Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
Hospital In Complaint
Aug 15 2011, 07:01:51 PM

My name is Jamika Burnette, and I am filing a complaint on behalf of my niece Recie Monique Burnette (DOB 07/20/1990). She has been a continuous sickle cell patient at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center for four years. She was diagnosed with a rare form of sickle cell (what kind no one has yet to disclose) when she was 17 years old. Her incessant stays at Wake Forest Medical Center, has not proven to be helpful at all. Instead, these ongoing visits have only proven to be miniature episodes of experimental treatment and superficial aid. She has been seen by numerous doctors merely as a case study, and after four years, has not received any help with her condition. Over the years, her state has only worsened. She is steady given a multitude of medications, that has so far, given her blood clots in her legs and lungs, an enlarged heart, sever weight loss, and so much more.
Although I am aware, that all medical situations do not supply a resolution without some attempts with trial and error, I am also fully aware of HIPPA regulations, customer service, and the lucid and well-known concept of simple right from wrong. Her care has to be monitored by family members at all times, as if we are the healthcare professionals, because if we leave her to the care of the real medical providers on duty, she will be liable to suffer and become a casualty at the hand of the hospital staff themselves. There have been several occasions where nurses would not give Recie her proper dosage of pain medicine, causing her excruciating pain to linger. There have been plenty instances where the nurses have not taken consistent urine specimens, blood work, or merely even come to her aid for hours at a time, regardless of how many times they are requested to come. It seems more and more, that complaining to staff does not make a bit of difference. The only time the healthcare providers attempt to hear your pleas, is if a job or reputation is threatened.
Our family has attempted to go to supervisors and other authoritative figures in search for problem resolution in the past. Needless to say, the problems are, at most times, temporarily fixed and simply go back to being horrible again. We have even been advised by, what I call “trustworthy staff”, not to ever, EVER leave a love one unattended at that hospital. My family and I are currently searching other healthcare options. At this time my niece is truly concerned that if she does complain, while in the care of this facility, that she will not receive the proper treatment when no one is else is around.
We, as in Recie and our family, just experienced a recent occurrence of the improper treatment issued to Recie. Dates of service starting 07/19/2011 though the start of July, 2011; Recie was having digestive issues. However, her chief complaint was sickle cell. During this stay, she could not properly produce a regular bowl movement for weeks, eventually producing nothing at all near the end of this drawn out three week stay. Without taking an exray of her stomach, asking any questions, and not bothering to listen to any of her or our complaints or questions, the doctor on duty ordered Recie to be placed on a feeding tube, as she couldn’t keep anything down, not even fluids.
This feeding tube (that was forced down her throat literally, and yes we complained immediately to the servicing nurse) resulted in even more sever pain, vomiting, and more pain. When the doctors finally decided to do an xray of her lower extremity, after a slew of questioning and almost badgering inquiries, it was found that Recie was backed up so much that the stool was behind her colon. Stomach issues still were apparent. So finally, after performing an endoscopy, it was found that Recie had (has) gallstones. She, at the time, had been in the hospital for an exhausting three weeks, and the hospitalist decided to release her so she could go home and heal enough for her upcoming cholycystectomy. I have to say, that I do find it ironic that she has to go home to heal.
Nevertheless, today, 08/15/11 Recie is a patient at this hospital. My mother, Loretta Burnette, is currently with Recie right now during her inpatient stay. The doctors hardly act is if they are concerned about Recie’s welfare, as usual, and surprisingly the nurses on duty are doing what they are supposed to do for the time being. Today my niece was waiting for her medication for over five hours before Dr. Justin Farmer returned once again to visit her. When questioned by my mother regarding his whereabouts and the intensity level of my niece’s pain, she was told “I got a lot of patients who are actually really ill.” Justin Farmer. Mercedes Porosnicu is among one of the current staff who is seeing Recie, again not treating her well. As it seems the doctors at this facility don’t seem to do much of that anyway. Trust me, no one wish to be in the hospital. A hospital stay is certainly not a vacation, and as it seems, it not a place to get well either. Unfortunately Recie has a potentially fatal condition where she does not have much of a choice but to use what ever healthcare is available, regardless of its level of proficiency.
Now that you have read my grievance, I can only hope something is done about this. I’m sure, as with many of our world’s healthcare providers, nothing will be done. Please understand that are a lot of people who are almost willing to die on their own, verses coming to this facility because they know he or she will only be going to get assistance with kicking the bucket? No one should be frightened of a hospital stay, a hospital provider, or any type of healthcare professional or service. Our nation’s healthcare providers are all the ones patients look to for worldly aid, to help with survival, general life endeavors, and to not mention, patients look to this healthcare system to actually enjoy their lives to its greatest potential. Regrettably, the way the treatment that my family has been receiving from this facility, so far, has only seemed to be anything but a means of life or survival. Instead, a hesitated attempt at nothing.

Todd
Hospital In Complaint
Sep 27 2011, 10:39:01 AM

I have a severe diabetic ulcer on my right lower leg . I went to the ER on saturday night at 830 pm with the wound leaking rotten meat and fluids . They kept me in the waiting room for 5.5 hours before I left and went to another hospital for treatment . Now I am sure we both know that that is a no no with a diabetic

Michelle Karman
Hospital In Complaint
Jan 20 2012, 01:28:41 PM

I am simply appalled by the compassion, or lack of, shown to my aunt
Johnnie Mae Smith, 4th Floor, Rm 453, Ardmore Tower, who suffered
a very debilitating stroke on the 7th of January, and who is now in the
long recovery process and, unfortunately, stuck at WFUBMC.

My aunt cannot move her left arm, and food pockets in her mouth on the
left side due to her inability to utilize that side of her face. She is 57 years
old and has never been in a situation where she must use a bedpan or
have someone help her to take off and put on her clothes, or feed herself
using one weakened arm.

My aunt was calling out in pain one night in this hospital, and a nurse on 2nd
shift, African American but the name I do not have, came by and told her to be
quiet or she'd wake the other patients! Then she took her time getting the
needed pain medication to my aunt.

I was there yesterday, 19th January, and when we called for someone to come
by to give the bedpan, there was a distinct lack of courtesy, willingness to help,
and empathy from the nurse who responded to the call. Rather, one could hear
in her voice that she didn't want to respond, she sounded very unenthusiastic.

What I'd like to know, what do these nurses get paid to do over there? Chat on
Yahoo and visit their Facebook accounts? Text? Gossip? Smoke out in front
of the hospital (which also makes the place look bad)? Eat? They seem to do
that pretty well, to judge from the sizes of the majority.

I will tell you this, if the Nursing Supervisor for that particular floor, or any other
floor at WFUBMC, does not do more to get these nurses to work for the mega
bucks that they get paid, I will see to it that WFUBMC receives unfavorable blog
coverage, ylog coverage, and any other coverage. If these people don't want to
do their jobs, maybe they need to go work for Burger Thing, Grubway, or Taco Hell.
I do not want to witness that type of attitude when I return to visit my aunt next week.

I plan to take this issue to the highest levels, including the mayor. Believe it.