Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Reviews 4

AB

Abby Normal

I had an exploratory laparoscopy in April to diagnose endometriosis. During this simple procedure, Dr. Amanda Owens took a biopsy of an endometrial implant from the rear of the uterus too close to the rectum, resulting in a rectal tear. Dr. Christopher Iwanoff was also in that surgury. Four days later I was rushed to Howard County General Hospital and a CT scan was performed which found free air in the abdominal cavity. Since the initial surgery was done at Walter Reed, I was sent there via ambulance. They then sent me into emergency surgery to clear out the extensive sepsis that adhered my uterus to the cul-de-sac wall and identify the injury. I awoke to an open stomach wound connected to a wound vac, a tube protruding from each side, and an iliostomy. I was in the hospital for 10 days. The doctors and nurses went the extra mile for me, knowing a horrible mistake had been made. For most of that time, I was unable to take anything by mouth. Everything was intravenous. Furthermore, we werent informed until days later that an appendectomy had also been performed. Upon my return home, I had to adjust to life with an iliostomy. I underwent pain and embarrassment. I say embarrassment because my bag leaked in public. I dont think I need to explain the pain. I switched to the Johns Hopkins US Family Health Plan from normal Tricare Prime, which was one of the best decisions Ive made. The doctors at Walter Reed in charge of my recovery treating me like an addict when I needed more pain meds helped move that decision forward. They wanted me to push through the pain with just tylenol. At the time I couldnt take Motrin because of my eoe. After switching, my colorectal surgeon, Dr. Cifello, took excellent care of me. He ran some tests to determine if the injury had healed, which included a gastro gaffin enema (not fun) and a colonoscopy. During the colonoscopy, I reacted so severely to the exam, nearly crawling off the table while under anesthesia, that my doctor feared the worst. He feared irreparable damage from scar tissue and the possible resection of rectum, colon, and reproductive system. He called in Dr. Fouad Abbas to help, who is also a wonderful gynecologic oncologist. Four months from my first laparotomy, I had my second. They luckily found that they did not have to resect the areas they feared they would. They removed a baseball sized cyst from my right ovary and reversed my iliostomy. During that recovery, I developed pneumonia, vomited profusely, and had a tube stuck down my throat through my nose (also not fun). I was still vomiting with the tube. I was so sick, the nurses were worried about me. But I got through it and went home after a week. Since then, Ive had pain and depression issues. It has been a long road, trying in more ways than one. The physical scars are bad enough, but the emotional scars are horrible. I have two large scars on my abdomen and have gained weight from the whole ordeal. My life was miserable for the better part of a year. And whats worse, no lawyer will touch this case. No matter that the doctors told me one more day of sepsis would have been life threatening. No matter that I suffered so much then, Im functional now to some degree. Basically, if I had been closer to death, I would have a better case. Sad but true. Furthermore, Im still having the same trouble that dictated I have the initial laparoscopy to begin with. So my pain and suffering was for nothing. So here I am, writing all you fine people on the internet, warning you, hoping nothing like this happens to you. The doctors who injured me should be held responsible for their avoidable error. I have no other way of even coming close to doing so than by sharing my story. It needs to be heard. Hopefully someone will hear it.

---

BY

byron jackson,jr

The service here is not top notch. I heard good and bad about this and didnt know what to expect. When i first get in the hospital usually the nurse demonstrate how nurse call button work. She showed me the button and left. I tried it out later and it wasnt working. I had to leave my bed twice to ask about a new button before something was done. Then the guy next to me was bleeding because stitches broke. He called twice and nobody came. I walked outside to see what the hold up is and i see nurse with no sense of urgency walking toward the room after 5 mins has passed. He just got out of surgery and back. Then i asked for water cause im light headed and really weak when i walk. Eventually i just walked to nurse counter and asked where the water was so i could do it sense they couldnt after i asked twice. They were happy to tell me where to go so they continue to be lazy and sit on there butts. Then my mother and two sisters was on the way so i asked for one more chair. Why it took me asking 3 times then having to go to nurse desk and ask where they keep extra chairs my self for them to finally get one and me complaining abiut their customer service. Then i guess they had no rooms available so they did the guy x ray in the same room i was sharing with someone else and the doctor just placed a lead apron on bed and said im about to do a x-ray put this on. Didnt even wait or ask if i had it on before she walked of and just did the x-ray immediately after. Im just shocked. They have smart doctors and the facility to do alot but they lack care for patients, customer service, and passion about what they do.

---

MA

Mary Smith

Delivered my son at WRNMC(then Bethesda Naval MC) in 2007. The real kicker for me was my postpartum night nurse "Brenda." She berated me when I called for help after being transferred to the postpartum unit when my son started crying. As a, new 1st time mom, having just given birth, I was totally shell-shocked & not too sure what to do. She yelled at me when I asked for help. Its not like I didnt try to sign up for 1st time parenting classes either thru the hospital. Good luck in someone calling you back! Also, remember this is a teaching hospital, dont be surprised if about 10 different junior ob-gyn wanna-bes ask if they can be present during exams & delivery. As a young military spouse, if you have the option of going to someone else out in town, I would certainly consider it. While I encountered some very kind & professional people during my experience at WRNMC, between the lack of privacy & poor treatment by that one nurse, this wasnt a very happy memory for me & I regret not going to another hospital & provider. Also, b/c this is the military & its essentially impossible to sue the military, Ive heard several cases of people having botched surgeries & procedures, ending up scarred for life, & having no legal recourse. You get what you pay for, or for that matter, do not.

---

TR

Tracie Tate

I retired recently and called for a follow-up appointment because my knee which they had performed surgery on was hurting. My provider was no longer there but I was able to get an appointment about 45 days out. Today, I look at my phone and have a text message from TOL telling me that my appointment has been canceled. When I called the front desk, they told me the nurse canceled the appointments because the provider was not going to be there that day and that she had called everyone to offer them a new appointment date...SHE DID NOT CALL ME! I have no missed phone call and no left message. I of course tried to call and reschedule because thats the only option I have and was able to leave a message instead of being able to speak with someone. I wonder how long before I get a call back...? Last time I left a message, I never received a call back. I called back two weeks later and was transferred to the nurse (I got lucky that time). Dont cancel an appointment unless you have rescheduled one or have at least contacted the person. Im probably going to have to wait another 45 plus days to get an appointment----BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE! If you want to make the MHS better, start with caring people who actually care about the patient and not how long it will take them to do something like...work.

---

---