To Whom It May Concern,…read more
I am writing on behalf of my aunt, a recent patient at Borgess Hospital, to express my deep concern and disappointment regarding the substandard care she received during her 8 night stay on 3N.
On March 3, my aunt suffered a heart attack, which led to her hospitalization. Tragically, she suffered a stroke the morning of her scheduled cardiac procedure.
Unfortunately, her experience was marred by alarming lapses in care and unacceptable conditions. Specifically:
1. Filthy hospital rooms, lacking basic essentials like toilet paper, paper towels, and soap.
2. Unemptied trash, unswept floors, and unattended soiled linens for eight days.
3. Food trays left in the bathroom for extended periods.
4. Nursing staff demonstrated a lack of compassion and understanding, asking my aunt to handle heavy trays while using the bathroom despite her weakness.
5. A nurse rolled her eyes at my aunt, displaying unacceptable behavior.
6. Inadequate therapy sessions, with only three sessions in eight days, which is unacceptable for a stroke patient.
7. Therapy staff left the gate belt on her bed, resulting in a mark on her back from the metal part.
8. A registered nurse instructed my aunt to pee in her bed at night, despite being capable of getting up with assistance.
9. She received only two showers during her stay, both done by a family member, not hospital staff.
10. The call light system failed to ensure timely responses, resulting in my aunt taking herself to the bathroom, which is not acceptable for a stroke patient. This led to an incident where she soiled herself due to delayed assistance.
11. Medication, including an inhaler and blister packs of Tylenol, and several unopened needles were left in the room, posing a risk to patient safety.
As a former employee of Borgess Hospital (2N and Emergency Department), I am appalled by the decline in care and standards. During my time, I took pride in providing exceptional patient care, which included regular hourly rounds, clear communication, and compassion.
I urge you to take immediate action to address these issues and ensure that patients receive the dignity and care they deserve.
I request a formal response regarding the actions you will take to correct these problems and prevent them from happening in the future.
I hope this letter finds its way into the hands of somebody with a heart, somebody with respect, and somebody with compassion.
