It is with a heavy heart that I write this. I had thought that letting a few weeks go by would dull my anger; however, that is not the case.
About three weeks ago, my dear friend, of 44 years, was admitted to this hospital. He had late stage colon cancer and we were all hoping for better care and results. I want to be clear that MY review has nothing to do with the nursing staff and the care that my friend received. I have no personal knowledge of the care that my friend received.
My friend's wife, of 37 years gives this hospital a rating of 1 out of 5 due to the surgeon's refusal to do surgery on my friend. The doctor did not to inherit another doctor's or hospital's problems. My friend was moved to two more hospitals before it was over.
This hospital is practicing a very strict visitation policy. Not just strict, but ridiculously strict. Only two visitors, at a time, are allowed to visit a patient. When you enter the hospital, you walk up to a desk, manned by an older woman (the times we visited). Thankfully, she was not always on duty. She acknowledges you but does not greet you in a pleasant manner. The younger ones working this desk are much more pleasant but seem intimidated by this older woman's demeanor.
ID is required and you receive a printed label announcing you as a visitor.
This older woman took great pleasure in letting us know that we would not be allowed to go up as our friend already had one visitor. She gave us the name of the "visitor." The "visitor" is his wife, who had been with him, previously in valley hospitals, for almost 80 days and was now not leaving his side.
His wife had to leave the room, come down to see this guard, who, by now, I am calling Brunhilda, present her visitor pass and leave the building.
Brunhilda will not allow anyone to sit in the very small waiting room inside as well. If you were waiting to see a patient, you had to walk outside, find the very few seats available, in the 100 plus degree heat, breathe in exhaust fumes from passing vehicles and hope that a previous visitor would let you know that it was your turn.
On one of our visits, another good friend was visiting the room. Brunhilda knew the name of our friend, the name of the visitor and that we were waiting for the other guest to leave.
My friend's wife told us, via text, that the guest would be leaving so we could have our turn. Brunhilda never let us know that the guest had left and that we could go up. I was livid!
Unfortunately, we had to deal with this bitter, angry woman on several of our visits. I want the administration to know of this horrible woman's piss-poor attitude and condescending behavior. I am still so very angry.
We were not treated this way by others manning this desk, on other visits. it was only this one woman. She, obviously, seems to relish what little power she thinks she has and wants to let you know that she is in charge.
Thankfully, my friend was eventually moved to Main Methodist. At both other hospitals, in which my friend stayed, we were treated respectfully when we were given visitor badges. We were also not subjugated to waiting until a holier-than-thou guard allowed us in.
Napoleon once said, "Power corrupts and absolute power, corrupts absolutely."
It is a very small and insecure person that uses whatever limited responsibility and authority they have to use it as a club to keep others in line. I pray that I never have to return to this hospital.
I will never remain silent when I see an injustice and this was absurd and so very sad. I want to let the administration of this hospital that they really need to supervise staff so that this behavior does not go unchecked.
I see by the other reviews of this hospital that MM has many more problems than Brunhilda to deal with....physician, heal thyself!
My friend was dying!!!! And you are using your position to be the gate keeper of a hospital where all we want to do is visit family and friends. How dare you, Brunhilda, make yourself judge, jury and executioner?!
Thankfully, I do not run into people like Brunhilda very often. It is a sad state of affairs that such a brittle human being has to be in the position of deciding who is allowed to visit. What a vindictive and horrid woman!!!! read more