Our experience with the Optum ENT team, Dr Scott and the hospital lacked professionalism, care and consideration.
After 4 years of our advocacy for tonsillectomy, the Optum ENT team ordered a sleep study - which exposed the severity of our son's sleep apnea and urgent need for tonsil and adenoid removal. (AHI of 42)
We scheduled surgery 6 weeks in advance, and made all necessary plans - we changed work schedules, childcare schedules, travel plans, took vacation days to care for him etc. Though they had six weeks notice, the surgical team did not bother to review our son's chart. Though he desperately needs this procedure, Dr. Scott called to cancel 12 hours before we were scheduled to arrive at the hospital because the surgical team would not operate due to the risk profile and post operative needs.
This is concerning:
- a PICU is recommended for cases this severe but wasn't mentioned to us in this process
- the surgical team did not review the case in advance of the procedure until the day before.
When the procedure was cancelled at teh 11th hour, we were not given a referral or resources to help resolve the issue. When we asked for a CPAP Rx to help so he didn't continue to struggle while we tried to figure out what hospital and doctor would be qualified to help, we were told his pediatrician would handle. When we called his pediatrician (who is attentive, invested and responsive) he said that he does not manage CPAP Rx. We were left with a child that could not breathe at night, and an ENT who would not help us alleviate that issue.
Ultimately, our 10 year old has gone years chronically under-slept and struggling due to the professional opinions of Optum ENTS. When the severity of his case was realized, we were left high and dry just hours before his procedure with no recommendations or resources to improve his situation.
Competency and personal commitment are tenants of the hippocratic oath, that we were not given. read more