Summersville Hospital

Judged:

Lets say your shift begins at 6am. 6:05 the first patient walks to your window. You have to ask them to sign in, state their illness and to please be seated. More patients begin to come in, you tell them the same. The first patient walks up wanting to know why she's been here 30 minutes and nobody has talked to her. A mother runs in with a child who is unresponsive demanding that SOMEONE DO SOMETHING. More patients come in. During this time you're also getting files together, checking people in, typing in their information in the computer, calling people up to the desk to talk.. Talking to more new patients. Another critical patient comes in. Three patients want to know why they've been waiting four hours. An ambulance crew from another town comes in and asks how to get to a certain part of the hospital. You drop the folder you're holding and spill papers everywhere. A woman walks up demanding pain medicine for her headache and you repeatedly tell her to sit down and wait her turn. You're still filling out paperwork, you get behind, your co-worker gets angry with you. You attempt to eat lunch. Your computer locks up. The doctor tells you not to accept anymore patients and to go on diversion. MORE patients want to know why they're still waiting........

Pretty stressful huh? Lets all try to be a little nicer to Registration.=]

SMH

Huntington, WV

Judged:

Bri wrote:

Lets say your shift begins at 6am. 6:05 the first patient walks to your window. You have to ask them to sign in, state their illness and to please be seated. More patients begin to come in, you tell them the same. The first patient walks up wanting to know why she's been here 30 minutes and nobody has talked to her. A mother runs in with a child who is unresponsive demanding that SOMEONE DO SOMETHING. More patients come in. During this time you're also getting files together, checking people in, typing in their information in the computer, calling people up to the desk to talk.. Talking to more new patients. Another critical patient comes in. Three patients want to know why they've been waiting four hours. An ambulance crew from another town comes in and asks how to get to a certain part of the hospital. You drop the folder you're holding and spill papers everywhere. A woman walks up demanding pain medicine for her headache and you repeatedly tell her to sit down and wait her turn. You're still filling out paperwork, you get behind, your co-worker gets angry with you. You attempt to eat lunch. Your computer locks up. The doctor tells you not to accept anymore patients and to go on diversion. MORE patients want to know why they're still waiting........
Pretty stressful huh? Lets all try to be a little nicer to Registration.=]

I agree with you 100%... With this new ED it is even more stressful. What you said is me almost every day trying to get things done....

I was There

Chicago, IL

Judged:

EMS worker wrote:

As an employee of an EMS service in West Virginia I have been in SMH numerous times, not to mention almost every other hospital in West Virginia and surrounding states. After spending that much time in ER's I believe that the one parent rule is a very good rule. If for every child there are two parents running around that ER, it would be a mad house! ER's are already packed enough as it is with all of the nurses, doctors, EMS, cleaning staff and numerous other people. A child does not need two parents to keep it calm. I understand that a child would LIKE for both parents to be with them and the parents would both LIKE to be with their child but it's almost impossible. Whether you're in an ER with your 2 year old child or your 80 year old grandmother.. Family wants to be with them at all times. ER's have rules because they WORK and they keep the place a little more calm.
The nurses, doctors and all other health care workers at SMH are excellent. The hospital might not be a Level 1 Trauma Center or one of the best hospitals in the state but they do their job to their best abilities. I agree with Hummingbird. If you don't like SMH go to another hospital!
And about the wait.. Every ER takes patients by priority. If you come in with flu-like symptoms or a headache you're going to be a lower priority than someone who's having a possible heart attack or has a traumatic injury. Even coming by ambulance doesn't guarantee that you'll get a room. If you call an ambulance becauses your head hurts, more than likely you'll be going in the waiting room too. The ER is called an ER for a reason.. It's an EMERGENCY room. You might feel than they are but 9/10 times you aren't able to make that decision. The nurses and doctors determine who's top priority because they're trained to do so. They know what they're doing so let them do their jobs without complaining! They're going to take care of you.. Just be patient.

I took a disabled family member there who had been extremely ill for over 24 hours and was running a temperature of 102.6. They could not even stand up. A a man in the parking lot helped me get him into the hospital. I got them registered and waited,and waited and waited. My family member was so sick, they could not even sit in the chair. They lay down on the waiting room floor. I finally went to the window and asked about getting some help. The bitch looked at me and just closed the window in my face. I swear I was being nice at that point.
She then turned around and went back to laughing and joking with her coworkers.
Another woman who was in the waiting room when we arrived went to the window and demanded something be done right away for my family member.
When we were finally called back to the ER, the doctor made us wait for another hour. The nurses were at the station laughing and joking, about one's date the night before and how well endowed he was, and joking to some EMS workers hanging out there; that is just putting it politely.
When the doctor did come in, won't name his name, he said,'what the hell is the problem here'. I was so taken aback.
He took the temperature and found out that it had gone even higher.
He had an IV started and medication for nausea and vomiting and had some blood drawn. He then left, and left us sitting there for 3 hours. When he came back, he said,'well I'm not going to blow smoke up your ass, I don't know what the hell is wrong.' We took him immediately to another hosp. and found that he was suffering from an allergic reaction to some food, was severly dehydrated and had we waited another 2 hours, he probably would have been in a coma from the fever.So, if --Every ER takes patients by priority--what the hell is going on at SMH. It sure is not patient priority and if this is the BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES, then they would not qualify for BK or McDonalds.
And by the way, didn't they just let a pregnant woman die?
Good Marks SMH

I was There

Chicago, IL

Judged:

SMH wrote:

<quoted text>
Well being one of the bitches that workes the front window, think that things are pretty crappy ourself and u sould try working there. We get treated like shit and the rules are stupied I agree with that but they are for a reason. The administration don't stand for the patients or thier staff. I really don't know what they are for...

You probably do get treated like shit by the admin and some patients even. But that is no reason for all of the workers there to treat everyone that walks in like they are shit.

ok what if

What if both parents go with the child anyway. What are they goning to do throw you out?

Bri

Obviously I wasn't there when this happened.. I'm not going to take up for the woman at the desk being a bitch to you. That was very uncalled for. There are many reasons as to why your family member wasn't taken back. An ER obviously can't take EVERY patient back, they don't have enough beds. Especially not SMH; even with with remodeling.

I disagree with the nurses talking about their personal business within earshot of patients, I think that that is extremely unprofessional. While at work everyone talks about personal business.. including you, doctors, nurses, lawyers, police, even the president. You can still get your job done while chit-chatting. However, again, I don't agree with them talking loud enough for patients to hear.

I will stick by SMH by saying that they do take patients by priority. For all you know that ER was completely packed. ANYTHING could happen.. There could be five cardiac arrests at the same time, a five car pile up with multiple trauma patients.. Anything could happen and if that DID happen; your family member wouldn't have been priority unfortunately..

I'm very sorry that you were treated this way.. It's extremely unfortuante and like I said, I think that you should talk to someone about that doctors' demenor. Health care workers are professionals and should always act as such. From now on you will be scared to take your family to this hospital and that's a shame. A community should be able to have faith and trust in their local hospital. I hope that your family member is of good health now and I thank the hospital that you took them to for actually treating them appropriately!

The only thing I've heard about the pregnant woman that died was that she had TTP and isn't that extremely hard to diagnose and treat?

wow

I was There wrote:

<quoted text> I took a disabled family member there who had been extremely ill for over 24 hours and was running a temperature of 102.6. They could not even stand up. A a man in the parking lot helped me get him into the hospital. I got them registered and waited,and waited and waited. My family member was so sick, they could not even sit in the chair. They lay down on the waiting room floor. I finally went to the window and asked about getting some help. The bitch looked at me and just closed the window in my face. I swear I was being nice at that point.
She then turned around and went back to laughing and joking with her coworkers.
Another woman who was in the waiting room when we arrived went to the window and demanded something be done right away for my family member.
When we were finally called back to the ER, the doctor made us wait for another hour. The nurses were at the station laughing and joking, about one's date the night before and how well endowed he was, and joking to some EMS workers hanging out there; that is just putting it politely.
When the doctor did come in, won't name his name, he said,'what the hell is the problem here'. I was so taken aback.
He took the temperature and found out that it had gone even higher.
He had an IV started and medication for nausea and vomiting and had some blood drawn. He then left, and left us sitting there for 3 hours. When he came back, he said,'well I'm not going to blow smoke up your ass, I don't know what the hell is wrong.' We took him immediately to another hosp. and found that he was suffering from an allergic reaction to some food, was severly dehydrated and had we waited another 2 hours, he probably would have been in a coma from the fever.So, if --Every ER takes patients by priority--what the hell is going on at SMH. It sure is not patient priority and if this is the BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES, then they would not qualify for BK or McDonalds.
And by the way, didn't they just let a pregnant woman die?
Good Marks SMH

My Lord what was the doctors name? Tell us so we will be sure and not get the guy!! He sounds like a luna tic.

Mary

Judged:

EMS worker wrote:

As an employee of an EMS service in West Virginia I have been in SMH numerous times, not to mention almost every other hospital in West Virginia and surrounding states. After spending that much time in ER's I believe that the one parent rule is a very good rule. If for every child there are two parents running around that ER, it would be a mad house! ER's are already packed enough as it is with all of the nurses, doctors, EMS, cleaning staff and numerous other people. A child does not need two parents to keep it calm. I understand that a child would LIKE for both parents to be with them and the parents would both LIKE to be with their child but it's almost impossible. Whether you're in an ER with your 2 year old child or your 80 year old grandmother.. Family wants to be with them at all times. ER's have rules because they WORK and they keep the place a little more calm.
The nurses, doctors and all other health care workers at SMH are excellent. The hospital might not be a Level 1 Trauma Center or one of the best hospitals in the state but they do their job to their best abilities. I agree with Hummingbird. If you don't like SMH go to another hospital!
And about the wait.. Every ER takes patients by priority. If you come in with flu-like symptoms or a headache you're going to be a lower priority than someone who's having a possible heart attack or has a traumatic injury. Even coming by ambulance doesn't guarantee that you'll get a room. If you call an ambulance becauses your head hurts, more than likely you'll be going in the waiting room too. The ER is called an ER for a reason.. It's an EMERGENCY room. You might feel like everyone else is going in before you and you're more critical than they are but 9/10 times you aren't able to make that decision. The nurses and doctors determine who's top priority because they're trained to do so. They know what they're doing so let them do their jobs without complaining! They're going to take care of you.. Just be patient.

I have a 2yr old and a 5 month old. and I want you to understand that if my child's back there I'm paying for that room. That means I should have rights. My child should be able to have to have both parents in the room. I would understan that if they saw us running the halls then asking one of us to leave but don't punish everyone else. When i take one of my children to the hospital I usually have to take the other. SO therefore, I need to have my husband there to help me. My children are both very attached to their mom.And what gets me the most is that in the old Er you could have who ever you wanted back there and there was no problems, So what is the difference now.The new Er is suppusto be bigger can hold more ppl....
And u say that they take people that are more sever 1st tell me this why did they leave me son whom was 13months at the time setting in the er 5 hr bleeding from an open blood vein in his head? No matter how many time i told them he was still bleeding. WE went thru 1 complete box of 4X4 galuze before they even looked at him and i don't mean just a little bit of blood on them, they were soaked! You don't beleive me ask Tim Lewis He is the Dr that finally seen me. He had to send my son to Morantown. SO you say that they take more sever hmm i guess bleeding for 5 hrs isnt sever enough. We went that night at 5pm.10pm before we even got triaged. then another hr before we go to a room.set there a hour waiting for the Dr, then was sever other hours waiting to see if the could get it to stop bleeding it was 4:30 when the ambulance came to take us to Morgantown.It was almost 7am before we made it to Morgantown. SO u form ur own opinon.

Lets clarify

Judged:

I dont think that the reg.people are Bit$$s I actually like them. I think that the Nurses are!

just me

Elkins, WV

Judged:

Well I have never been there but it sounds like every other hospital ER.

I am going

to call Dan Shellford Monday morning and have him read these stories...awful...just awful. Somebody needs to figure out the problem and FIX it.

slayernut666

Judged:

Scared wrote:

<quoted text>It is a hospital Idiot. Not a fu****g prison.
This hospital if full of egotistical, hot headed, doctors with God complexes. They think they know it all.
There used to be a couple of decent ones there, but no more. The administration would not stand for the patients being treated nicely.
Neither would the bitches that work the front window.
So stick that up your satanic ass and smoke it.

then i recommend you go somewhere else if youre that unhappy with the place. and i cant stick anything up my satanic ass and smoke it, im too busy casting out demons amongst the 7 bloody gates of hell to reign terror and bloodshed on you and your kids that need two parents in the room with them! have a wonderful day, and ill see you in your dreams sleeping beauty!!!

the pharmacist

Judged:

Amen. to EMS worker. Healthcare is harder than people think. There's alot below the surface that most people never see. And they can be thankful for that they just don't know it.

The Mother

Pleasant Hill, IL

Leave my daughter out of this! Yes she had Ttp and if ur so called doctors wouldnt have left her lay there for 4 days watching her get sicker an sayin she was fine, she may still be here! SO DO NOT MENTION MY DAUGHTER OR TTP IN THIS FORUM AGAIN!

what is going on

Judged:

there is a nurse that works down there. she wears lite colored clothing to show off her thongs that don't cover much. what is that saying for a hospital, and it's workers. maybe she thinks she's hot, but people are making fun of her, cause she thinks she's is a teenager again, and flips her butt around for the doc's and ems workers. if she was my child? my goodnees people don't you have a dress code. or is it a bar code? meet singles here.and when a hospital grows it is to help people, not shut them out from there familys, and think about there feelings, when you have someone sick, do you want kept from them? no you want to be by there side, well so do we. and what if a mom comes in with a 6 month old and a 2 year old. does the 6 month old have to stay in the waiting room by it's self, till mom gets done with the 2 yr.old? something wrong here, wouldn't you agree.maybe we are not doc's or ems works, but they need to remember, they work for the public, and we always have the right to say what we think, but be nice now when you do it. cause we would not want then to think we are being awful or anything like that, heaven for bid. like we don't have a care in the world. and if it takes so long cause your short of staft. for heaven sakes hire some, cause heaven knows you charge enough. and one last thing, if it was your family member back there, just cause you work for the hospital, does that mean you can have all the people back that you want? just wondering?

I was up there

Judged:

There was a young man and woman sitting in the waiting area. The man had his arm tightly wrapped around what I believe to have been his wife. We all sat there for a longggggggg time. I staeted boticing that this girl was having seizures. Despite how quiet and careful they were not to make a scene, he couldn't hold her tight enough to keep her head from hitting the wall. It wasn't long after I figured out what was going on till I went to the desk and demanded someone do something for her. Those poor kids would have just toughed it out till it was their "turn". It was ridiculous!

Bri

The Mother wrote:

Leave my daughter out of this! Yes she had Ttp and if ur so called doctors wouldnt have left her lay there for 4 days watching her get sicker an sayin she was fine, she may still be here! SO DO NOT MENTION MY DAUGHTER OR TTP IN THIS FORUM AGAIN!

Tracey, I wasn't trying to slanderize your daughter. I obviously don't know the entire story, what happened, what the doctors told you or how they treated your daughter. I too have been in that situation though.. About six years ago my mother went to SMH for severe abdominal pain. She in fact slowly bleeding to death from endometriosis. The doctors told her to go home, wait a few days and return if nothing got better. At that point, Dr. Rainey came in and demanded emergency surgery for my mother to stop the bleeding. Thankfully, because of his skills, my mother was saved. Then just six months ago my grandmother was at SMH hospital with a very, very rare intestinal parasite. They had absolutely no idea what was wrong with her and after convincing my family, we had her transferred to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown where they diagnosed and treated the parasite.. She still passed away a month later but the point is that she would have died within a day or two if left at SMH. However, I do not blame SMH. Every doctor can't know everything. They all specialize in certain things and if they don't yet KNOW what's going on, they can't do anything about it. They were constantly running tests and doing screenings to try to find out what was wrong with her... If I hadn't demanded that my grandmother be sent to Ruby Memorial they would have kept her there. Is that their fault? No. They were doing everything to their best abilities.. Even Ruby had to call in a specialist from another state to treat my grandmother because even they couldn't figure out what was wrong..

What happened was very unfortunate and I'm very sorry for your loss.. I hope that SMH learns from what happened and learns to recognize the symptoms of TTP so that can help the next girl who has it.

EMS worker

what is going on wrote:

there is a nurse that works down there. she wears lite colored clothing to show off her thongs that don't cover much. what is that saying for a hospital, and it's workers. maybe she thinks she's hot, but people are making fun of her, cause she thinks she's is a teenager again, and flips her butt around for the doc's and ems workers. if she was my child? my goodnees people don't you have a dress code. or is it a bar code? meet singles here. and when a hospital grows it is to help people, not shut them out from there familys, and think about there feelings, when you have someone sick, do you want kept from them? no you want to be by there side, well so do we. and what if a mom comes in with a 6 month old and a 2 year old. does the 6 month old have to stay in the waiting room by it's self, till mom gets done with the 2 yr.old? something wrong here, wouldn't you agree.maybe we are not doc's or ems works, but they need to remember, they work for the public, and we always have the right to say what we think, but be nice now when you do it. cause we would not want then to think we are being awful or anything like that, heaven for bid. like we don't have a care in the world. and if it takes so long cause your short of staft. for heaven sakes hire some, cause heaven knows you charge enough. and one last thing, if it was your family member back there, just cause you work for the hospital, does that mean you can have all the people back that you want? just wondering?

I don't think that there is a dress code for nurses. I too have seen nurses who were very light colored scrubs and I too have commented on the fact that you can see their underwear.. I find that rather offending because I don't want to go to a hospital to see nurses walking around in see-thru clothes but at the same time, they can choose their scrubs. At every job (unless you're given a specific uniform) there is usually atleast one female who dressses provacatively. There will always be females out there who will dress that way... We all just have to look the other way.

I did not say that you weren't allowed to voice your opinion. That's the great thing about this country, everyone is allowed to voice their opinions. All I was saying is that while some of us might not agree with it, there will always be rules that we don't like. I know that it's hard for a mother to take care of two children while in the ER but there's a rule for a reason. I didn't make the rule and I don't enforce the rule. I just know it's a rule for a reason. The hospital has obviously seen more good come from it than bad because otherwise they would make an attempt to modify it.

Hiring nurses is easier said than done. There's a reason why it's one of the top professions in demand in America. Nurses are needed in so many businesses/hospitals and while countless people are going into the nursing profession there is still a huge demand; especially in a small town like Summersville.

EMS worker