Waiting

A couple of days ago, I was getting upset with the hospital about waiting so long to get results that may determine if I am going to live or if I am going to die. The hospital, in my opinion, was not acting in my best interest by keeping me hanging by a thread. I posted the "conversation" on facebook and this is how it went:

Bruce G. Larson‎ to Florida Hospital Altamonte

November 19 at 2:49pm ·

As a patient, I see that there are too many doctors and affiliated organizations that make up the Florida Hospital network and they have not learned to work together for the benefit of the ailing patient. I don't know if they even communicate with one another other than sending reports back and forth. I have cancer and I have been left hanging too many times. It's all easy for them, but for me, it may mean life or death. I am very disappointed.

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  Florida Hospital Altamonte Hello, Bruce. We are so sorry to hear about your experience. We would like to speak with you about it directly. If you would please direct message us with a phone number where we can reach you, a member of our patient experience team will contact you. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
  
  
• Bruce G. Larson And when will you call back? I left the number about 30 minutes ago
• Bruce G. Larson Well this is like trying to find your ICU nurse - they disappear somewhere...
  
  
• Marjorie Bruce, can you publish in your newspaper? You have waited TOO LONG and suffered not only from cancer but poor patient care management. The strength of a top notch care facility us a real time medical record.
  
  
• Maxine I am so sorry you are experiencing this. Keep the faith.
  
  
  Bruce G. Larson I still have not heard from Florida Hospital. This is quite odd since we are dealing people's lives and if that is not important to them, we are also dealing with millions of dollars. If I call the hospital, I have no idea what department to even start with.
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    Florida Hospital Altamonte Hi Bruce,
    
    We apologize for the delay in response and have contacted a patient experience representative who will reach out to you today.

• Jeffrey Went through the same thing with my dad...wait till they start competing for your "business".
  
  
• Bruce G. Larson Well maybe if they start competing, I will get better service? 
•  Bruce G. Larson I can't help but thinking of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America and how the commercial shows about 6 to 8 doctors gathered around a table discussing the treatment plan and progress of a patient. And really that is the way it should be - if the disease requires the expertise of several doctors with different specialties then they must work together. In my experience, it seems almost like an assembly line where I go from one station to the next. Some status reports might follow me to the next station or they might make sure the reports are there before I arrive. We had doctors with differing views on medications so that leaves me, the patient, wondering who is right and who is wrong.
  
  
• Bruce G. Larson Well someone from the hospital called but did not leave a message. The number on the caller ID is a general incoming phone line. I guess I will - yes, wait - to see if they call back.
  
  
• Bruce G. Larson We called them back and asked for someone in the patient care dept. The woman was not really sure what was going on, but she took the info and is looking into things for us. Vi did a great job working to resolve this mess.
  
  
• Marjorie Post this on your local newspaper 's blog
  
  
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  Florida Hospital Altamonte Hello Bruce, A member of our patient experience team called you back yesterday afternoon and left a voice mail with her contact information. If you would like to speak to her please call her today. We would love to assist you and help resolve any issues you might be having. Thank you for reaching out. All the best.
  
  
• Bruce G. Larson Yes, we did receive a message but we called back and talked with someone in administration and we were please with the results. In fact, promptly at 9:00am this morning (actually, perhaps 8:59am) we received a call to schedule the CT assisted fine needle biopsy with full instructions. Vi and I commented that they are doing the way they are supposed to be doing it now. It is our hope, that this prompt attention to patient needs is carried over for all patients at Florida Hospital. Trust me, the hospital can only benefit and so will the patient.
• Bruce G. Larson This is not the competitive auto repair business. We are dealing with human beings and their lives and their quality of life. Hell, the hospital won't even pay for the "tow" back in if something goes wrong. But they should do all they can in the first place and all necessary and known precautions to assure the patient is well-cared for.
  
  
• Marjorie The US does not rank high against other nation's healthcare. We lack "caring" in the healthcare equation.
  
  
• Bruce G. Larson Yet we have the ability to change that. Hospital administrators: Listen to the patients and listen to the nurses...
  
  
• Cindy Bruce, I take it they are not a Comprehensive Cancer Center? Mine is and the doctors roundtable my case.
  
  
• Bruce G. Larson The roundtable, Cindy, is precisely what I was referring to earlier in this conversation.I feel the hospital and the patient and their families would benefit greatly. In the healthcare field, it often can mean the difference between life and death and quality of life.
  
  
• Wendy The way I look at Cancer Doctors and group practices, you should be assigned to ONE Main doctor. From there, he should confer with other doctors in other specialty areas with cancer and healthcare for opinions, treatment options and if necessary a visit to those doctors. From there, those doctors should get with your MAIN doctor, tell them what they found, what they recommend and let your MAIN doctor write the orders. I do know doctors send reports and recommendations to your primary and yes they do read them. I just feel like you will be seeing your MAIN doctor for everything and he should the first in line to know EVERYTHING that is going on in your treatment, scans, biopsies, etc. He should know the whole you from top to bottom. This way, there are no errors. Groups are great because they talk to each other a few times a week and go over all the cases and get each other's opinions. But in your case, it sounds like Florida Hospital is dropping the ball somewhere. My girlfriend goes to Moffitt here in Tampa. When she does her follow-up scans and blood work, she has to stay all day because they read them, go over them and tell her the same day what is going on. I like Moffitt because of their care and treatment. She is going on 5 years with a rare kind of cancer and two bone marrow transplants later....is she cancer free? Yes for now. It did come back and she got a second transplant. She did get graft vs. host disease and that in itself presents a whole new set of issues. She has her team in Tampa working with her doctor in Orlando to help get this under control and get her well. I feel the frustration you are going through With cancer, time is of the essence, It's not the type of thing you want to let go for weeks. It is the type of cancer that needs treatment NOW. Good luck with this. Start calling them every half hour till you get someone. Better yet, get in the car and go down there.
  
  
  Bruce G. Larson I agree with the "ONE MAIN" doctor concept, Wendy. It makes perfect sense. A "central communication command" for associated medical and patient needs. I am also having problems with return to work issues (which doctor takes care of this) and now I don't see my surgeon for 2 months, so who is my contact for medications, general questions, concerns? This is where we, the patients and their families, are left hanging. The hospital offers no guidance whatsoever.
  
  
  • Wendy Your primary doctor or main oncologist is the one to issue medications, but having to wait two months to see the surgeon? Is that for the biopsy in the lung??
  • Bruce G. Larson No, that is follow-up on the mouth. My "case" will be transferred to a doctor specializing in lung cancer. Why do I feel like I am in a pinball machine>
    
    
  • Rita so sorry

Belle It makes me very sad that patients need to have an "advocate" and/or create a public stir because PEOPLE with whom we entrust our care DRoP the ball!! It happens far too often. We become a mere price tag, account number, or annoyance on the phone! What the hell more do they "expect" out of sick patients??

• Bruce G. Larson Imagine those that may not have the ability to realize something is wrong. The elderly who may not be thinking clearly, the mentally ill who may not understand, those who are alone and have no one to see what is really going and what about those who are simply too ill to know much of anything. We should trust everyone in the medical field. We don't have much choice. Once they start on us, how do we know when it us time to stop and change doctors? We were in the lobby of a doctor the other day and someone was hoping they would not have to see this particular doctor because he had a poor "bedside manner." It seems they choose this field for a reason. I hope they are always able to remember that reason and what factors inspired that reason.

  
  
• Belle Yes ! I see the Big Picture as you do, my friend ! Blows my mind!

  
  
• Belle If you have an ADVOCATE make the calls, you will get better treatment!! What does that say about some of the receptionists, nurses, physicians, and other staff members?
  (Actually, the ADVOCATE is getting better treatment!)