I've had some of the best care of my life at Bitterroot hospital, from the ER to the infusion center and just about everything in between. I've found 99% of the staff to be caring and thoughtful, and the office staff have been extremely helpful and quick.
Special shout-out to all the ladies at the infusion center for always making my week feel like a spa day and for having my back while I'm there. You make a difference, and I appreciate you.
I'm pretty sure I know all the ER doctors by now, and then some. A particular thank-you to Dr. Dodson for helping me work through a traumatic event in the safety of medical care during my visit on 8/17.
He had also treated me at least once a couple of years earlier for an asthma attack. Although he probably didn't recognize me, I remembered his name. That familiarity helped me feel comfortable enough to bring what I was going through into the room. He didn't force anything on me, and that mattered. Although I was alert and awake, I was NOT okay.
I had been strangled and punched in the temple two days earlier. The assailant had just been bailed out of jail that day. I was terrified.
Humor and talking are how I manage myself under stress. My ER nurse probably needed earplugs after my panic attack because I couldn't stop talking. I was doing everything I could to get through the procedure before I completely lost my shit.
There were also parts of that visit that needed to be better.
One of the intake nurses had the care skills of a gnat. That interaction was a sharp departure from the care I've usually received here.
With my treating ER nurse, there was one specific moment that could have been handled better. While she was pushing Benadryl, I told her to stop because my body felt weird. She continued until I raised my voice. Telling me it was making me sleepy did not address what I was saying.
Please listen to patients about their own bodies. I'm 66 years old and capable of explaining my health and what I'm experiencing. Just because I couldn't immediately identify what was happening didn't mean I wasn't feeling it.
What I understand now is that I was actively experiencing trauma. Being alert, awake, talking, or using humor did not mean I was okay. It meant I was managing myself the best I could.
Girl, listen to your patients. I was raised by a nurse and grew up in hospitals. Need I say more?
To the fabulous woman who came from X-ray--or whichever department--to take me for my CT scan: you were great. Thank you. Thank you also to the clinic for having a team ready for me. They were wonderful, and their trauma training showed. And bless the on-call therapist. She was calming, and she heard me.
Given the Bitterroot's situation with DUIs and partner or family member assaults (PFMAs), I would suggest trauma training for everyone.
I also need to raise this concern: I had been strangled and struck in the temple two days earlier, but no one performed an evidence kit to collect DNA or took photographs of my entire body. I had bruises--a lot of them, actually. That deserves attention.
Lots to unpack here.
I honestly appreciate the care I've received at this hospital. My gratitude and my concerns both belong in this review. Some parts of that particular visit fell short, while other people helped me through an incredibly frightening experience.
And those infusion nurses? They make up for the shortcomings in spades for me. Thank you, ladies, for consistently making me feel cared for and supported. read more