I've worked in healthcare…read more..
I came into this ER for an embedded conch piercing that had been yanked through my ear to the other side of the cartilage but had NOT entirely exited the other side.
Dr. Covington is the reason I now have to see an ENT/Plastics Specialist to correct what happened during my ER visit.
While relaying the details of what happened, I mentioned in passing that I wondered if I might be able to re-pierce my ear in the future. That was the ONE question he seemed to latch onto. Despite me explicitly saying that I prioritize the health of my ear and know that the piercing would most likely need to be removed, he decided to force the piercing back through my wound so that I could keep it -- even though he had said he was NOT going to do that.
I assumed the piercing was coming out with a simple cut and suture. My health was my priority. Instead, Dr. Covington held me down and used his bare hand to force the piercing back through the wound. When he stepped back, he said, "You just seemed like you wanted to keep this piercing" to justify his decision.
That is not an acceptable reason to make a medical decision that directly worsened an injury.
While the doctor was holding me still and prying at my injury, I was asking my partner for his hand because I was scared and in pain. In that moment, I sensed that I could not trust this doctor. Dr. Covington firmly told my partner to "SIT down." While I was panicking (though I was not moving as his hand was grasping the piercing), he told me, "I'm not pushing it in, CALM DOWN, it's not that big of a deal" -- and then proceeded to forcibly push it back through my ear.
Because of what Dr. Covington did, the anterior side of my ear tore, cartilage tissue was protruding from the entrance that had definitely not been there before, and the posterior side of my ear swelled up like a balloon with a squishy-like texture (seriously? Induced a hematoma?). All of these signs were significantly worse than when I came in and could escalate quickly without proper treatment.
And now I need treatment from a specialist because of the treatment I received here. Let that sink in.
Dr. Covington did not tell me to follow up with an ENT or any other doctor. Instead, he told me I "could just let it heal on its own." He spoke down to me, minimized my injury, and gave lackluster, minimal aftercare instructions. He even admitted afterward that he did not actually know much about what to do in this situation.
So why make the injury worse instead of getting someone involved who DOES know what to do? Or turn me away so that I could seek better care?
Thankfully, I trusted my instincts and sought another opinion immediately. The specialist I eventually saw -- and showed the before-and-after ER pictures to -- agreed that seeking proper care right away was the right thing to do after the events that took place during that ER visit. I was told that I was at risk for severe perichondritis, an infection involving the cartilage that can potentially result in cartilage damage or death if not appropriately treated.
I could have been left missing part of my ear because of what happened during this ER visit.
My specialist was also shocked that I had only been prescribed a topical ointment with instructions to use it "just a couple of days," without oral antibiotics in addition to it. My specialist ultimately determined that additional treatment was necessary because of the risk to the cartilage. I will be following up with him after completing the round of antibiotics to find out how much cartilage can be saved.
And then there is the hygiene issue.
I ALSO NEVER saw anyone apply hand sanitizer or wash their hands before putting their bare hands on my injury -- INCLUDING THE DOCTOR. One nurse did glove up before treating me, and I made sure to thank her for doing so. But having a doctor put a bare hand on an open, traumatic cartilage injury without me seeing any hand hygiene beforehand is completely unacceptable, especially when infection in that area can have serious consequences.
I came to an ER expecting competent medical care. Instead, I left with an injury that had been made significantly worse, inadequate follow-up instructions, and a need to seek specialist care to address the additional damage.
I absolutely would not recommend this ER for anything above a simple cold.
Again. For context, I previously worked in healthcare for enough years to recognize that proper protocol was not followed. This doctor gives the impression that he does not tend to view patients as human beings. You're just another task. Stay away from Dr. Covington--especially if you are a young woman who expects to be treated with respect and care.
