To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to formally report a…read moreseries of severe safety, security, and communication failures that occurred during my stay in Room 103 on the night of July 13th. This experience has completely shattered my sense of security, leaving me feeling entirely vulnerable and unable to sleep.
Below is a detailed account of the incident and the systemic failures that followed:
Incident Details & Failures
Failure #1: Unauthorized Room Entry and False Representation
At approximately 11:00 PM on July 13th, an unknown male wearing a yellow smock over scrubs and a face mask entered my room. When I asked who he was, he insisted he was my night nurse. I knew this was incorrect as both of my assigned nurses were female. Despite me telling him to leave, he insisted a second time that he was my nurse. Only after he looked at the whiteboard and saw my actual nurses' names did he say, "Oh, I made a mistake, I'm sorry." He then approached my bed to apologize again. When I asked for his name, he identified himself as A**ad before finally leaving. The shift change was at 7pm. How did he think I was his patient at 11pm? Make it make sense.
Failure #2: Complete Lack of Response to Emergency Call Button
While this unauthorized man was still in my room, I hit my call button, alerted the operator that a strange man was in my room, and begged her to send help. She promised to send someone, but no one ever came. After the man left, I called a second time. Again, the operator promised to send someone. Again, no one came.
Failure #3: Delayed Escalation and Negligence
I was forced to hit the call button a third time. The operator informed me that my night nurse, Gina, was back from her break but was on the phone. Out of sheer desperation and fear, I had to threaten to rip the IV out of my hand and walk down to the nurses' station myself just to get someone to take my safety seriously. I also called Security twice to file a report and no one came out to talk to me as of 1:37am.
Context of Vulnerability
I want to emphasize how incredibly vulnerable I was during this intrusion. I have an IV attached to my left hand and was actively prepping for a colonoscopy the next morning. I had just gotten off the toilet when this man entered. Because of my medical equipment and prep, I was physically unable to run or defend myself.
Post-Incident Actions taken
Once G**a was alerted, she immediately came to my room, listened to my account, and brought in her nurse manager. Because the Patient Business Office was closed, I left them a voicemail. I also personally contacted Hospital Security to file a formal report.
Recognition of Exemplary Staff
Despite the systemic failure of the hospital's security and communication systems, I want to formally recognize my care team. Gina has been incredibly helpful, efficient, empathetic, and deeply remorseful about what happened to me. A***a has also been exceptionally sweet, professional, and attentive to all of my needs. They are the only reason I feel any modicum of care here.
Request for Action
This was a terrifying security breach. A random staff member or intruder was allowed to falsely represent himself, approach my bed, and ignore my demands to leave, while the emergency call system completely failed to protect me.
I expect a formal investigation into:
Why "Ah**d" was in my room and why he insisted he was my nurse.
Why the call button operator failed to dispatch immediate security or staff assistance during an active security threat.
What steps are being taken to ensure my safety for the remainder of my stay.
I look forward to your prompt response.
