center going downhill

[sullidog]

Ever since our FA left our center seems to be going down hill, in fact I don't think we have a new FA yet, and if we do I haven't seen her. Anyways I am the youngest and other then renal failure probably the healthiest person in my unit at 26 the rest I'd say are in their 50's or more. Well they always stick me in the corner by myself and they neglect me. In fact today my transportation called me wanting to know how much time I had on this machine, I yelled and yelled for a nurse to come check it for me since I can not see the machine myself, never got a response. Finally I said if no one answers me I'm going to alarm the machine! That got their attention but instead of coming over to help me they just gave me a guestamit, talk about lazy! I mean how long would it take to come answer my question so that my transportation could schedule me accordingly. Oh yeah and one day my machine alarmed and they took 5 minutes to come over and fix it. Does anyone else that is the youngest and the healthiest at their center get this kind of treatment? I'm about to call the ethics person of dialysis ethics if they don't get it together!
Troy

[okarol]

Is your center an independent or part of a larger chain? If that happened to me I would raise hell. 
Isn't it bad enough to be on dialysis and you've got to put up with crappy care too?? I don't care how old you are, it's not acceptable. If the management is not helpful after you have complained, you may want to get more info here (covers Ohio too) http://www.therenalnetwork.org/services/grievance.php.

[sullidog]

It's a chain, kind of short staffed in my unit too but that doesn't give any right for us to have to recieve crappy care.
Troy

[Rerun]

Good luck Troy.  Check to see when the new FA is coming.  My experience is to just move to a new center.  That is what competition is all about.  Take your Medicare check and leave to somewhere that will treat you better.

[kitkatz]

Write a letter to the people in charge. They usually have 48 hours to get back to you about your concerns.

[Stacy Without An E]

This is one of the biggest issues I worry about when it comes to Dialysis care.  Some clinics like to cut services and care to the bone, which means hiring individuals who are barely trained and possess no work ethic whatsoever.

Unfortunately, it usually takes someone dying to straighten out clinics such as yours.

I had a friend at a clinic run by Davita in the East Bay who was dealing with staff dropping lines on the floor and trying to hook them up to her catheter.  Staff members would sleep at their desks and ignore alarms.

She is very headstrong and not to be trifled with, so she started to document everything she deemed against protocol.  She managed to get a meeting with the Board of Directors to state her case.

Most of the staff were fired after that.  Her circumstances have improved greatly.  She couldn't change clinics because nearly every center surrounding San Francisco has a waiting list.

I'm not saying you have to go this far, but if they are risking your health, I would start filming or recording how long it takes them to answer your alarm.  Document how they ignore your alarms and how you seem to be ignored.

Once that material is presented, I can guarantee you they'll clean up their act.  The last thing they need is the local newspaper or TV station doing a story on this situation.

Best of luck in your fight.

[sullidog]

Update, now we got an FA who is never there, never sees the patients, etc. The whole staff is getting fed up. Lol maybe a dialysis strike?
Our center has one experienced nurse, and one nurse who was hired on without any experience in dialysis at all.
Troy

[SkyDancer]

This crap doesn't need to be happening to dialysis patients! My mom goes to a facility that only has 4 patients on her days,1 tech,1 nurse.Sounds easy but, they still ignore her alarms or just generally act as if she isn't there.They pay more attention to the "favored patient".( Someone who gives them money and gifts or takes in little treats like cookies or candy).Mom had to have a fistulagram 3 weeks ago.The surgeon put a dissolving stitch in her arm and told her the clinic could take the stitch out if it didn't come out on it's own.They have repeatedly ignored her request for them to look at it or remove it.The facility manager said after it had been in 1 week "Oh when did you have that done?"When mom said a week ago,the FM said"Well,I'm not going to touch it or take it out,let someone else do it".I have sat in the lobby and been able to look into the treatment room and watched them ignore patients.Like alarms or calls for help.SOMETHING needs to be done, that's why we are trying to make changes.PATIENTS ARE PEOPLE TOO!!!

[lorna]

I have the Exact same issue.

[gothiclovemonkey]

i too am 26 and my old center was like that, they were rude at times, they infultrated almost every treatment, cramped. And when i did, they acted like i did it on purprose or something. If there were having a bad day, they took it out on everyone, and they sat around on their butts alot, I ended up switching centers. MUCH better care! I love the new center. I can honestly say there is only ONE person there that i think should not be there.

[Constantcrave40]

Sometimes that happens exspecially in a short staffed unit, they were probly putting m or/off another patient. Next time when u go in ask them to turn your machine toward u so u can see all u need to see.

[Constantcrave40]

I understand being youngest I was for 1st 5 yrs.and even now they seem to listen to the older people.and thats ok but ive buzzed my ringer for tech and waited(and ive watched the time) and they never come for 12min.  My unit isnt as bad as alot. But has some issues. And if they dont come I raise my arm just enoui to alarm! Then they have to come.and do. I am in a corner to with one guy next to me. But I like it.cause its quiet and alittle more private. Thats just me. But the entrance is there and scale so I still get to talk to people. Maybe u can ask to be put in a chair thats more open.provided u keep your time. If u like when u go in. Just because u are younger doesnt mean u dont need or deserve promp reasonable answers and respect as a patient. If there is a nurse or tech or even your doc that u feel u can talk to then do it.and tell that them how u feel. They wont know if u dont say anything. If u would like to ever chat throw me a line at craziblutears@mbuzzy.com 

[lorna]

I raise my arm to get an alarm so they have to come over too! Its funny but that makes me happy to hear someone else say it because i thought i was the only one! None of the centers i have been in have had buzzers but i know when i was in the hospital the nurses on the renal ward would sometimes take over an hour to come when i rang the bell, more often than not it was a good 45 min..But i think it depends on the nurse some i have great hemo days with and they listne about where to needle and how i am doing  ect. and others pay no attention at all. its very frustrating!