I complied and signed bag with wallet and other stuff. On 5.31.19, I was being transferred to crisis North Campus and again asked about my phone and black duffel bag and no one cared to answer me. I emphatically insisted someone to find my belongings with my divorce papers and composition BOOK used for writing poems, daily journals and ideas for my future as single divorcee in streets of Chester. I own a house in Newark, Dr since 1999 and was going thru property division portion of divorce. I arrived at North Campus and was committed to RM 109 next to nurse's station. First morning, the nurses insisted I go all the way to opposite end of hall for vitals or else NO BREAKFAST. I told them I had no crutches walker, or wheel chair and one nurse said I should hop. I said no way and asked if she ever been shot in the knee so they took vitals in room but complained about bringing meal trays to my room. A really caring nurse left me with a bell to signal help when needed. I rang bell 2 times and a nurse named, SANDY, a brown skinned black nurse came in my room with 3 security guards, snatched bell and told me to wait for my assigned nurse. I asked for bell and she said you won't be getting bell back. I told her she didn't give it to me so why take it away with no functioning electronic nurse calling device. I also asked guards did they find my phone and bag, they ignored me and walked out. Every morning, same fight about vitals and meals until my roommate recovered from detox and let me use his walker. I attempted to walk to other end for vitals with full length immobilizer on right leg and I couldn't make it and returned to my room. Nobody came for vitals and nobody brought tray for me. Someone was discharged and left a wheelchair for me so I started getting around better but was still in a lot of pain. Orthopedic therapist came a few times and told me I had a directive as a non weight bearing recovery ahead of me. I was in crisis for 17days, had stitching removed and had to get around in wheelchair the remaining days. At my daily treatment team meetings, my social worker asked me why wasn't I "strapped" meaning carry firearm and laughed. Everyone in meeting laughed except Dr. Rivera and I snapped telling her that wasn't funny people could have been shot if a gun battle took place in broad daylight across from a busy Post Office on Sproul St. in Chester. The treatment was very callous, insensitive, and uncaring. Everyday, I asked about my property and cellphone. Other patients acknowledged losing valuables to the extremely rude and clearly unprofessional security and nursing staff. I was then moved to 1st Steps 2nd flr in wheelchair for the remainder of my stay. Continued..