The Most Disappointing Hospital Experience I Have Ever Had with My Daughter. My daughter has type one diabetes, and occasionally, she experiences diabetic ketoacidosis. The symptoms include high blood sugar, extreme fatigue, severe difficulty speaking or walking, and frequent vomiting of food or drink.
We decided to seek treatment at Emory Hospital because our parents had used it, and we had heard positive feedback.
Regrettably, that was the golden era of the past.
Upon arrival at 2:00 PM, we were left in the waiting area, with our daughter unable to walk or maintain food intake. Approximately an hour later, we were called back and had her temperature, blood pressure, and blood drawn, only to be returned to the waiting area.
We spent another hour waiting, during which they attempted to insert an intravenous (IV) line. After five unsuccessful attempts and an additional attempt for a blood gas test in her wrist, we were placed in a hallway for an hour. They then decided that she required a computed tomography (CT) scan. I observed numerous individuals in the waiting room receiving CT scans during our stay.
We were subsequently moved to the CT scan waiting area for two hours. Finally, they retrieved my daughter for her CT scan and directed her to a second waiting area for another hour. After the CT scan, we were returned to the waiting area.
The lack of patient care was astonishing. The inadequate number of rooms and beds for their patients was unacceptable. After spending another two hours in the waiting area, I approached the window to inquire about the admission of my daughter. They informed me that admission was possible. When I asked about the time, they stated that they did not have any rooms or beds available. They explained that Emory Hospital in Atlanta was fully booked and could not transfer patients. Finally, I spoke with an individual who escorted us back to take my daughter's blood sugar and request that a physician assistant administer insulin.
Upon our return, we were relieved that our daughter would be able to rest and move out of the wheelchair. However, our hopes were dashed when we discovered that there were no beds available. It is important to note that we were in a hospital setting. I have never experienced such a lack of medical attention or respect. We were assigned a room with a chair and a curtain that separated us from another patient. This limited our sitting area to approximately four feet. The lack of respect displayed towards us was appalling.
Around midnight, my daughter requested to leave the hospital against medical advice. This incident further solidified our decision to seek care at any hospital other than Emory. Even a veterinary clinic, where pets receive more respect and attention. read more