Long term care hospital.
Family member been there over 2 months have gotten pneumonia 3x, Sputum infections and 2x feeding tube been removed. In bed 20+ hours a day. So sleeps all the time with barely any human contact. Doctors won’t return calls. Ban to visitors. Won’t send her home or remove trach that causes infections and staff neglect. Some Nurses hang up and don’t return calls for hours if at all. What should I do? They won’t transfer to the hospital when doctor approved it once. HELP. The company has had Medicare whistleblower fraud, neglect lawsuits, and reviews that they kill patients. I feel so hopeless. Thank you for any advice.
Just a few thoughts though. I don't understand defiance of a doctor's orders for transfer to (another?) long term care hospital. Under the current lockdowns, I don't know whether or not you could get some support from an Ombudsperson, but it's worth a try.
This doesn't sound like a reputable place to be. How was it that your family member was placed here?
What rationale did they give for refusing to transfer this person?
Over the years, first when my mother, then my father needed placement, I learned that there was one rehab center with the reputation of taking patients in, but they never left. It seemed that some in the medical community knew this place was terrible, but they still offered it as a recommendation to families.
“Defiance doctors orders”- the story goes I received a notice in writing I was to leave at 5pm and not see my family member for 30+ days. My family member was Conveniently places on the Ventilator 2 hours before the governors’ order to ban visitors. So I went to the family members hospital which was in the same building. Was crying my eyes out and spoke to the patient Advocate. She came with me to the rehab hospital and spoke to the heads in charge. I went in an office and they told the lady I want my family Member discharged. They said we will handle this Situation. The advocate said am I needed they said no and she left. Then things changed. They call my family members doctor. I spoke to him and said I don’t feel safe leaving my family member here with a paper full of reasons. He said I don’t agree with you but I will send over the orders to get her transferred. Tell them they need the medical director to call me and I told them and hung up. Then things changed again they said he needs to call the medical director. I said call him back and tell him they said no. You have to leave. I came back got my stuff out of the family members room and said I was coming back . I had borrowed oxygen and had a wheelchair or you can transfer the family member to the hospital. When I returned they blocked the door had 2 security men and said you are not taking her she on a ventilator. I called ent they won’t come unless the rehab approved which they said no. They laugh at me and said your not taking her anywhere. For 20 hours they held her Hostage. Next day doctor called me and said the family member is getting better wait a week and if they get worst will transfer them. New doctor next week. 4 weeks later pneumonia 2 more times and so many more issues. Keep asking to transfer but they won’t let me take her home. Now on oxygen which I don’t have I borrowed it fromER. After call the chief of that rehab. I said they are holding my family member hostage. He called I got a call from the head case manager. She said we are not holding her hostage you are free to take her but will not get you oxygen. Bulling me and giving me false hope telling me they are trying to wean her oxygen and getting her off the trach. Which has never happen. Same o2levels as 4 weeks ago and on the trach.
they said you can leave ama but she will die because we won’t give her oxygen order to take her home.
later I found out by 2 nurses one that works there and other one from the hospital I should get a lawyer. They are regularly hearing bad things about this place. They have a Reputation of neglect whistleblower fraud and lawsuits. The company Loses-every time.
thank you for your comments and advice. I am giving them till the antibiotics are over in a few days. If more lies I will figure out a way to get a lawyer , call Ombudsperson, and or get the media involved. When a past patient filed a lawsuit and won for neglect the local news aired the story. They are a Repeat offender. I have never in my life cried so much. This has been the biggest mistake I have ever made. When she leaves this will be my mission that no other person will be treated like this again. The definition of Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Getting pneumonia 3x and feeding tube removed is neglect. Your comment was very Sincere and appreciative. Till next time...
Your problem maybe you don't have POA assigned by this family member. Without it, the facility does not have to tell u anything. Bet r not on the HIPPA paperwork either.
How is this person paying for their stay? Are u sure the facility hasn't gotten guardianship?
Not sure what Government agencies are open. You could try an Ombudsman, APS and maybe the Health Dept.
You gave me some great advice. I will be looking into them soon. It’s weird how they were going to discharge my family member in 3 days before COVID19. Then they got guaranteed Insurance money during the visitors ban. They figured a way to put her back on a ventilator by breaking her oxygen tube 2x, doing Percussion Treatments 3x longer then they should have and the night before I was banned the family member needed to be suctioned was not to get anyone till o2 was mid 80’s. So after 10 mins of Respiratory distress I looked for a nurse or RT for 10 mins. Then they took labs and place back on ventilator for 4 days. 35 days later they keep telling me they are going to discharge her. That has been going on for 3rd week. Then she get pneumonia and they put her on antibiotics for 10 more days. My life is exhausting I call in the morning for an update sometimes wait 2-3 hrs leave message no return calls call back not available. Takes 5-6 hrs to get a few updates that last 2-3 mins. I do that 2x a day during each shift. I am giving them till antibiotics are done. Then my family member insurance gravy train is over. Close to $300,000-$400,000 in insurance money . Only thing
the family member came in on was breathing to fast on a pressure support on ventilator and they place a trach to get weaned off. Hopefully leaving soon still has trach, 70+ days in bed put in a chair for 2hours, maybe 2x a week pt or OT 30 mins. Body swollen and legs are tiny. I am so over this. I wish you the best and thank you for your comment.