MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital

Reviews 3

ME

Melanie Deatrich

I arrived at the Good Samaritan ER as the night shift was ending. My primary complaint was severe uncontrolled vomiting and abdominal pain and my second complaint was SNRI withdrawal due to the cessation of Effexor, which had been prescribed to control hot flashes. The ER was very clean, well-run and efficient. Both the night shift doctor and nurse were cranky and rude, expressing no compassion for my pain and suffering whatsoever. Theyd been there a long time, they were done with it and wanted to go home and it showed. The ER nurses who took over on the morning shift, Amanda and another whose name Ive forgotten (Im sorry, honey!), were very knowledgeable, professional compassionate and attentive. I would rate my experience with them a 5. The ER doctor who took over, Dr. Kevin Scruggs, was none of those things, however. When he came in to give me test results and discuss my condition and prognosis, his behavior was beyond inappropriate in several ways. I had been prescribed Effexor for hot flashes, after it had already been determined that I am one of the more rare individuals who are extremely sensitive to the removal of SNRIs, even under a strict and prolonged titration. I was taking a very, very low dose of the Effexor but was still suffering an extreme reaction of which the symptoms include high levels of anxiety and upset among others that are quite frankly, miserable. It should be noted at this point that no one asked me at any time what dosage of Effexor I had been on. As I was trying to relate this medical history about my extreme sensitivity to SRNI cessation with to Dr. Scruggs, I was emotional as I was upset that I didnt feel my PCP had done due diligence in my case and had caused me a great deal of suffering. Although it must have been clear I was anxiety stricken, I did not raise my voice, yell or use insulting language. An appropriate response would have been for Dr. Kevin Scruggs to feel compassion for this situation I was in and say something like “Im very familiar with how horrific this withdrawal can be, and its understandable that you are upset. Im going to give you something to help with the anxiety.” What Dr. Kevin Scruggs did instead is berate me like a naughty child for my behavior as he raised his voice in dominance over me and assumed a body posture that was intended to intimidate me. He had no interest in hearing about what was happening to me medically speaking, his only reaction was one of finding my behavior unacceptable, presumably because he didnt like that I was doubting the prescribing practices of another physician. As I watched his behavior, I felt “there is no way hed be speaking to a man this way”. After he left the room, my husband immediately turned to me and said, “You know, if this were the 50s Id bet my life he would have turned to me and told me to get my wife in line!" My husband isnt a misogynist, but hes no feminist either so I was shocked to hear him say that, but I was glad because I had immediately doubted myself and my ability to assess the situation considering the medications Id been given and for him to say that means its not something I conjured up out of nowhere. It happened. Later I asked Dr. Kevin Scruggs about what could be done to help the terrible buzzing and pulsing feeling I had in head (its a well-known side effect of SRNI withdrawal) and he had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. As the discussion continued, it became clear to me that he did no research at all on the issue of SRNI withdrawal and how to treat it. He knew nothing. What the “good” doctor did do, was suggest I take some Valium. His tone said “Here, this might help your feminine hysteria.” Those arent his words, they are mine but when I mentioned that to my husband he said he felt actually the same way at that point. Doctors have an obligation to treat patients with dignity and respect and to consult all medical literature available for each patients unique circumstances. I edited this post in order to more fairly represent the events.

NG

Ngalkraked Baltimore

I went to the emergency room tonight with a back pain and numbness going down my thigh with burning sensation. I went in about 9:30pm and after waiting painfully for an hour a nurse came and called me in. I thought they were going to give me something for my pain but after she asked me what is wrong and I told her I have severe pain on my lower back and both my thighs are numb with burning sensation on skin and also my knees are hurting so bad. She said follow me so I did and we went to this area with tv and few chairs and she told me to wait she will get my prescription of muscle relaxer and she will write a paper to my job that I will be off for couple of days after I told her I need to work. As I was waiting the nurses in there were running around playing in there. What an unprofessional hospital I have ever been too. I wanted to say something to my nurse so i peeked outside to the hallway and they were crowded in one door giggling and gossiping. I called one nurse to come cause I want to relay my message to the physician that left me there and a guy came and said something to her and ran away...she left me and started shouting stuff to the guy nurse and they were laughing. I had to wait for her to finish playing. She came so I started saying my message then the nurse came back with my papers. I asked her if she can also give me something for the pain and she said I gotta buy ibuprofen or Tylenol or back press. Her name is Karin Weaver, PA-C. She was so un- caring that Im hurting and I need medicine to help me work and as soon as she gave me paper she asked if Im ready to go. I didnt get the help I needed at the emergency room. This is the worst hospital I have been too and Im mad that they didnt give me the care I needed but also happy they didnt do anything to me after seeing the nurses in there horseplaying giggling and doing what they are doing back there. First and Last

JE

Jen Nicole

I dont know what hospital these other reviews are talking about but this has been my worse experience ever! I follow an ambulance to get my mother here from white marsh and the front desk guard was rude and assumed I was a child because "I look young" and Im over 30 and the primary contact for my mother so I should be in her room with her. Needless to say my mother was screaming help and crying and for a very calm night no one seemed to take urgent matter to help her. One nurse said "I was told by the met she just had shoulder pain" which was not the case but had it been, what does that mean "just" as if its not as important! If it was just shoulder pain why would she have been in an ambulance and I not drove her myself! Only one nurse whose name I cant remember was helpful. I decided to write this complaint as Im sitting here over an hour later of being here and no doctor coming in to see her or take vitals or anything to at least get her started on pain meds. The emt said to come here cause it was less busy than franklin square and while its barely anyone here Im sure with a busy er at franklin square they would have acknowledged my mother and given her immediate attention as we dont know if she is having a stroke, heart attack or what! If I could get her to walk Id wheel her out of this place and take the 30 mins trip to franklin square! This hospital is the worse!