October 15, 2008 5:37 PM
Tripp update - Loudoun Hospital not rating five stars with me
I didn't know what to do this morning. After much confusion about where to send him, Tripp was transported via ambulance back to Loudoun Hospital. While he was in transit, I went to meet the moms at Our Lady of Hope.
Took a quick peek into the church before I left. It is absolutely breathtaking! I honestly felt like I was in heaven.
Then to the ER where Tripp looked SO weak and helpless. He has lost 20 pounds since 9/23. And he wasn't a fat man. And I have never seen him like this. It is very hard. I prayed a rosary while he dozed off and on. Dr. K came and inspected his knee and said he thinks he doesn't need to remove the knee replacement. He was supposed to be admitted to spend the night. The infectious disease doctor had ordered a change of antibiotics. In the usual Loudoun Hospital style, they took forever to get there.
Everything takes forever at Loudoun Hospital. I had to leave at 2:30 to come home and meet Justin's bus. I just called, expecting to hear that Tripp had been moved to a room. He has not. He is still in ER - after 7 hours. Not because he needs anything - the ER was just a place for him to be evaluated - but because . . . . Well, just because it's Loudoun Hospital,. I guess.
And I really have been amazed at how uncaring much of the staff is there. The ER nurse was so rude - acting as if I had no business asking to hear what was going on with my husband, whether he'd been seen by a doctor, why he was shaking, etc. She would just say very condescendingly, "He's fine" like I was crazy for even asking. I would never treat someone worried about a loved one that way.
Tripp says his observation is that Take Charge women react very badly when another Take Charge woman comes on the scene. Too bad someone could make it through nursing school and not have that chip knocked off her shoulder.
I just called the Patient Advocate to get some help, but - guess what - No Answer! No machine! No advocacy!
[i accidentally deleted a comment from someone with helpful advice - will you please leave it again? I did put a call into the AOC - ]
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Comments
I know it would be an awful drive, but any chance of transfer to INOVA Fairfax? I live a few miles from Prince William Hosp. and have learned the hard way that I will have to do the drive into Fairfax if I want decent medical treatment and shown any amount of respect. Our prayers will continue.
Posted by: Margaret | October 15, 2008 5:22 PM
Barbara, I'm so sorry to hear that things have not improved for Tripp. And I'm really saddened to know that the staff doesn't seem to care. I also recently had knee replacement surgery, and while the staff on the surgical floor at my hospital were very caring, the nursing staff on the rehab floor weren't. At least until several patients met with the nursing supervisor. Things REALLY changed after those meetings! Hopefully, it will just be a matter of finding the right person to talk to. To be fair, I need to say that the physical therapy staff was the greatest! Their care and compassion were very evident in all they did with the patients. I pray that things will turn around for Tripp very soon and that he'll be on the road to a full and speedy recovery.
Posted by: Debbie | October 15, 2008 5:32 PM
Tripp is in our prayers! I am so sorry he is having to go through all this! I know how hard it is on you...been there!!!
Posted by: Betty Connally | October 15, 2008 6:02 PM
Barbara, I'm so sorry that all of this is happening. I truly believe that there are some people who go into medicine for the wrong reasons, if you cannot be a compassionate individual it is time to just change jobs and stop inflicting yourself on the patients and families. Before this turns into a rant on crappy bedside manners and incompetent hospitals, I had better stop there.
It's also very very convenient to carry a small recorder with you, I have even used a small camcorder, to use when talking with hospital personnel. Pity it had to come to that, but you would never believe how fast people perk up when they know I will hold them accountable for their poor behavior.
My husband had a TKR a few years ago, so this is not new to me. We will be praying that Tripp gets healed, and is able to come home ASAP.
Posted by: aine | October 15, 2008 6:58 PM
Transfer him!
Our hospitals on the Eastern Shore of DE are HORRIBLE!! I delivered my second child on the lobby floor of the hospital b/c the staff didn't heed our 911 call that something was wrong (I was two months early!) and then when we got there, my husband had to call on the phone for help and then go upstairs and leave me on the floor (and our 18 month old in the running car) to go up and get them to help us! By the time they got downstairs (10 MINUTES AFTER WE ARRIVED!), I had pushed our son's head out.
It is terrible that Tripp isn't being treated well. I have hear great things about the U. of Maryland hosp. in B-more. Maybe that's an option.
Posted by: Emma | October 15, 2008 7:13 PM
I'm sorry. That is so very frustrating. So he's not in as much danger now?
One of our hospitals is usually like that, too. I remember being in the ER all night, where they decided that I really needed to start IV fluids, but didn't do it right then, "because she's going to be going up to her room in just a minute, and they'll take care of her there." An hour later I was wheeled up, deposited in my room... and didn't see another person for 7 hours! I guess they figured I wouldn't make much fuss because my glands had nearly swollen my mouth shut? The only reason I saw someone 7 hours later: I was so weak, dehydrated and desperate by then that I got out of bed, made my way to the faucet, and then headed first to the desk (no one around), and then, difficultly, to the cafeteria for some apple juice or SOMETHING. When I had to ask a janitor directions to get back to my room, he called the floor, and boy, were they MAD at me. How dare I be so demanding as to want fluids or nourishment after not having any for over 24 hours! How dare I want the meds prescribed half a day earlier. They had people to discharge, paperwork to do...
I pray that his treatment will be efficient and efficacious from here out.
Posted by: Marian | October 15, 2008 7:34 PM
I agree that if there is any way to transfer him to do so. Also, is there anyone who can stay with him to make sure he's getting the care he needs? I feel he's really vulnerable right now with this infection and needs extra eyes to oversee his care. I am praying for Tripp and you. I am so grateful that God is overseeing every detail concerning his recovery. Bless you both!
Posted by: Dawn | October 15, 2008 8:01 PM
Barbara,
Sometimes a change in shifts helps. Getting in touch with patient relations does, too. I hope the attitude of staff improves.
Posted by: Julana | October 15, 2008 8:11 PM
Barbara,
Keep asking the questions of the hospital staff. If you get no satisfaction don't hesitate to call Tripp's surgeon to express your concerns. Total joint surgery is a profit center for most hospitals that do them and they don't want to upset the surgeons...they might take their cases elsewhere and the hospital will lose revenue. Direct care has been cut to the bone in most hospitals...you must advocate for Tripp in a way that acknowledges this..perhaps by asking what you or family can do to help with Tripp's plan of care and daily needs. A family that offers to work in tandem with the staff, even when there truly isn't much they can do, is a family that will win the hearts of staff for their loved one. It's unfortunate but true in the reality of tody's healthcare.
Posted by: Reen | October 15, 2008 9:19 PM
Barbara,
If you had a less than satisfactory experience with this hospital initially, you are more than likely going to have an even worse time this go round. You can expect less communication, more defensiveness, more obfuscation when you ask questions.
Why?
Because there is a good possibility that Tripp got his infection in the hospital and the hospital staff knows this and will now "circle the waggons" in an attempt to cover their behinds.
My advice: call your surgeon tonight and leave a message with his answering service explaining how unacceptable Tripp's care has been since he arrived at the ER and tell him you want to start the paperwork for a transfer first thing in the morning.
One of two things will likely happen: Tripp will get the transfer, or you will notice a "magical" change in the way the hospital staff treats your husband.
If you do end up transfering: Hopkins and Pitt are doing amazing things with wound care and infection healing using IV antibiotics in conjunction with high pressure/high concentration O2 chambers.
We're praying for Tripp and your family. Please keep us posted.
And remember: document! document! document!
Posted by: Anna | October 16, 2008 12:11 AM
Speaking as a hospital RN for 22 yrs. I can tell you that these days and at some hospitals it is a necessity to have a family member at the bedside a good part of the time to ensure quality care.
A person can become life-threateningly ill from a septic joint. I agree with the above poster - get him transferred if you can.
I need to say this - if you love your husband, make him and his recovery your priority. See if your other children can help with care of the Downs guys. Cancel speaking engagements. Skip theatre practices/all but essential activities, and concentrate all your energy on Tripp. He needs you to be his advocate now.
I would also encourage you to take him home post hospital discharge. Extended-care facilities have very high rates of MRSA and other antibiotic resistant infections and not-so-great training and infection control practices sometimes.
Posted by: teresa | October 16, 2008 2:20 PM
Another thing: if you are having a problem with a particular staff member, pick up the phone in the room or area Tripp is in and tell the operator you want the nursing supervisor to call you at that extension. When she/he calls back, let her know the nature of your problem and ask her for help in resolving it. If you don't get any help there, ask to be connected to Director of Nursing Services and speak to them about the problem.
http://www.inova.org/inova_loudoun_hospital/about/medical_executive_committee.jsp
The above is a link to the head docs of various depts. That would be my next step after Director of Nursing.
Posted by: teresa | October 16, 2008 2:42 PM
Posted by: teresa | October 17, 2008 9:19 AM
