My daughter was taken to the ER for a badly sprained ankle. We have no insurance. They did the x-rays on the ankle, the doctor reviewed them and stated the ankle was badly sprained, it needed to be wrapped, and she would need crutches. He stated a nurse would be in with discharge instructions and wrap the foot.
The nurse came in started to give instructions and said the doctor had given my daughter a script for crutches. I asked her if they were going to wrap my daughter's foot and it was suggested that I go to Cub Foods or Walmart to purchase an Ace wrap, it would be cheaper than the hospital wrap! It was 1:30 in the morning, we had been there almost 3 hours and the kid's ankle was swollen, she was in pain and could not even put her foot on the ground, let alone walk on it. I told the nurse we would pay for the hospital wrap so it was done correctly. She went out for a few moments and came back with a wrap and showed us how to wrap it correctly. She handed us the discharge papers and started to leave the room, I asked her about crutches, she said the doctor had given a script for the crutches and they could be purchased at an area pharmacy. I asked if they had crutches she could use, she said she would ask the doctor, she was gone a minute or two and came back saying the doctor said no, we would have to buy them at a pharmacy. Giving her crutches would be a liability for the hospital.
Now, explain this to me we were in a casting room there was a closet full of crutches behind where I was sitting. What are they going to do send someone with a broken leg, ankle or sprain hobbling out the door with out something to enable them in walking? It's kind of like putting a band-aid a finger that is almost amputated rather than stitching it. My point here and complaint are if we had had insurance they would have gone all out and given her everything she needed and more. In giving minimal care the feeling is we did what we could for the immediate moment, you were here, you were seen, now get the flip out. Cost effective for them and painful for the patient. Would I recommend this hospital to anyone? No, even if I had insurance I would not recommend them, compassion and healing are not what they are in the business for, the all mighty dollar is what they are in the business for. Customer service is not part of their motto if you do not have the dollars to cover the costs, you are no one. read more