Mary Ann Hetreed

Review of Alexian Brothers Medical Cente...

I had an anterior hip replacement this past Monday...

I had an anterior hip replacement this past Monday, February 12. The scheduler who called Friday told me surgery would be at 8:15 AM. We arrived at 6:00 AM. I found out later that my surgery was scheduled for 10 AM and I didn't need to arrive until 8:00 AM. The hospital had just gone live with a new computer system the day before. The nurses were all complaining that their training was last November and they had forgotten everything. My 10 AM surgery didn't start until Noon (because of the new computer system) and ended at around 2:00 PM. It took several hours to get up to a room. I was told that I would be walked or at least put in a chair that evening, but I was not. The nurse said she couldn't find anybody to help her and she couldn't do it alone. I was told to not let my pain go beyond a level 5 or 6 and yet when I asked for pain medication, it took them so long to order it using the new computer system, that my pain would be at a level 10 and I would be crying in pain, before it finally arrived. On top of the new computer system, their "tube system" wasn't working and they had to walk over to the pharmacy for every medication.
Finally at 3:00 AM the nurse told me to sit on the edge of the bed and dangle my legs and that would make me feel better, but she had no help and couldn't let me stand or walk, or put me in a chair.
At around 9:00 AM, a physical therapist and occupational therapist arrived at the same time and spent around 15 to 20 minutes walking me and said they were done - I could be released.
I have been in other hospitals and had other major surgeries, but this was the worst experience I have ever had.