Jennifer Page

Review of CHI St. Luke's Health Memorial...

Please consider this a review of the emergency roo...

Please consider this a review of the emergency room only. 10 days ago, I was experiencing symptoms that led me to go the nearest hospital. Given the reputation of Houston's Chi St. Luke, as a leader in Heart care, I felt I would disregard the things that I had heard and go to the hospital right next door. I was Casper white, sweating in 68 degrees, faint, elevated blood pressure, tachycardia, and chest tightness and pain but at the same time, making jokes and doing my best to stand on my own two feet.
I was there from 2:30 to 10:00, was given 2 Tylenol, 3 bags of saline, diagnosed with dehydration and sent home. Although I drank just as much that day/week as any other time. By the time they were discharging me, I was realizing at No point during my visit had anyone asked me what medications and supplements I take, no one asked me what existing conditions I had. Basic stuff. Both the day shift and night shift doctors spent miniscule amounts of time with me and were dismissive and condescending. The night doctor told me I could lie to him and he would admit me if that's what I wanted. When I told him my go-to drink was water, his response was "Good Answer." No one gave you time to think of a response, if you did have everything formulated in your mind what you were going to say when the doctor or nurse comes in then you missed your chance because they are in and out. My head was fuzzy. Guess I needed pencil and paper to gather my thoughts and articulate fast enough for them. The nurses who took my orthostatic blood pressures did not do it correctly. I read up on it because there were marked differences in my bp and pulse from laying down to standing but that's because I was dehydrated? Right. I was still faint when I was leaving the hospital, and for days afterward. But after the experience that I had, I refused the grudgingly offered wheelchair and walked out with my fuzzy head held high. (My husband drove.) The one good thing that I learned from my visit was that I was not having a heart attack. Thumbs Up to that!

A separate issue, I'm not good with names, I can't tell you anyone's name there. However, if I heard this person's voice again, I would know her, I don't know what her role is but I thought of her as the official "Loud Talker" of the nurses desk area. When she came on duty she was complaining about someone else not having brought her a latte for a long time, then begging others to go to McDonalds and purchase her a latte, then telling said someone that they "make the big bucks" and they should pay for her latte. Perhaps my pulse was staying high because this woman was quite the most annoying person I've ever had the displeasure of listening to. Not long before we left, Ms. Loud Talker apparently had failed to plan ahead and loudly announced to the hall that we needed to get these people discharged because she had a paper to write. I hope all the patients survived and she made an A, that would be the best of both worlds. A formal reprimand would also be in order, I imagine if you read this to emergency room personnel you will find said Ms. Loud Talker very easily. As a sick patient, I know I found her attitude extremely offensive. I imagine everyone else in the hospital did too.

Dear Sir or Madam form responder, it is not necessary for you to tell me that I can send this to Yana Ogletree. I am aware. I am also aware that you can copy, paste, and forward this feedback to her just as well as any of these disappointed responders can. If a personal approach is the goal, if satisfaction in your patients is the goal, maybe reach out to the Houston hospital for guidance? It seems that this small town can learn something about friendliness and patient care from the big city. Perhaps its because the big city pays more and attracts a different caliber of doctor, I don't know. I certainly hope that these issues are worked out so that local people don't fear going to a local hospital in an emergency situation.