I was informed today that a new policy of ER is to NOT allow any family members in with a patient, until they are seen by a doctor.Where do I complain or to whom?This is outrageous! There is no way I would want my husband, child parents or in-laws to have to be alone for any length of time in an ER circumstance. I can understand limiting numbers, but to have no one??? Unacceptable! My Mother-in-law is 89 years old and has Alzheimer's, if something comes up with her, either myself or my husband will be with her at time of admission and one of us better be let in with her, or there will be such a scene!!!A friend told me she had to wait 45minutes to join her 88 year old mother, who had fallen and was severely injured at a local nursing home. By the time she finally got in with her mother, her mother was frantic and terrified. Totally unnecessary trauma! I have seen it take even longer to see a doctor, in no way should anyone injured or incapable be alone for any time without family members, if available. Tell me who to contact.
I would not be able to speak to the newest rules in the ER. They seem to make them up as they go. I have been told in the past that family members are not to be limited, I have also been told to limit the guests to one... I guess it just depends on the administration's bipolar pendulum and which way its swinging in that day.
From the outside looking in, I am a fan of limiting family members to one. It's a small space. A lot of things are going on. I am a fan of having the family members elect one person to be the "one" that receives the information and then is responsible for dispursing it to the other family members. It tends to "gum up" the works when you have numerous people needing information and your nurse is spending time explaining procedures over and over again. I am also a firm believer that in critical or trauma situations that the initial assessment should be completed prior to allowing family back to visit. In these few situations, family should be kept abreast of their family member'scondition and the tests that are in need of completion prior to allowing family back. I agree in situations when a patient is confused, a familiar face is a powerful remedy.
My best advice to you is to burn up the phone of the administration. They have more directors of this, that and the other that are paid to do pretty much nothing. advertising, patient satisfaction, quality management. Call them first. Call the main hospital phone line and ask for Mr. Humphreys. You can bet your money that if you only speak to the charge nurse or the director or the er administrator, it will be covered away with along with their own tails and nothing will happen.
This hospital belongs to the taxpayers... It is our dollars that are paying these high salaries spent on incompetence and arrogance of the ER director and administrator. Until Mr. Humpreys gets tired of hearing the voices of the community, nothing will change and all that's left of the staff that cares will be long gone as well.
Good Luck. I hope your voice can make a difference.
-deltapithy
