Duke University Hospital incident

[plugger]

I just wanted to mention one of our patient advocates, Larry Hall, who already has seen more than his share of trouble now had to deal with the Duke University emergency room, a 12 hour wait, and 6 hours of driving back and forth.  We've decided to make this public and are waiting on a response from Duke.

click_for_Duke_University_incident

[okarol]

Maybe it's my computer but those links don't seem to work.

[paris]

They don't work for me either.  Nor does the one in the signature line.

[Rerun]

Maybe they are fixed now.  I got it.

I hope you get some sort of compensation..... like no bill would be nice.  Why should tax payers have to pay for that treatment or your insurance.

[paris]

It worked this time.      Duke is one of the biggest hospitals in the Southeast with a good reputation.  It does serve the indigent and those without insurance, so their emergency room is always overcrowded and the wait times are long.  Doesn't excuse the behavior of the staff, though.   Seems like the patient shouldn't have been sent to the ER but sent directly to the right department via his doctor. My granddaughter was in the children's ER for 8 hours the other night, most of it waiting for the right doctor to see her.   ER's are not a place for quick service, but the service should be good. 

[plugger]

I apologize for the downtime.  We have been having server problems, I'm asking the host company to move the site to a different server - might take a few days, but the site is back up for now.

I was a little surprised too, to find out it was Duke Larry had problems with - but nobody deserves to be treated like that.  We will see what they have to say about all this.

[plugger]

I did want to mention I have some good news and some bad news. Larry, one of our patient advocates, has had his surgery moved from the end of January to the beginning of the month - http://dialysisethics2.org/forum/index.php?topic=481.0.

The bad news is we are getting the run-around in obtaining a response. So Carl Ginsburg, a lawyer/journalist friend, has graciously offered to help. We like to settle these matters with less fanfare, but Duke seems to be insisting. So if they want to meet one of our heavy-hitters - so be it.

[cariad]

Good luck with this incident, Plugger. I will be interested to hear Duke's response. This type of treatment from medical facilities is downright traumatizing. I hope the hospital will own up to the mistakes that were made and offer to work with your organization to remedy the situation and prevent any recurrence.

[plugger]

I guess before they can straighten out things like their emergency room, they will have to figure out things like faxes          Larry's_thread

[cariad]

Not a very encouraging turn of events. Note to self: do not require emergency medical attention in Durham, North Carolina.

Keep on them, Plugger and colleagues....

[plugger]

Larry's surgery date got moved up, so we are very happy about that.  We have to wonder though what is going on with their administration and where are their priorities? - not the ER apparently.

[plugger]

Larry made it through surgery, but I understand he is in the ICU:

http://dialysisethics2.org/forum/index.php?topic=481.15     

[plugger]

We did get this update:

"Larry just called. He is fine and feeling better. I received a text message from a family member that he was going to ICU. It appears that he did better than expected and is now in his room. He did not have to go to ICU as previously thought.

Larry wishes to thank all of those who kept him close to their hearts."

 

[fc2821]

 

[cariad]

Great news, Plugger! 

[plugger]

Larry continues to recover.  I'll add we've decided to post pictures of Larry's arm - a picture is worth a thousand words:
http://dialysisethics2.org/forum/index.php?topic=481.30

Warning: it isn't for the squeamish.

[rookiegirl]

I'm glad Larry is recovering.  I don't know much about hemo.  Why is his arm swole like that? Is there something underneath his skin?

Any response from Duke on how bad Larry was treated.  I started at Duke and was referred to Wake Baptist where I had my transplant.

[plugger]

I would have to talk to Larry to make sure I'm not assuming, but I do know his DaVita clinic was using the wrong needles - they were using button-hole needles, when he didn't have a button-hole access.  I understand though this messed up his graft, he said the button-hole needles were duller.

I would like to think Duke is a better hospital than what we have seen - maybe if you can get access to a doctor that doesn't run off on you, you might be alright.

[greco02]

One of the links I just looked at mentioned a fax sent to the wrong number.  The OCR takes complaints regarding HIPAA /confidentiality concerns.  I am proud I work for a Hospital with a very high level of customer service and excellent patient care.  I do agree with the comment about the ER.  With all the unemployment, and here in San Diego add the problem of being a border town our ER's are full of people with colds, flu's, UTI's, etc etc.   The seriously ill have the best chance of being seen quickly if they go to the ER via ambulance.   

[plugger]

We have let Duke know we haven't been exactly happy with their customer service.  But now it does look like their medical staff has come through!  I talked to Larry and he is out of the hospital and it looks like he is coming along fine!   

http://dialysisethics2.org/forum/index.php?topic=481.30

[Zog]

My wife is stuck over at Duke now.  We have interesting stories about Duke's ER, etc.  They get a little arrogant over there, but then don't all doctors.  We got stuck in the ER for 12 hours one night over there.  We heard an interesting story from some old lady who was there because her allergies were acting up.  They prescribed Allegra at 3:00 AM for her.  She shouldn't have been there clogging up the system.  Don't go to their ER at night unless it is in an ambulance.  You are better off calling a nurse at DaVita or your doctor most of the time. 

[plugger]

I do hope they get their problems straightened out!

[plugger]

CMS and the State of North Carolina pay a visit to Duke University:

http://dialysisethics2.org/forum/index.php?topic=481.30

[Zog]

Did Dr. Lawson make that fistula for Larry?  It took 3 surgeries at Duke to get Jenn's working okay with him.  It made us wish we never got her first one ligated after transplant.

Who has been sticking it, Davita Durham West?

[paris]

Unfortunately, Duke is used by many as their only source of medical treatment.  It is similar to Wake Medical Center in Raleigh. They care for all the indigent and uninsured.  So the ER can be a horrible place to get quick treatment.  I had a similar experience - 12 hours wait and my doctor had called ahead.      Zog,   I am in Raleigh. If there is anything I can do for you, let me know.    Be careful of the ice and snow that is coming.  Let us know how your wife is doing.   I am sorry it has been so hard.