Blood Pressure/Blood Draws

Kyna
Kyna Member Posts: 3
in Breast Cancer #1

I'm sitting at a specialty hospital where my mom is currently a patient. I have had to stop the PCTs multiple times from taking my mom's blood pressure from her arm. She has a bright pink band on her wrist and a note on her bed. Last Saturday, the PCT left the blood pressure cuff on her arm and just flippantly said she was sorry and that it wouldn't happen again. I was very frustrated, so I reported it and then had to deal with the unprofessional behavior of the staff. They put up signs on the door and above her bed and told us that it would not happen again. On Sunday, I came in to the hospital and saw a rubber band left on her arm because the nurse had drawn blood from this arm.  I told the shift supervisor that I wanted to file a formal complaint.  On Tuesday, the patient ambassador and nurse manager apologized to me and said that it would not happen again. This afternoon, the PCT started to take blood pressure from my mom's arm again. I stopped her, and I asked what she was doing. I pointed out the band on my mom's wrist and the signs. She apologized but said that she took the blood pressure from the arm this morning. My mom is at this specialty hospital to fight an infection which has physically exhausted her, so she cannot remind the nurses and PCTs to not use that arm. I have talked to management at this hospital. Who else can I talk to, so this does not happen again? As a survivor myself, it makes me worried that unless I am conscious nurses and PCTs will not follow this basic protocol.   

Comments

  • fauxma
    fauxma Member Posts: 3,577 Member
    #2
    This is not acceptable

    It is inexcusable that they continue to do this.  There are enough reminders signs, pink band, etc. that this should not be happening.  And as bad as it is that they are doing blood draws and blood pressures I must say that I fear for the patient who has a band regarding drug allergies such as sulfa, penicillin, latex.. etc.  If they are this lax they are one foot away from causing great bodily harm to someone.  I would talk to the head of the hospital and inform them that if this happens again you will be reporting this to whomever oversees hospital procedures.  It migt seem to the nurse (who responded that she did a blood pressure that morning on the same arm) that it is no big deal but there is a legitimate concern for not using that arm.  When I recently had a couple of procedures done they told me they would do everything on my "good" arm and only in the event of an emergency would they use the other one.  This made total sense.  I know that the nurses are busy and have many patients to see and lots to do but come on how hard is it to read a sign, look at a pink band and then do the stuff on the correct arm.  Stuff like this gets my hackles up.  My mom had a latex allergy and just one time I saw a nurse get gloves from the latex box instead of the non latex.  I talked to her and she solved it by removing the latex gloves that were on the wall.  I never even saw latex gloves in her room after that.   Maybe you need to write the word NO in big letters all over the bad arm.  But from the sounds of these nurses even that wouldn't work.  So sorry about your mom and I hope she has a speedy recovery and that they get this right. 

    Stef

  • Kyna
    Kyna Member Posts: 3
    #3
    fauxma said:

    This is not acceptable

    It is inexcusable that they continue to do this.  There are enough reminders signs, pink band, etc. that this should not be happening.  And as bad as it is that they are doing blood draws and blood pressures I must say that I fear for the patient who has a band regarding drug allergies such as sulfa, penicillin, latex.. etc.  If they are this lax they are one foot away from causing great bodily harm to someone.  I would talk to the head of the hospital and inform them that if this happens again you will be reporting this to whomever oversees hospital procedures.  It migt seem to the nurse (who responded that she did a blood pressure that morning on the same arm) that it is no big deal but there is a legitimate concern for not using that arm.  When I recently had a couple of procedures done they told me they would do everything on my "good" arm and only in the event of an emergency would they use the other one.  This made total sense.  I know that the nurses are busy and have many patients to see and lots to do but come on how hard is it to read a sign, look at a pink band and then do the stuff on the correct arm.  Stuff like this gets my hackles up.  My mom had a latex allergy and just one time I saw a nurse get gloves from the latex box instead of the non latex.  I talked to her and she solved it by removing the latex gloves that were on the wall.  I never even saw latex gloves in her room after that.   Maybe you need to write the word NO in big letters all over the bad arm.  But from the sounds of these nurses even that wouldn't work.  So sorry about your mom and I hope she has a speedy recovery and that they get this right. 

    Stef

    Thanks Stef,
    I totally agree

    Thanks Stef,

    I totally agree about the allergies. We had that problem at her local hospital where the doctor prescribed her a drug that makes her sick. I have already brought it up to all management here I wish there was something more I could do. I just don't know anymore.

  • jessiesmom1
    jessiesmom1 Member Posts: 915 Member
    #4
    Inattentive Hospital Staff

    I must agree with what Stef/fauxma had to say in her post. What is going on at this "specialty" hospital is beyond unacceptable. In addition to the complaints you have made within the hospital I would carry it one step further and file a formal complaint with the State agency that regulates and oversees hospitals. It might also be worth mentioning to the consumer advocate at your local television station or newspaper. Stories like this have a great deal of human interest. Perhaps the threat of bad publicity will cause the hospital and its staff to clean up its act. After all, that is really the goal here. Your mother is lucky to have you as her personal advocate. Good luck.

    IRENE

  • fauxma
    fauxma Member Posts: 3,577 Member
    #5
    jessiesmom1 said:

    Inattentive Hospital Staff

    I must agree with what Stef/fauxma had to say in her post. What is going on at this "specialty" hospital is beyond unacceptable. In addition to the complaints you have made within the hospital I would carry it one step further and file a formal complaint with the State agency that regulates and oversees hospitals. It might also be worth mentioning to the consumer advocate at your local television station or newspaper. Stories like this have a great deal of human interest. Perhaps the threat of bad publicity will cause the hospital and its staff to clean up its act. After all, that is really the goal here. Your mother is lucky to have you as her personal advocate. Good luck.

    IRENE

    great advice Irene. 

    great advice Irene. 

  • taylor manny
    taylor manny Member Posts: 113
    #6
    Kyna said:

    Thanks Stef,
    I totally agree

    Thanks Stef,

    I totally agree about the allergies. We had that problem at her local hospital where the doctor prescribed her a drug that makes her sick. I have already brought it up to all management here I wish there was something more I could do. I just don't know anymore.

    This may sound silly, but,

    This may sound silly, but, when I was once in the hospital, they kept trying to do this to me too, even after my husband and kids kept telling them not too.  I also had a bright neon pink band on that said not to.  The hospital finally put one of theirs on me too and my husband even took a magic marker and wrote on my arm to not use it for anything.  The magic marker writing seemed to work the best.  One of the nurses got a little upset with it and said it would just wash off and my husband said that's why I am here, to write it on again. 

    This should never happen.

  • McMarty
    McMarty Member Posts: 212 Member
    #7
    jessiesmom1 said:

    Inattentive Hospital Staff

    I must agree with what Stef/fauxma had to say in her post. What is going on at this "specialty" hospital is beyond unacceptable. In addition to the complaints you have made within the hospital I would carry it one step further and file a formal complaint with the State agency that regulates and oversees hospitals. It might also be worth mentioning to the consumer advocate at your local television station or newspaper. Stories like this have a great deal of human interest. Perhaps the threat of bad publicity will cause the hospital and its staff to clean up its act. After all, that is really the goal here. Your mother is lucky to have you as her personal advocate. Good luck.

    IRENE

    BRING IN THE CAMERAS!!

    I totally agree with Irene.  People will STRAIGTHEN UP when the news cameras show up or reports beging calling.  I have a special needs daughter and this approach worked SUPER FAST when they didn't want to bring the school bus down our street suddenly.  My daughter could not walk to the corner 1/4 mile away and that played real pretty on TV.  Reporters LOVE this stuff and school districts/hospitals would rather not be on the local news. 

    Cameras are faster than a team of attorneys!  AND FREE!!!

  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #8
    jessiesmom1 said:

    Inattentive Hospital Staff

    I must agree with what Stef/fauxma had to say in her post. What is going on at this "specialty" hospital is beyond unacceptable. In addition to the complaints you have made within the hospital I would carry it one step further and file a formal complaint with the State agency that regulates and oversees hospitals. It might also be worth mentioning to the consumer advocate at your local television station or newspaper. Stories like this have a great deal of human interest. Perhaps the threat of bad publicity will cause the hospital and its staff to clean up its act. After all, that is really the goal here. Your mother is lucky to have you as her personal advocate. Good luck.

    IRENE

    This is awful!  I hope you

    This is awful!  I hope you can get this resolved for your mom.  Everyone gave great advice.

    Good luck and keep us posted,

    Debby

  • Kyna
    Kyna Member Posts: 3
    #9
    DebbyM said:

    This is awful!  I hope you

    This is awful!  I hope you can get this resolved for your mom.  Everyone gave great advice.

    Good luck and keep us posted,

    Debby

    Thank you! What state

    Thank you! What state agencies do I contact? I don't know who oversees hospital care, and I have been wondering and trying to figure out who to inform.

  • PennyJ
    PennyJ Member Posts: 31
    #10
    Kyna said:

    Thank you! What state

    Thank you! What state agencies do I contact? I don't know who oversees hospital care, and I have been wondering and trying to figure out who to inform.

    I am so sorry that this is happening to you

    and your family.  It sounds like you have worked really hard to straighten this out w/ the hospital staff and their lack of concern is really alarming.  A couple of other thoughts would be;

    1) Have you talked w/ her attending physician and/or her MO?  Sometimes the doctor becoming upset about a problem can make more of an impact on staff than patient concerns (unfortunately)

    2) Does your hospital have a patient represetative service, sometimes this is associated w/ social services, these folks are supposed to advocate for patients.

    3) If your hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), a report to them can really impact a hospitals ability to admit patients w/ Medicare and certain other insurances and therefore tends to get the hospital's attention.  This link gives more info on the Joint Commision and how to make a report http://www.jointcommission.org/report_a_complaint.aspx

    4) Finally, I read about the G-Sleeve in a nursing journal, and while I haven't tried it, I thought is was a great idea, the link is here; http://www.g-sleeve.com/

    I don't know if any of these ideas will help, but I hope so and am wishing the best for you, your family and your mom.

    Take care,

    Penny

  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #11
    I would write an email or

    I would write an email or letter to the CEO.  I did this myself recently when my lab orders were "lost."  No one paid much attention until the CEO began asking questions.  Now, they are going beyond to try and prove themselves.

    If nothing else, complaining to the CEO, may protect others from the treatment your mom has received.

  • jessiesmom1
    jessiesmom1 Member Posts: 915 Member
    #12
    Kyna said:

    Thank you! What state

    Thank you! What state agencies do I contact? I don't know who oversees hospital care, and I have been wondering and trying to figure out who to inform.

    Hospital Complaints

    As you can tell, I am a great believer in taking complaints up the chain of command. I like Cypress Cynthia's idea of contacting the CEO of the corporation that owns the hospital. You might also want to contact the hospital's Chief of Staff if you haven't already done so. The title of the State agency that regulates hospitals is different in every state. If I knew in which state your mother was receiving treatment I could find the necessary information for you.

    My continued best wishes.

    IRENE

  • taylor manny
    taylor manny Member Posts: 113
    #13
    CypressCynthia said:

    I would write an email or

    I would write an email or letter to the CEO.  I did this myself recently when my lab orders were "lost."  No one paid much attention until the CEO began asking questions.  Now, they are going beyond to try and prove themselves.

    If nothing else, complaining to the CEO, may protect others from the treatment your mom has received.

    Is it any better for your

    Is it any better for your Mother now?  Hope you can update us.

     

  • Lynn Smith
    Lynn Smith Member Posts: 1,264 Member
    #14
    Don't be like

    Don't be like me and ignore it.Report all of this.I wish I would've and regret it for the rest of my life.It's kinda long but it all happened.

    My situation was sick!!!! I had been in the hospital a month(doctor gave me the wrong meds for a bladder infection).I had to get high potent vitamins through a IV.I was going home the next day.During the night about 2 am I got a roommate.If they are in the room you assume it's safe.They're not isolated.She coughed and vomited all night.We talked and she pulled the curtain.Didn't make me happy but hey she's not in isolation.The next few hours her doctor the nurse and cleaning staff came in the room with masks(Yes they were protected but they told me(after I questioned) to just pull the curtain.They weren't a bit concerned about me.Oh they did say they would get her a new room and me stay in that one.NOT!!!!I went out in the waiting room and wouldn't go back in.Talked to my doctor and he said if you are going to get this virus it  will be 72 hours.Gee thanks.I was released that morning.I had my husband get some things and I went in with my face covered and got dressed to go home.I def should have reported this to the CEO.My former doctor and the staff could care less.

    Oh and one thing the nurse did when she came to clean up the vomit  from this lady".She put the ladies vomit towels on my eating tray.oh yes.And me with my IV went to the bathroom and cleaned my own tray.I wasn't helped much that month in the hospital but this lady was catered to. I was pleasant the whole time. And to beat it all it wasn't my fault I was in the hospital because of my doctor's misdiagnosis.Wrong meds. I kept telling him when I was home I'm no better. He told me I better not complain anymore or I was going to the mental ward.I told his associate what he said and that doctor tested me doing a culture for 3 days and found out i got the wrong meds.

    Of course the doctor turned the tables.His associate probably told him about the mental issue.So what does he do".My doctor said I need  a mental health care worker come in to talk to you.You're  very sick(physical) and someone needs to talk to you.Well I never saw that person.He lied and I told my husband he was lying.

    Honestly I'm very cautious now after having that and other things happen in the hospital.And if our family wasn't  there they would never know of the mistakes. It  makes me afraid to even go to sleep in a hospital.Also got overdoses with pain meds once.Gave it to me 2 times in 4 hours.

    Glad you're there for your MOM.This is just 2 times for me but there were others times.

     

    Lynn Smith

  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #15
    CypressCynthia said:

    I would write an email or

    I would write an email or letter to the CEO.  I did this myself recently when my lab orders were "lost."  No one paid much attention until the CEO began asking questions.  Now, they are going beyond to try and prove themselves.

    If nothing else, complaining to the CEO, may protect others from the treatment your mom has received.

    This is unacceptable behavior

    This is unacceptable behavior on the part of the staff.  I hope you do contact the CEO or someone of importance in the hospital and let them know what has been going on.  You shouldn't have to worry about this with your Mom.

    Sue :)

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #16
    wow this is terrible....sorry

    wow this is terrible....sorry to hear so many issues over and over again.

    I had some bad experience with hospital but my mom was very end of life-I DID not formally complain until she died-i was worried they would ignore her. I DID write detailed letter to CEO..I did get a call from them right away. I said IF I held JUST ONE family this is worth it. I am not sure if any actions were taken against the misc staff.

     

    I hope you get some great advice...from others here...

    thinking of you..

    Denise

     

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #17
    Have you asked for patient

    Have you asked for patient advocate in the hospital? only thing they too are paid by the hospital. HOW about social worker or outside advocate with legal knowledge?

     

    Denise

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #18
    MY MOM had a PIC line

    MY MOM had a PIC line in...they told her (since veins so bad) that she wouldn't have to be pricked over and over if pic line...I went in one day and taking from arm...OH this draw can'ta be done from PIC...

     

    than why did we put her through that surgery to have it put in?

    I HOPE things are better and more attentive...I feel for those who do not have family around...

    Denise

  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #19
    disneyfan2008 said:

    MY MOM had a PIC line

    MY MOM had a PIC line in...they told her (since veins so bad) that she wouldn't have to be pricked over and over if pic line...I went in one day and taking from arm...OH this draw can'ta be done from PIC...

     

    than why did we put her through that surgery to have it put in?

    I HOPE things are better and more attentive...I feel for those who do not have family around...

    Denise

    Hoping things are better with

    Hoping things are better with your Mom too.

    Hugs, Diane

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