Laurie Davies

Review of Hillcrest Medical Center

Continued from "Nonsensical Me"...

Continued from "Nonsensical Me"...

While in the ICU (the 2nd time), she'd asked for pain medicine. Now, I agreed with staff that she shouldn't have it, because she couldn't stay awake at all. But when the ICU doctor came in to speak with her about it, he didn't just say..."We can't give you medication, because we want you to stay alert." NO!

He actually said, "You've had a very painful surgery. We had to break your ribs and install a metal plate between two of your ribs. You're going to be in pain, and you should expect to be in pain."

#1.) NO-ONE HAD TOLD US THEY BROKE OR WOULD HAVE TO BREAK HER RIBS!
#2.) NO-ONE TOLD US ABOUT A METAL PLATE!
#3.) What in the heck kind of response is that to a patient? And, believe me, it wasn't put to her in a friendly manner.

On the 5th day, we were told by a nurse that a doctor wanted to take her off of fluids to reduce chances for pneumonia and continued fluid build-up around her lungs... no joke...literally 2 minutes later.. a new doctor came in and said he was going to put her on fluids, because her blood pressure was too low (due to being overly medicated)... and her kidneys were failing.

This is one example of the consistent and instant contradictions we experienced with medical staff. But dare to ask anyone a question! Doctors perceive every question as you questioning or doubting their expertise, and nurses/hospital staff will meet you with sarcasm that they're not the doctor.

On February 1st, I left her briefly to feed her dogs. While at the house, I get a phone call from the hospital saying that they'd be releasing her the following day. It was explained to me that they wanted to wing her off of oxygen over that night and see how she did.

I get back-up to the hospital (within that hour), and they're getting her packed and ready to go! They've got the sign-out sheet prepared and everything! They've even already called the oxygen service to deliver her a tank and regulator for home use! What?!

The woman had ICU psychosis, could barely walk for herself, and was still on oxygen.

After two follow-ups, we still don't know if the procedure even worked!!! It's been a month!

Every time I ask, we get sent for more x-rays or a CT Scan... and referred to someone else or later-dated appointment as some sort-of "we're on top of this" pacification to get us out of the office!

On one follow-up with a Nurse Practitoner, I asked if her blood pressure medicine could be causing the pleural edema, and they said, "No! Metoprolol doesn't cause that!" And, I said, "Yeah, but she's been taking amlodipine up until 2 weeks ago! Could that have caused it?"

Guess what the hurried and whispered answer was... Can you guess? It was "yes, amlodipine can cause that"... and she rushed out of the office as quickly as she could immediately after, saying she'd call her cardiologist right now. As if we'd get some answers. You know what we got.. can you guess by now?

Yep, another follow-up appointment. No answers.

You know, it's pretty sad when staff actually complained to me about the robotic treatment of patients, and they did.

The best advice I can give anyone reading this is be pro-active and self-educate. Otherwise, you'll be mowed over with pacification, lack of information, and good old fashioned run-around. Stick with your family members when they're hospitalized, and pay close attention to what's being done.

I called my grandma's Doctor's office to see if she could have Tylenol for pain, after she was released. His staff told me, "Yeah! She can have aspirin!"

She's on Eliquis (blood thinner).. aspirin combined with Eliquis could kill her! I said, 'She can have aspirin while she's taking a blood thinner?" She re-checked and said... "ohh noo!"

I'd asked about Tylenol, and she came back with aspirin. If I hadn't known aspirin and Eliquis can lead to interal bleeding, I'd have politely hung-up and gave her an aspirin. I HAD to know that... don't rely on medical expertise.