I am extremely frustrated and disappointed with my recent experiences with Sutter Health and the…read moreway my surgeries have been handled.
Two weeks ago, I wrote a review about receiving incorrect information from a pre-op nurse over the phone. Based on that information, I took a medication the morning of my scheduled surgery. As a result, the surgery center canceled my procedure just minutes before they were about to place an IV in my hand. I had to reschedule the surgery for a later date.
At the same time, I already had a second surgery--a spinal procedure--scheduled for a Thursday. As I was leaving my home to go to the surgery center, I received a call informing me that the anesthesiologist would not perform the surgery at the center and that it needed to be done in a hospital in case complications occurred. Once again, I was left with no choice but to reschedule.
I tried to roll with the punches and moved the first surgery to an earlier date. I was expecting to finally have that surgery next Tuesday. Then, once again, I received a call from a pre-op nurse informing me that the anesthesiologist now wanted additional testing, including an echocardiogram, before proceeding. Of course, I need a referral from my primary care physician, and getting an appointment and completing the test before the scheduled surgery date is practically impossible.
So, once again, my surgery is being delayed.
My spinal surgery is scheduled for next month, but at this point, I have very little confidence that it will actually happen as scheduled--even though it will now be performed in a hospital.
What is most frustrating is that these surgeries were presented to the surgery center well in advance. It is extremely difficult to understand why the anesthesia team is apparently reviewing cases so late in the process, sometimes only shortly before the scheduled procedure. If additional testing or a hospital setting is required, why isn't that determined weeks in advance? Patients should not have to rearrange their lives, prepare for surgery, fast, make transportation arrangements, deal with the stress and anxiety of surgery, and then find out at the last minute that the procedure cannot go forward.
Surgery is stressful enough without repeatedly being given conflicting information and having procedures canceled or delayed at the last minute. I understand that patient safety must come first, and I absolutely support appropriate medical precautions. However, better communication, earlier case review, and better coordination between the surgical team, anesthesiologists, pre-op nurses, and patients should be basic expectations.
I have been with Sutter Health for years, and most of my medical records and history are already within their system. Unfortunately, these experiences over the past several months have seriously damaged my confidence in the organization.
The University of California system is offering Sutter Health as one of the options during upcoming open enrollment. Based on my recent experiences, it is very unlikely that I will choose Sutter, and I certainly cannot recommend the plan to my colleagues.
At this point, I am seriously considering requesting copies of all my medical records before the end of the year and moving my care elsewhere. Perhaps my new health plan will provide the level of communication, coordination, and patient care that I expected from Sutter but have not experienced over the past few months.
Patients deserve better than last-minute surprises when it comes to something as important and stressful as surgery.