Ridgeview Medical Center

Reviews 3

DE

Debbie Jensen

I went into the ER due to a fall. The receptionist made no eye contact and did not do anything to make me feel like I was more than a number. I clearly described the location of the pain to the admitting nurse, and again to the ER nurse. They took a urine specimen after I was admitted. The PAC came into the room after a while and I again described the location of the pain. The PAC did a quick feel of my back, but was nowhere near the area of the pain. She then told me, and I was told more than once, that the doctor (who had been referred to as "he" several times) would be in to see me. Eventually the xray tech came into get me. Once in the xray room, I was moved around as if there was no pain at all by the male tech, however, the female assistant was much more compassionate. Eventually, after returning to the ER room, the ER nurse came back to my room and advised me that I had a bladder infection. After another long wait, the PAC quickly poked her head in and said that I had a compression fracture of the T12 vertebrae. She said they would send me home with some pain meds. I questioned what type of meds I would need and after she told me, I indicated problems with 2 of the meds. They prescribed them to me anyway and offered no substitution. I was then released and told to see a regular doctor if the pain lasted more than 5 days. After a couple days, the pain meds ran out. When reviewing my paperwork, I then realized that there were no aftercare instructions for the fracture, however; there were pages of aftercare instructions for the UTI (somehow it had gone from a bladder infection to a UTI). On the discharge papers, I also noticed that a male doctor (Bruce) had seen me, but I didnt see any male doctor. I called the hospital and questioned what was going on and was put on a call with the doctor. As I was explaining what did not happen during my visit, I could hear a female voice in the background responding to what I was saying and shouting loudly "Yes, I did!". I questioned that, and was told that wasnt the case. The doctor stated during the conversation that he talked about me with the staff while I was in the ER, and I said that he didnt talk to me so how would he or anyone else truly know what was going on. After a while, I was told that I could come and get a few more pain meds, but I would need to see a doctor still if I wanted anymore help with it. I was also informed of the medical directors name and number. I called him the following day, and he basically told me that I would need to see my regular doctor. I asked him how I could know if they even gave the correct diagnosis when I never saw a doctor or fully explained my situation. I questioned why I would have to pay for seeing a doctor when I didnt see one and he resolved that by saying I wouldnt be personally billed for anything (just what insurance would pay). No wonder medical costs are so ridiculously high. The emergency room basically did nothing, but wants insurance to pay the bill, and now I still have to see another doctor and once again, pay another deductible. As of now (2 weeks later), I still am in excruciating pain and if I want any help with it, guess what I need to do? Thats right, pay more money!

JE

Jeff Prager

I cant complain about the professionalism, knowledge or care provided by the staff. However, methodology is in desperate need of reevaluation and medication protocols need revision. Our mother who has had dementia for over 4 years now was sent to Ridgeview by the nursing home she resided in for a geriatric psychiatric evaluation as a result of poor behaviors—yelling, disturbing other residents, threats—referred to as sundowning because the behaviors occur in the evening generally after 6-7pm. Atypical antipsychotics are approved for use in patients that suffer from Schizophrenia. Thats all. Theyre prescribed "off label" which is normal for many drugs, to treat dementia patient behaviors. Eli Lilly, in a peer reviewed report, states that atypical antipsychotics increase the incidence of sudden death in dementia patients by 4-fold. A peer reviewed report by the National Institute of Medicine in Washington DC states that atypical antipsychotics perform no better than placebo. There are 100s of peer reviewed reports on this subject and there are several general themes of interest: 1. atypical antipsychotics should not be used for dementia patients 2. new drugs are desperately needed for dementia patients 3. Delta9 THC shows miraculous effects in clinical trials and various dementia scores are improved dramatically 4. There are over 70 peer reviewed reports on the positive effects of Yokukusan, a traditional Chinese medicine effectively prescribed regularly for dementia patients in both Japan and China By not going along with the "system" one risks becoming one of 85,000 nursing home evictions that took place in 2015. If this were someone elses Mom the pointless absurdity might be laughable but its my mother and the illogical foolishness is heartbreaking. It just is what it is. We eat Trans Fats which have a direct link to sudden heart attacks and neurological disorders, we drink Coca Cola which causes atherosclerosis and Bipolar Disorder (BPA, BPF, BPS and other analogues) and drug senior citizens into stupors because the human race is still, comparatively speaking, in its infancy. Ridgeview wouldnt even speak with me today regarding the atypical antipsychotics that they prescribed (my Moms was released from Ridgeview approx. 10 days ago) because the RN stated, "shes not a patient here" yet Ridgeview prescribed the Gabapentin, Risperidone, Lorazepam cocktail that turned her into a zombie, caused her to fall twice in the last 10 days and has her sleeping all day. The Ridgeview RN stated, "she has a history of falling" when in fact, shes fallen 3 times in the last 3 years but twice in the last ten days because shes overmedicated. Even the doctor that works for the nursing home where she now resides stated "shes over medicated" two days ago and is working on a medication reduction plan. Not soon enough. She fell again today. So thats my opinion, based on 100s of peer reviewed reports, discussions with my family physician, 4 relatives that are either physicians or surgeons and my personal observations.

TR

Trina Saice

The providers in the E.D. are extremely judgemental when they dont understand something. I have a rare disease, a disease that in med school they only learn about by a couple of paragraphs...so therefore there is a definitive lack of knowledge and understanding as to the many layers of the disease. I have an incredible group of core providers, that either have hands-on experience with my disease, or have taken the time to study and learn what is needed. But occasionally using the emergency dept is a necessary evil. When it IS needed, I expect that the providers are willing to look past whatever preconceived notions they may have about my disease or appearance due to the disease. Not here! They spend the time judging and talking about patients even though the things they say can be heard by the patients and families. It is as though they dont care. Their cynicism has taken control and they have just given up! Waconia is a small community and there are people from all walks of life that have to use the E.D. more than once in their lives. But they treat patients like they are bothering the providers by being there for the second time in 3 years. They are skeptical of the most innocent things. I have had very unfortunate instances in the emergency dept. But I assumed it was just me... Come to find out from others in the community, this is the feeling from many. They assume everybody is drug seeking, (there is typically one or two reasons somebody goes into the ER. One is illness, the other us pain) if people are ill, many times pain goes along with that. Or somebody has been injured, which has caused them pain. If they didnt have pain, they would wait until the next business day and go to their primary physician. But if you go into their/"my ER" (that is a quote from a doctor at Ridgeview Emergency Department - MY ER) they will refuse any medication, including tylenol! When a physician refuses pain medication because the assume one is drug-seeking, it hurts everybody, including the provider and hospital. There seems to be a pattern with the providers here. And a large portion of the community that will drive farther away to be seen because of the judgemental and almost hostile behavior of the providers here in town. Which is sad that anybody feels that way, that they have to drive 20 miles or more away to receive care. However, on the other hand, the nurses in both the ED and the telemetry and med/surg units are fantastic! That may be because they are down to Earth and dont feel like they are better than the patients...maybe just because they are good people, either way they are salt of the Earth fantastic women and men! My surgeon who operates at Ridgeview is also AMAZING! I ranked Ridgeview a 2 because the staff outside of the ED are great! The Emergency Dept. are the bane of the hospitals existence, but there ARE other departments that have perfectly decent people. Thanks to all of those men and women!