My boyfriend was a patient in the hospital where he works recently and we both had a terrible experience. Besides giving him coffee with curdled milk in it and refusing to make more because "that's just the way cream settles" and "we're out of coffee" and "we only have one CA". And no, they would not let me make a pot either. We were mistreated in a dozen ways, including holding back meds assuming he was a drug seeker, employees telling us we were "a big issue on the floor," refusing to page the doctor and requesting that I do it from my cell phone, not returning when they said they would, asking him if he was "refusing treatment" when he said he didn't want IV Depakote for what they thought was a migraine because he had taken it PO before and it didn't agree with him, etc... ARGH! He ended up trying the IV Depacon at their request and he broke out in a whole body rash and they kept him another day. He returned to the ER 2 days later with complications from the rash and the doctor said "I'm not giving you prednisone." I told her, "the doctor who was just here just gave him a dose." She said, "OK I'll give you prednisone but only if you promise to follow up." I don't understand the "care" at all!! IT was awful! When we asked for the charge nurse, she was awful to us too, saying people had more important things to do because there was a code.
After he was discharged and went back to work, his manager said she received an email from that unit saying he had questionable behavior during his hospital stay. It was totally exaggerated. For example, I had brought his badge to the hospital so I could park in the garage, and he put it on as a joke while laying in bed. It stayed on maybe 10 minutes. They complained about this saying he was misrepresenting himself. They said he tried to get into the medicine room, which isn't true (he was admitted with altered mental status so how could they judge his behavior anyway!)
Is this ILLEGAL that they told his manager he was in the hospital? And talked about his behavior? I would think that is a breach of HIPPA and that they are also damaging his reputation without cause!
The manager actually did not know because he did not have to call out. He does not work full time there. Also the milk was already in the coffee so we could not ask for more milk. My boyfriend was frustrated that he had migraine pain and they would not treat his pain because a specific doctor had left a message not to order anything for pain. We found out later this was a mistake. The coffee would have been acting as his medicine because of his migraine pain, so I consider that to be somewhat of a priority. i'm quite sure YOU understand the priority of pain control when someone is virtually crying in pain. What they were telling us was that they would not make coffee, not that it would take time, but that it wouldn't be done at all, so I calmly asked for the charge nurse to ask if it could somehow be gotten somewhere else. It was nighttime so the cafeteria wasn't open. What do you mean something "trival?"
He was wearing his hospital ID badge....so why is it a violation of HIPAA if his NM found out he was a patient?
As for the coffee issue...it is unfortunate if it happened like this. On the other hand, I don't have a whole lot of sympathy for individuals who make food requests, as this seems like it happens most days in the ED.
I would contact the hospital risk manager and file a complaint regarding being pressured to take a med that had provoked a reaction in the past, refusal to page an MD and refusing to give medications (if they were ordered). Not sure you can do much about the coffee.
I'm also not sure how far you will get with a complaint about the ED. If there was a code indeed going on, well they get priority.
And holy HIPAA, the only info that his manager should have received is that he was a patient.
I am sure that risk management would like to hear about this one! He should make sure that nothing has been placed in his personnel file or he writes a rebuttal.
He should be sure to document all conversations, just in case he takes this higher up the food chain (the state department of health, JC or to a lawyer).
FWIW, I try to never tell anyone that I am an employee or a nurse. I feel like I am automatically labeled a drug-seeker, whether its a broken wrist or a ruptured eardrum.
Thank you for your reply. I tried to hold off on telling them! I swear! Haha. I don't know why everyone thinks this code was in the ER! We were on the floor, and It wasn't happening at the time we spoke to the charge nurse, it happened beforehand. She was just busy with the paperwork afterward. Good tips. I appreciate it!!
He was wearing his hospital ID badge....so why is it a violation of HIPAA if his NM found out he was a patient?
As for the coffee issue...it is unfortunate if it happened like this. On the other hand, I don't have a whole lot of sympathy for individuals who make food requests, as this seems like it happens most days in the ED.
The caffeine was for his migraine. It wasn't a food request just cause he felt like a hot cup of coffee or something. Also, he was not wearing his badge out of his room. He clipped it to his gown for 10 minutes while kidding around. Boy I feel like everyone is so skeptical!
The manager actually did not know because he did not have to call out. He does not work full time there. Also the milk was already in the coffee so we could not ask for more milk. My boyfriend was frustrated that he had migraine pain and they would not treat his pain because a specific doctor had left a message not to order anything for pain. We found out later this was a mistake. The coffee would have been acting as his medicine because of his migraine pain, so I consider that to be somewhat of a priority. i'm quite sure YOU understand the priority of pain control when someone is virtually crying in pain. What they were telling us was that they would not make coffee, not that it would take time, but that it wouldn't be done at all, so I calmly asked for the charge nurse to ask if it could somehow be gotten somewhere else. It was nighttime so the cafeteria wasn't open. What do you mean something "trival?"
Listen, I'm not trying to argue with you. I just stated my opinion like everyone else. No need to get defensive. You posted your story here and I responded like everyone else.
And I deal directly in the ER, I give out Dilaudid like candy based on doctor's orders, so I can't answer that question. My patients don't cry out in pain. If they did, I would advocate for my patient. Priority in the ER is different than on the floor, and it's if not CHEST pain, then pain is not gonna kill the patient at the moment when I have a trauma going on.
And if there is a code going on, I'm quite sure all the nurses where tied up in that code. Maybe that's why they didnt have time to make coffee, or come back to the room when they said they would. Maybe that's why the charge nurse was a little preplexed about a complaint of coffee being made. That request could be considered trival in the grand scheme of things.
And if it was a migraine due to lack of caffeine, and the cafeteria was not open, are there vending machines where you could have gotten a coke or something that has caffeine in it?
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
His stay should not have been discussed with anyone not involved in his care. It IS a HIPAA violation. The unit should not have contacted his boss on ANOTHER unrelated unit to discuss his hospital stay or that he was even a patient.
I am not sure why excuses are being made for this and it's being looked around. He should contact whoever at your hospital handles matters like this. The boss should not have even been aware he was a patient in the hospital unless he told her or he was admitted to her unit.
Listen, I'm not trying to argue with you. I just stated my opinion like everyone else. No need to get defensive. You posted your story here and I responded like everyone else.
And I deal directly in the ER, I give out Dilaudid like candy based on doctor's orders, so I can't answer that question. My patients don't cry out in pain. If they did, I would advocate for my patient. Priority in the ER is different than on the floor, and it's if not CHEST pain, then pain is not gonna kill the patient at the moment when I have a trauma going on.
And if there is a code going on, I'm quite sure all the nurses where tied up in that code. Maybe that's why they didnt have time to make coffee, or come back to the room when they said they would. Maybe that's why the charge nurse was a little preplexed about a complaint of coffee being made. That request could be considered trival in the grand scheme of things.
And if it was a migraine due to lack of caffeine, and the cafeteria was not open, are there vending machines where you could have gotten a coke or something that has caffeine in it?
There was not a code going on at the moment. The charge nurse definitely would not have been able to come if there were. It had happened earlier in the shift and she was busy with the paperwork is what she said. Also trival is not a word. You must keep meaning to say trivial. I didn't understand the first time cause it didn't make sense in context. Also it was not a "complaint of coffee," it was a request for something uncurdled. I was calm and collected people! I was nice! I smiled!
His stay should not have been discussed with anyone not involved in his care. It IS a HIPAA violation. The unit should not have contacted his boss on ANOTHER unrelated unit to discuss his hospital stay or that he was even a patient.
I am not sure why excuses are being made for this and it's being looked around. He should contact whoever at your hospital handles matters like this. The boss should not have even been aware he was a patient in the hospital unless he told her or he was admitted to her unit.
There was not a code going on at the moment. The charge nurse definitely would not have been able to come if there were. It had happened earlier in the shift and she was busy with the paperwork is what she said. Also trival is not a word. You must keep meaning to say trivial. I didn't understand the first time cause it didn't make sense in context. Also it was not a "complaint of coffee," it was a request for something uncurdled. I was calm and collected people! I was nice! I smiled!
I agree with pp's, stuff doesn't add up and seems like there is missing information. I don't see why his own co-workers would treat him poorly, unless they already didn't like him for some reason (which still wouldn't be a good reason, anyway, but at least would explain something). Most times, it is a hospital's goals to have patient satisfaction. Especially, to a co-worker that is now a pt.
I do think OP and bf were wrong, as far as him letting you use HIS badge to park. While I understand why you two would want to do that, it is still unprofessional. OP, I think your bf should write a formal complaint about the hospital, as a pt. Seeing as how he was treated so poorly, and given a medication that he was pretty much allergic to.
I do think it was a HIPAA violation that other staff members 'found' out he was a pt there, when they had nothing to do with his care. Yeah, at one point he had his badge on, in HIS room and I highly doubt everyone that knew he was there, walked in his room to see the badge on him.
I agree with pp's, stuff doesn't add up and seems like there is missing information. I don't see why his own co-workers would treat him poorly, unless they already didn't like him for some reason (which still wouldn't be a good reason, anyway, but at least would explain something). Most times, it is a hospital's goals to have patient satisfaction. Especially, to a co-worker that is now a pt.
I do think OP and bf were wrong, as far as him letting you use HIS badge to park. While I understand why you two would want to do that, it is still unprofessional. OP, I think your bf should write a formal complaint about the hospital, as a pt. Seeing as how he was treated so poorly, and given a medication that he was pretty much allergic to.
I do think it was a HIPAA violation that other staff members 'found' out he was a pt there, when they had nothing to do with his care. Yeah, at one point he had his badge on, in HIS room and I highly doubt everyone that knew he was there, walked in his room to see the badge on him.
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LaurRN
28 Posts
The manager actually did not know because he did not have to call out. He does not work full time there. Also the milk was already in the coffee so we could not ask for more milk. My boyfriend was frustrated that he had migraine pain and they would not treat his pain because a specific doctor had left a message not to order anything for pain. We found out later this was a mistake. The coffee would have been acting as his medicine because of his migraine pain, so I consider that to be somewhat of a priority. i'm quite sure YOU understand the priority of pain control when someone is virtually crying in pain. What they were telling us was that they would not make coffee, not that it would take time, but that it wouldn't be done at all, so I calmly asked for the charge nurse to ask if it could somehow be gotten somewhere else. It was nighttime so the cafeteria wasn't open. What do you mean something "trival?"