My elderly mother went from being active and able to drive to being completely unable to stand within a few days. She had to be carried to the bathroom. We were alarmed and took her to the McCook clinic where they told us she has lost over 40 pounds this year. She was unable to see her regular doctor and was transferred to the ER and Dr. Blomstedt. They gave her a CHEST xray and EKG (for her legs??), then Dr. Blomstedt dismissed her. We told him we had to carry her out of the house. He said to carry her back in, that it was a social services issue and not a medical problem. His release notes said she should use a walker (she couldn't stand, much less walk). He had no empathy and simply bad medical skills. I called the clinic next day to try to work with her regular doctor. The nurse I talked to had the empathy of a potato. We told her clearly something is very wrong and that she can't be left home alone. She told us weakness is not a good enough reason to be admitted to the hospital and showed no willingness to help figure out what was wrong. We took her to Tri-Valley instead and saw Sharon Hendricks, DNP. She was everything Dr. Blomstedt wasn't; caring and wicked smart. Within the same period of time it took to get through McCook's system, mom had an XRay of her pelvis followed by a CT scan where they found large cancerous masses. Follow-up tests showed more large tumors throughout her abdomen and pulmonary embolisms. She was cared for at Tri Valley and they took away her pain. A week later she died. read more
