Took forever to be seen, did not feel I got good care. Albany hospital so much better.

Posted Date : 19/04/2016

I could write a book about my two stays at S.H., one for five days for a ruptured appendix, the other related to internal bleeding caused by an ulcer. In the first situation I had gone to my doctor who then sent me for a scan that proved my appendix had ruptured. He contacted a surgeon to perform the operation, I went home to make arrangements, and drove back to emergency to check in. I parked in the emergency lot and entered at ground floor. I explained my situation to the women at the desk. I was in So much pain that I couldn't stand up straight, and felt that I was soon going to either pass out or die right on the spot. One woman pointed me to the elevator and told me I would have to go up to the second floor to check in, so I did. At that desk I was told I would have to go back to the first floor to check in. I was so far gone that I don't recall what happened after that. I do recall being wheeled into a small room where I was given a shot of something that knocked me out. My surgery was slated for about 4 pm, and I remember being wheeled into surgery and seeing 8:20 pm on the clock before fading out again. For my whole life I was lead to believe that a ruptured appendix could easily end in death, if not taken care of Immediately. I have proof on paper (hospital records and billing) of being overcharged for my room rate (was charged for one night in ICU, when I was Never there, and hundreds of dollars in overcharges for meds that I was Not given). I challenged the room rate overcharge (for ICU), having my hospital records in my hand, and was told that a review of my claim proved me wrong and that the charge Was legitimate. I finally got that resolved after an appointment with "Management", and the Head Nurse on the floor where I stayed . After that meeting, not-so-curiously, I got a call from billing the next day telling me that they would be refunding those charges. I'm not clear on who is responsible for padding the bill, the nurses on-duty, or the nameless/faceless individuals who work at the offices on 9th St., but I can tell you, you will NEVER get an employee name or ID number that you can refer to as the last person you talked to. I believe the system is set up to frustrate you, and make you give up trying. I really don't know how these people sleep at night! Can you imagine a three day stay in a hospital where the only time your sheets are changed are on the day you are out of bed and ready to check out? Can you imagine your "roommate" telling a nurse that he made a mess of the bathroom (urinating just about everywhere but the toilet). A cleanup person was called in and after they left I went to use the restroom to find dried urine stains all over the floor, and No towels or washcloths, because they had been used to clean up the mess and were all bunched up on the floor against the walls. That is just a short summary of the book that I could write from memory. This has all been brought back to mind after speaking to a friend of mine whose wife was admitted to Samaritan more than a week ago, and he has relayed the same types of horror stories, with regards to his wife's treatment/neglect. I didn't want to tell him, but I hope and pray I will die before I Ever have to go back into that hospital. I have proof of almost everything that I have mentioned in this review. Anybody want to challenge me??.....Have at it!!

Posted Date : 02/12/2014