Eastern Virginia Medical School — Attraction in Norfolk

This is one of the most inhumane facilities for seniors looking for health care. They must need more money to expand the school as they find new ways to take my money. I am a senior with spinal cord damage. For years I went in every three months for a medication check. Now they want me to come in once a month, pay a specialist copay to write a prescription. There is NO REGULATION or law that requires this, it is up to the practice. I need the medication, I cannot afford an additional copay each month. Employees are leaving because they cant work in this uncaring environment. IF I could give negative stars, for the administrative and support staff for the offices of EVMS Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, I would. In most every case the physicians are GREAT, the staff is from Hell

I have been a patient of this practice for nearly 14 years. All and all things were not too bad there until recently with new requirements that you must have a "Video Appointment" each month (a way to scam insurance and Medicare/Medicaid during the COVID19 Pandemic). My partner has severe medical problems and sees several specialists on a regular basis. They will TELL YOU WHEN your next appointment is (day and time) and give you all kinds of grief and huffy attitude when you have to call them back (rarely answer the phone) or email that you have a prior medical appointment or procedure for that date. She was in the hospital a few months ago and they attempted to dismiss her from the practice because she missed and appointment (while in the hospital) and most insulting, made her bring in written proof that she was in the hospital at the time of the appointment. She also has severe COPD among other problems and cannot go out on some days, especially during cold, damp weather. If she tries to call in or cannot make it in, they try to tell her that it ill be a missed appointment and she will have to be "dismissed'. I got a phone call one morning and was told that I would have an appointment, on the computer THAT DAY. If I cannot make this appointment, I will not get my medication refilled for another month. At the stated time, 15 minutes before my scheduled appointment, i logged into the computer and into the "Virtual Waiting Rome". I waited 15 minutes in this 'virtual Waiting Room" for 15 minutes. Next the computer states the doctor would be with me shortly. Another 30 minutes go by. The computer wants to log me out for inactivity. nobody has acknowledged my presence or checked me in. A second time the computer wants to log me out and says "would you like to schedule another appointment?". I did not know what to do. Am I to sit here for who knows how long and does anybody even know that I am waiting. The best thing I can think of is to schedule another appointment, which I do. I have timed stamped email proof that I was there and tried several tines to get in touch with the office. i call several times but as usual nobody answered the phone. A week later I get a call that I cannot get my prescriptions and that I owe them $50 for a MISSED APPOINTMENT or I will be dismissed from the practice. Is this fair? I was there, nobody acknowledged my prescience (they 'check in" each patient while in the "virtual waiting room" now). I was there but neither the Doctor nor a member of the staff could acknowledge my presence. I waited for over 30 minutes with no contact. Should I be charged $50.00 (they must recognize that they had a problem as every appointment is checked in now before the appointment time). I hope somebody in authority at EVMS reads this and understands how poorly many of the patients in this practice are being treated. There are (or were) signs posted on the check-in windows and to the doors going into the back that "foul language and arguing with the staff will not be tolerated and could end in termination". I have never seen a sign like that in a doctor's office before. That kind of sign is an indication of poor management as it is only needed when patients feel they are...

Currently 35+ weeks pregnant, high risk! Here's My brief timeline with EVMS after discovering I had a tumor in my throat in June while pregnant. I had an appt with Christine Nkemeh (very informative, compassionate, thorough doc) she recommended that I get the tumor removed from my throat in August vs Oct as the ENDO-Specialist recommended a later dater (she suggested sooner for safety measurements as it was better to get this done in second trimester vs third). She was right - All went well! Following up on my visit in August, I complained about heart palpitations. Nothing was done although there were some concerns with my lab work (I had a different doc at the time, as you will too, you will never get the same obgyn). I then found out my unborn has VSD (but was told nothing to be concerned about) Proceeding with my visits I complained about lower back pain, constant restrictions, no more working out, barely walking, just a lot of sitting and it would hurt most to lay down or if I attempted to complete my regular tasks; then heart palpations would occur. Next visit, discovered my unborn child have growth restrictions. Recommended Ultrasound will be regularly done to stay on top of the progression. Next two visits consisted of me taking the glucose two times (unintentionally) as the Lab dept. lost my records. Didn't get a call until 3 weeks later, letting me know I have to do it all over again (now 3rd time). Now we're approaching October, still lightheaded with heart palpitations MS. CHRISTINE NKEMEH discovered my iron is low. Wow! Go figured, as I mentioned this too the other docs in previous visits and it was overlooked, however, Nekemeh, went the extra mile to be sure my concerns were addressed. GAVE ME THE REASSURANCE I NEEDED. She's the absolute best! She also referred me to a physicals therapy that I visit twice a week due to my conditions. She also scheduled me to wear a heart monitor as I was having episodes where I was close to fainting from standing on my feet longer than 10 mins. Im grateful for her assistance because earlier that day, I was told by the ultrasound tech that I'm not in the clear of growth restrictions and my child is now in 12% but the last visit I was told something completely different. At this point I couldn't trust anything the doctors were saying as I was being told something different each time. Be ware they would run lab work but there was no follow-up. Although they had my history and records, everyone was surprised by everything that has occurred up to this point. I felt completely hopeless! Moving forward they want to monitor my daughter as she is still breech 32+ weeks and still in 12%. I was supposed to have a follow-up ultrasound TODAY but they cancelled last minute stating that the CHKD wasn't going to be there to check on the VSD, but they did that last check-up and said I wouldn't need another visit from them until my baby arrives. The ultrasound tech shared her concerns during my last visit and expressed that its imperative for me to get a ultrasound within two weeks. So we know how to proceed with delivery my child. Then they cancel my appt with NO FOLLOW-UP DATE? Not even a call? I've left a message with the High-Risk manager last week, I believe her name is Joanne, she promised to call back & never did. Called her again, there was NO NOTES on my acct, said she would check to see if she can follow-up with the ultrasound tech and promised to call me back directly. I called today, Monday 11/25/24 and still no response. RUN THE OPPOSITE WAY!!!! I'm a managerial myself and this is completely unacceptable. This behavior despise me and wouldn't accept it from my own staff. No way to experience upcoming of motherhood...

A mother baboon named Jemma who has been used in invasive pregnancy experiments at the Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) for years has a history of self-harming, according to new documents obtained by Lady Freethinker through a public records request. The only thing Jemma deserves is to live out the rest of her life, in peace and with others of her own kind, at a primate sanctuary.

Several studies have noted that animals undergoing severe psychological distress in captivity will often harm themselves.

In Jemma’s case, her afflictions include injuring her fingers, rubbing off a layer of her skin, pulling out her hair, and biting the bars of her cage so hard that she’s broken her teeth, according to her health monitoring logs from EVMS.

EVMS did not immediately respond to media inquiries.

Lady Freethinker previously reported that Jemma was among a group of pregnant mother baboons being injected with Letrozole, an estrogen inhibitor that researchers noted could cause seizures and spontaneous abortions.

Jemma’s previously-obtained records indicated she had seizures, was found drooling and unresponsive in her cage, and had her growing fetuses cut out of her via C-section at least three times between 2019 and 2021, in apparent violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act. Those records also indicated other symptoms — including unexplained alopecia, or hair loss, and missing fingers on her hands. When asked about those conditions, EVMS told Lady Freethinker, “We pair house the baboons and, like their counterparts in the wild, they sometimes fight.”

We wanted more information than that — and Jemma’s full history at EVMS, starting from when she arrived as a 6-year-old baboon back in 2011, reveals a much more grisly reality.

Jemma’s records note that she has suffered numerous injuries from other monkey attacks. But researchers marked at least 16 of the 33 references to abnormal behaviors like overgrooming, self-trauma, or “SIB” (self-injurious behavior). Her health records refer to her ripping off her own fingernail, rubbing off the top layer of her skin, inflicting lacerations onto her fingers, repeatedly injuring her shoulder, and breaking her teeth and “cage wear” from biting the bars of her cage.

The records also explain Jemma’s hair loss, with numerous references to overgrooming and also a reference to Trichotillomania, or pulling out her own hair.

All of those symptoms have been recognized by primate experts as stereotypic behaviors that indicate severe psychological stress.

There’s one notable spike in Jemma’s timeline of self-mutilation that EVMS researchers wrote they could not explain but that corresponds with a significant life event for Jemma.

We’ve since learned, through the public records request, that Jemma has a son who was born on October 4, 2017. Researchers know him as Boo, or #100417, and they’re currently also experimenting on him.

Jemma’s records note she had been previously paired with newborn baboon babies, with caring behavior and less self-harming behavior resulting. Her log notes following Boo’s birth state that she demonstrates “very good maternal behavior,” is nursing Boo, and appears “healthy.”

The researcher monitoring her notes only that the cause of Jemma’s self-harming behavior during that time period is “idiopathic” — or unknown.

In the meantime, we’re seeking for EVMS to release Jemma to a reputable primate sanctuary. Jemma does not deserve to keep undergoing horrific, painful procedures until she dies or is willfully killed by researchers when they’re “done” with her.

The only thing Jemma deserves is to live out the rest of her life, in peace and with others of her own kind, at a...