"Dismissed, Undiagnosed, and Treated Like I Didn't Matter -- This Was Dangerous"…read more
It hurts to leave this review because most of the staff at this Baptist Health location has always been outstanding. I've had great care here in the past, especially from someone named Toney, who has always listened and helped me feel better with accurate, compassionate treatment.
But what happened on this visit was the complete opposite of that. I came in exhausted, aching, and clearly symptomatic -- telling the nurse that my daughter had just recovered from strep and I was now feeling exactly the same. Instead of being heard, I was immediately dismissed.
The nurse barely looked at my throat, ran a quick and careless rapid strep test, and told me it was negative. She didn't even offer the standard 48-hour throat culture, which is the medical protocol when symptoms are present but the rapid test is negative.
When I told her, "This isn't how it's usually handled -- when I see Tony when I feel like this," she looked at me and said, "Who's Toney?" I couldn't believe it. I told her he was one of her coworkers the other provider in the office-- someone who works at the same clinic and provides excellent care. Instead of acknowledging that, she looked at me and said, "Well, we're not going to do that because your throat looks fine."
I was stunned. I was in pain, being clear about what I needed, and I was completely brushed off by someone who wouldn't listen, wouldn't follow protocol, and wouldn't even acknowledge her own colleague's name -- someone who's helped me before.
Still in pain and frustrated, I drove straight to another clinic. They took me seriously, did a proper swab, and sure enough: my test came back positive for strep.
When I called Baptist to file a complaint and ask for this nurse's name, they suddenly acted like they didn't know who I meant. That's unacceptable. If you're not going to listen to patients or follow basic protocol, then at least have the accountability to own up to it.
I was mistreated, misdiagnosed, and dismissed. But science backed me up -- and I'm speaking up not just for myself, but for everyone else in Crawford County who walks into that clinic and deserves better.
