karyn starr

Review of Banner Thunderbird Medical Cen...

As a very pregnant woman, concerned not only for m...

As a very pregnant woman, concerned not only for my health but also for the life and health of my unborn child, I do not suggest that you use Banner Thunderbird s OB Triage Unit. I am a high-risk VBAC patient with reasonable concerns about my own life and the life of my unborn daughter Amelya.

On November 5, in possible active labor, I was sent to be checked for contractions and to make sure my waters were intact. I evidently ruined some unknown (as she refused to identify herself) nurses day by my unborn child being in distress. She had nothing but attitude from the moment my husband and I entered the unit.

The treatment was poor at best. I asked for a blanket repeatedly and finally was given a thin sheet which did nothing to mitigate the bitter cold of the facility. When she checked me vaginally, she only swabbed me for leakage, neglecting to check my cervix for dilation or effacement. This necessitated a second very uncomfortable exam as my contractions continued to cause me discomfort.

After being ignored for quite some time she told me an ultrasound was planned. I asked her why this was being done because I did not understand why if I had had an ultrasound done less than three days ago and everything look good with the amniotic fluid. I also could not understand why this was being done when my swab came back negative for amniotic fluid as well. She could only respond with that it was ordered and it needed to be done. I let the nurse know that I didn t understand this and asked why my active contractions where being ignored. Again, I got a response like I was keeping her from something.

This only served to aggravate me further as the contractions were being ignored. I asked this very unsympathetic nurse to please ask the doctor if this ultrasound was needed and as fast as you please, she tossed an AMA form on my bed practically daring me to object to treatment. I acquiescenced to the ultrasound which showed nothing out of the ordinary.

At this time, my husband and I began to seek her supervisor as our concerns began to run to the death of our child in this circumstance. My complaints were again ignored. I left the facility in pain and with the stigma that I might only be seeking pain medication. After speaking with a supervisor and receiving lots of reasons why I shouldn t be upset there was no resolution to the issue that my OB/GYN felt was important enough for me to be seen for in the first place.

Banners mission of breath surely does not apply here. I m still trying to catch my breath from the panic of the lack of regard for human life shown to Amelya and I. Even if the nurse did not care for me, what did an innocent, unborn child do to deserve her negligence??