Mercy General Hospital

Reviews 3

TM

TMS 330

I had a 3.5 hour cryoablation procedure for heart atrial fibrillation performed at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento. While recovering, nurses delayed walking me around for many hours and also allowed me to become severely dehydrated - I learned later each issue can cause blood clots. These two issues may have contributed to the blood clots that subsequently formed in both legs. A portion of the blood clots eventually broke-off which then created a near-fatal large pulmonary embolism discovered during a Mercy General Hospital CT scan 17 days later. Multiple doctors told me most people would have died from the pulmonary embolism. I was told I survived due to my excellent physical condition from previous lifelong vigorous exercise that gave me cardiovascular “reserves” most people lack. When I arrived in the Emergency Room, I sat on a chair for 45 minutes before they finally started urgently treating me. During the 45 minute wait, a nurse, apparently misinformed by other staff, mistakenly told me they would give me some pills to take with me and that I would be released – this surely would have been fatal had I followed her advice. Shortly thereafter a different staff person instead told me not to go home and admitted me. Doctors started to belatedly treat my now noticeably worsening condition. For the next six hours I was so close to dying that one of the three attending doctors prepared me for death by telling me if I died it would only take three minutes and be painless. I then spent two nights in the Intensive Care Unit. Due to the pulmonary embolism, I had an IVC filter implanted into my abdomen the next day to catch other clots that might break-off in my legs. Two months later, vein damage apparently caused by a second failed attempt to retrieve this temporary IVC filter created escalating upper thigh pain prompting a visit to the Mercy Medical Hospital Emergency Room (the IVC filter later was removed at Stanford Hospital & Clinics). I had to wait 5.5 hours for a doctor consultation. Although the doctor initially was going to send me home, I asked and they agreed to let me stay overnight. My decision proved correct since the following morning continual internal bleeding overnight in my leg created a very visible large leg hematoma and a blood clot from my thigh-to-ankle. During this nine day hospital stay, I was mistakenly over-medicated with the anticoagulant warfarin that subjected me to the risk of additional serious internal bleeding that I was already experiencing from the leg hematoma. They had to administer an emergency antidote to lower the dangerously high warfarin blood level. Although my leg was significantly swollen, the hospitalist apparently did not consult with a specialist about the obvious internal bleeding source for a few days after two ultrasounds failed to confirm internal bleeding. It wasn’t until I insisted that the hospitalist locate a specialist to resolve this ongoing health issue that she contacted one. The vascular surgeon immediately discontinued anticoagulants for 10 days to allow the vein injury to heal and stop ongoing internal bleeding. Later during this hospital stay, I was informed I could have a heart attack since my hemoglobin level had fallen dangerously low from the internal bleeding. This required two urgent blood transfusions to replace lost blood. Due to what likely should have been avoidable blood clots and a near-fatal pulmonary embolism, I have had 13 cumulative days in the hospital, 7+ hours of radiation, 40+ doctor visits, substantial pain, past/future medical expenses, forced early retirement, adverse impacts on my formerly active lifestyle, and permanent health complications.

HA

harlan antler

My experience may be an anomaly, but it was so disturbing this is the first such review I have felt compelled to write about care and conditions in a hospital.I arrived in the emergency room at about 4:00am in obvious abdominal distress. I was in severe pain and had difficulty breathing. The waiting room was empty and I was directed by the receptionist to take a seat.Approximately ten minutes later a nurse appeared and asked me to fill out a form. I told her I was in too much distress and she asked me to indicate pain level from one to ten. I told her it was severe and I was not thinking clearly. She was totally indifferent to my predicament and suggested two number for me to choose between. I told her I couldnt think clearly. Anyone without a medical background could have perceived the distress that was clearly apparent and severe. I told her either number was fine...I couldnt think straight. She became adamant and told me "we are not proceeding further until you pick one number" I picked one and she told me to have a seat where I remained for another ten minutes. During that time I young African-American male entered the reception area. He was in horrible distress, doubled up and holding his stomach and screaming and moaning. He appeared to be dry heaving and was unable to sit up in a chair. No one attended him. Uniformed personal walked by and ignored him, including a pair of employee who looked at each other ..smirked...and walked on. The only contact I observed from anyone connected with the hospital was when an African-American security guard came over, and without saying a word, handed him a vomit bag and left. I was called to see the triage doctor, who demonstrated all the care and compassion one might expect at a VA hospital. I was directed back to the reception area, and about ten minutes later was called into the emergency room. The young man was still in the reception area, screaming, doubled up in pain, and apparently not seen by anyone. The doctor assigned to ordered blood work and CT scans and gave me morphine.Some hours later, a physician explained that several organs had enlarged and had caused pain and the labored breathing. I was told to consult my own physician and that the condition was not acute enough to justify admitting me. They told me to leave...after injecting me with morphine...never asking how I would get home (I drove there).The supervising nurse could answer none of my questions regarding the application of the medicine they gave me and then wrote down the name, address and telephone number (pointing out that he was doing this to be helpful) of the very physician who had been treating me for some time. I left Mercy with the strong feeling that this was no place for anyone who needed competent medical help urgently. It caused me to wonder about the efficacy of a national health care program if the quality of care was so dreadful.

LE

Lethe River

I was admitted to Mercy General on March 3, 2017 thanks to a marvelous orthopedic podiatrist who spotted a potential cause for some severe leg pain and lesions I had that no other doctor had seen--Dr. Craig Wilkes. My experience over an 11-day stay at Mercy was far superior to that of nearly every hospital experience I have previously endured, which includes all the best hospitals in the Los Angeles County area multiple times. I write this review in appreciation and to document that. The doctors at Mercy, all new to me and assigned, were first-rate, from bedside manner, to diagnosis, to treatment and medication options. All deserve mention: my vascular surgeon, Dr. Ali Tajlil, my interventional radiologist, Dr. Paul Brown, and my hospital internist, Dr. Michael Labriola. They got to the root of my problem, treated it, and gave me a great plan for the future. The staff, from transporters to room cleaners to lab techs and nurses, were uniformly first-rate. They were patient, considerate, always available when I needed help, and all the nurses were RNs, not some volunteer or assistant as was too often the case in the "prestige" hospitals in L.A. I was heavily medicated for pain, but I want to mention the first names of those who interacted with me, as I am sure that rarely happens. If I missed anyone, forgive me. I was and still am on very heavy pain killers. In any event, a huge thank you to transporters Bradley and Cora, Oncology floor nurses Katie, Kristy, Nick, Glenda, Miguel, Pete, Brandon and Neil, Neurology floor nurses Lizzie, Lylyssa, Allen, Kevin, Dennis and Phoebe, and my physical trainers Tim and Paul. Even the food was great, better than I have had at any other hospital. It was well prepared, nicely but not overly seasoned, the fresh vegetables and fruit actually were. The portions were perhaps a bit large, but I am used to tiny hospital meal portions, so these were a revelation. If I ever have to return to a hospital in Sacramento, it will be to Mercy General on J Street. I have noted some negative reviews here. I can only say none of them remotely squared with my own experience. This very grateful patient appreciates and again thanks all of you for your competence, compassion and dedication to your work.