St Anthony's Medical Center
Doctor: Dr. Catherine Johnson Lowder
ER Care & Physician's Offices
Hospital Complaint About: St Anthony's Medical Center - Dr. Catherine Johnson Lowder
Author: Mary Colantone
Hospital Service: Treated Me Like A Criminal
Occur date: Mar 28 2010
Post date: May 12 2011, 01:21:07 PM
Doctor Complaint: Dr. Catherine Johnson Lowder - St Anthony's Medical Center
I was taken to the hospital with a severe Chron's attack, I was in the ER, needed to use bathroom, not one person would assist me. I lost 40# in 3 weeks, you can imagine how difficult my circumstanes were. The person who has the power of attorney over my halth lives at least an hours drive from the hospital. A waiting patients daughter took me to the restroom. It took 7 hours for me to be seen by a physician, my cloths were cut off me and it took 11 hours to stabalize me and get me to a room. When I got to the room I requested a bath and you know why; I was told I could not take a shower. Finally I got a tech/aid to get me a pan of water so I could stand myself. I insisted I have a portapotty since I am retired from medicine I knew if I didn't get up periodically I would be unable to care for myself and walk when discharged. Unfortuntely my gastrointerologist was on vacation and I had another physician who was covering which was okay with me. I then gave mysel a bath daily, Toiletries were left overs from a previous patient, I did use them since I had none with me. I walked around the room with my IV and begged to go home. A drug was ordered by this covering physician for me and I was to get a scrip for this upon discharge. The nurse asked my pharmacy name & he contacted them and was told that he could get the medcation for me but wanted to speak to me before he placed the order, when he told me it would cost me $1,000.00 a month; I almost had another heart attack. I got another med from the discharging physician. There is so much confusion and turn-over you don't know what to do. No iformation on how the phone, bed or tv works, what a mess, I used my cell phone to call my son and other family & friends.
On April 26 I went to see my gastrointerologist, to get to his office you park in a high rise lot, get on the elevator, then get off that elevator and get on anther one and walk down a long hall to get to his office which I did with the help of another person who was an oncology patient who had been coming there twice a week and she still couldn't figure it out. I then needed to have a dopplar on my legs, since I have subclavin steel syndrome. I got on the elevator got lost could no longer walk and non of the people I encountered knew what I was talking about. I went into a cafe and began to cry when my cell phone needed charging and was so lost, the young man selling food said I know where you need to go so if you wait I'll get you there, he left a note back in a flash took me and was running back to his job. The person who performed my doppler has a masters and was wonderful, she took me back on the elevator trip and garage to my car. My only regret is I can't remember her name.
When I contacted the hospital I was told when I need to return to have someone call the administration person on-call & they would take me to my appointment, they did tell me how to get to my doctors office in another building.
They continue to do nothing about these stupid chairs that require a second person to push you around.
I have now reached the last straw...I need a scooter because I can't walk good, I was evaluated by a St. Anhony rehab person, who said I could not be provided with a scotter because I could get around with a walker. Medicare says I do qualify! I contacted the physician I had for so many years I can't count that Dr. Catherine Lowder had not requested my information or past history. The hospital and physician don't share information. Most of my physicians have left the hospital due to poor patient care. I am retired from SSM & SLU, I setup my own carotid artery and brain surgery at St. Anthonys (not my favorite place) because the insurance would not pay for 2 neurosurgins and Dr. Albama had a 5th year fellow, I also had round the clock family & friend with me to make sure I made it out alive. If you have any questions please contact me, I am even considering getting an attorney, since I want this abuse to stop. This hospital is giving the medical profession a bad name. My mother took care of oncology patients for 43 yars and I worked at State Hospital for the Chief of Staff & Superintendent, then at SLU/Cardinal Glennon Childrens Hospital and I'm tired of all this abuse to the elderly, same as child abuse as my old boss Director of Child Abuse...James Monteleone.
Please do something about these conditions!
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Other Complaints About: St Anthony's Medical Center
| Saint Louis City Hospitals | Poor Management |
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