Those I communicated with via e-mail were promised the story of the
events that triggered my early return home, so here it is.
----------------------------------------------------------
28 July 2007
Maureen Hanifin, R.N.
Director of Nursing Services
San Diego Rehabilitation Institute
6655 Alvarado Road
San Diego, CA 92120
RE: MR# 00055
00530
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Regular A.M. visits by Dr. Tradonsky and PT.
Dr. Tradonsky suggests transfer to rehab for 4 or 5 days.
While walking in the hallway with PT, ten feet from room, dietitian
(or whoever) comes by to take lunch order. Not finding anyone in the
room, writes his/her own menu. No attempt was made to determine if
the three people ten feet from the door are from that room. Lunch
arrives and it contains foods rich in vitamin K, which is a no-no for
patients on blood thinners.
Approximately 1500, moved to SDRI room 204B. 1515 Rochelle, CNA,
took vitals. 1545 Patricia, RN, said she didn't know we were here.
1600, began admitting procedure; weight and photo of wound. 1630,
admitting came in with paperwork, mentioned we had arrived from
hospital early.
1725, wife escorts me to bathroom and notices a "boil" or "blister",
possibly a bed sore developing, on left buttock. We page for a
nurse. Patricia arrives and says she'll get a salve. 1740, my wife
pages again nurses to see what the delay is. Patricia stated, "We
have to order it". My wife left for home at 1750. As she passed the
nursing station, she asked "how long," and is told "15 minutes."
2100, I have not seen nor hear from anyone in more than 2 hours. I
phoned my wife to return and bring me home.
About 2130, my wife arrives and finds 6 staff members at the nursing
station, some chatting, one operating a machine, another doing
paperwork. She is followed into my room by bevy of nurses begging me
not to leave.
Kathy: "Did you page the nurse?"
Me: "We paged twice."
Kathy: "Did you page?"
Me: "How many times am I supposed to page? What have you been doing
for 2-plus hours?'
Patricia brings in a tube of salve. It's the same that can be
purchased OTC at Longs, Vons, Sav-On, Walgreens, Ralphs, Rite-Aid,
Albertson. Patricia lied and said it is a drug that required a
prescription. There is absolutely no FDA "RX ONLY" statement on the
tube, nor "CAUTION: Federal law prohibits transfer of this drug to any
person other than patient for whom prescribed." There is absolutely
no patient name/information/label on the tube.
I stated that I will not tolerate - at a bank, grocery store, Wal-
Mart, Costco, or any other business - indifference, lies, lack of
communications, and other traits exhibited by the staff of SDRI.
Kathy stated she would shuffle assignments so I never had the same
crew again. I again stated, "I'm going home." Patricia called me
"stubborn."
I replied that I'm only a guardian of the rights that they have
violated.
We left at approximately 2215 after signing a heavily edited release
form. I was not offered a wheelchair or assistance until we were
half way to the elevators.
CC: Dr. Gerard
CC: Dr. Steven
CC: State of California
sweetpickleNO@SPAMknology.net - 01 Aug 2007 07:05 GMT
Be sure to let us know what happens next, Good for you and Mary!
Gwen
> Those I communicated with via e-mail were promised the story of the
> events that triggered my early return home, so here it is.
[quoted text clipped - 70 lines]
> CC: Dr. Steven
> CC: State of California
DeeTee and Bob Taggart - 01 Aug 2007 13:30 GMT
Well done! I learned in the Army to document, document, document EVERYTHING!
DeeTee
> Be sure to let us know what happens next, Good for you and Mary!
> Gwen
[quoted text clipped - 73 lines]
>> CC: Dr. Steven
>> CC: State of California
Leslie & The Furbabies in MO. - 01 Aug 2007 07:59 GMT
Gee, that sounds so like the story of my hospitalization for my hip....
except mine involved insisting that I use a walker to walk to the toilet
when I had to go too badly to wait that long and walk that far- and I *told*
the nurses that. And that was after they kept me waiting 20-30 min. after I
asked for assistance to the bathroom. It involved accidents and no one
offering to help me clean myself and walking back to my bed thru the
puddles.... three different times.
It's sad how so many nurses have a lack of pride in their work and find
chatting and eating more important than their patients.
I'm sorry you had such poor quality nursing and glad you let your doctor,
etc. know why you left early. Good for you!
Leslie
> Those I communicated with via e-mail were promised the story of the
> events that triggered my early return home, so here it is.
[quoted text clipped - 70 lines]
> CC: Dr. Steven
> CC: State of California
Squirrely - 01 Aug 2007 21:13 GMT
Oh Leslie, sorry that happened to you. That is terrible. I hope you never
have to do that again.

Signature
Love and Hugs to all
Jo the squirrely one
> Gee, that sounds so like the story of my hospitalization for my hip....
> except mine involved insisting that I use a walker to walk to the toilet
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Leslie
Squirrely - 01 Aug 2007 21:21 GMT
Chief, that is terrible treatment and I know from being in the ER many
times that, that seems to be the way things are done these days. Lots of
talking and messing around by the staff but no real patient care being done.
I remember one time in the ER I had to go to the bathroom and I was hooked
up to all these tubes and things, so paged the nurse, told had to go pee
right now, (I have adrenal issues and when that happens have to pee every
1/2 hour for minutes at a time, just so you get the idea), kept calling the
nurse every 20 or so minutes telling them I was going to wet the bed, no one
came, so finally ripped all the stuff off and went. Still for another 2
hours no one came.
So I take it that this is the standard of care we are now looking forward
too.
Also I have issues with the cleanliness of these places too.

Signature
Love and Hugs to all
Jo the squirrely one
> Those I communicated with via e-mail were promised the story of the
> events that triggered my early return home, so here it is.
[quoted text clipped - 70 lines]
> CC: Dr. Steven
> CC: State of California