Ascension St. Vincent Anderson - Emergency — Local services in Anderson

This was the worst experience ever at a hospital! I rushed my 14 year old son in with a head injury: as I checked in I told the lady my sons name and his fathers name who has the insurance. She sent me an text I had to fill out all the registration info. I filled it out and then I went back to desk and it sent me an text again saying I needed to fill it out. I already had. She apologized and said they accidentally put Eric as The patient instead of Kristopher. So I had to fill out all the information again. They check my son spirals asked him questions put a bandage on his head and told him we had to wait. After an hour I went up to the desk and was very concerned my son was shaking he was in severe pain and we were still sitting in the waiting room. She said as soon as the room opened they would be getting him in. Another hour went by. I went back up to the desk and explain to the lady that I am extremely worried about my son who has sat here for two hours with a head injury. She apologized again and said she couldn’t do anything about it! By then I am extremely angry! I have sat and watched my son shaking and in severe pain! The other lady at the desk overheard me and ordered him a CT. We were taken from the waiting room and had the CT ran and then put back into the waiting room.We waited another hour before we were finally put into a room. The room consisted of just a chair for him which looked like a dental chair. And he was extremely uncomfortable! A resident came in and asked if he could ask a few questions. We were fine with him asking questions not knowing he was going to actually be practicing on my son! Finally the doc and resident come in and prepare Kris for numbing and staples in his head. We were told by doc that his ct was fine! Thank goodness! We could tell the resident was nervous she coached him threw the injections to numb. It didn’t work to well. Then the doc instructed him how to apply the staples as she pulled the wounds together. My oldest was holding Kris hand and watching everything. He said one staple wasn’t really in the right place. So the doc instructed where to apply another one. Y the time we finally got taken back the swelling started and caused more issues on putting the staples in. She had to push the wounds closed: My poor son waited so long and was in so much pain. After all was done they gave him one ibuprofen pill. The nurse said hopefully they will get you out of here quickly with your discharge since you have been here for so long. Another 40 minutes before we were handed papers his head was still seeping and we asked about shower and I asked the nurse about the other open wounds on his head. She said I guess they weren’t worried about those. We were there 51/2 hours and was so angry and disappointed knowing I would Never go back to this hospital ever again. The next morning I contacted my hone doc showed pic and explained what a horrible experience and she agreed the staples could of been done better and she was concerned about the seeping and other wounds. A child with head trauma should never have to wait that long in an emergency room in so much pain others in waiting room were concerned about my son and making angry comments seeing my child sit so long in so much pain! Worst experience I’ve ever!! If I could give negative...

I had an excellent nurse named Andrea. She was so kind, well educated, for example on IVs, and made sure I was comfortable. She was one of the best nurses that I have ever had take care of me. She also took the time to listen closely about all of my symptoms, reviewed my list of complaints, and provided me with a blanket. She really went the extra mile providing care for me.

The other staff were very good also, even though I didn’t have much contact with them. They (radiology tech and paramedic) seemed well educated in their field.

However, one of my main concerns either was not addressed or unable to be addressed, possibly due to this being an acute setting (ER). I would’ve liked some guidance or a referral to where or whom I should be seen by, concerning my ailments that had been affecting me for several months.

I brought these problems to the attention of Andrea and the PA, but the only issue that was addressed by the PA was the immediate major problem. This possible problem also fit the mold exposure. I realize this is partially how the ERs handle problems, but I had explained that I could not see my GP for another 2-3 weeks in addition to the weeks I had already waited and was on a cancellation list.

I also explained that my symptoms had gotten gradually much more severe over the course of two months until I had removed myself from exposure to this toxin (black mold), possibly Aspergillosis. The symptoms fit exposure to this mold. I had also taken a survey online (answered conservatively) and the results were SEVERE mold toxicity. The symptoms were less, bus still present at the time of the ER visit and I had conveyed this to the PA.

I had the PA review the extensive list of symptoms that but those we’re not addressed. Exposure to a toxin was possibly causing all the symptoms I had been experiencing, including the immediate complaint. I was referred back to my GP and possibly to see a GI specialist, but not an allergist or toxicology expert. That is why I feel this part of my experience needs a improvement. Further education for the PA, or even having the Medical Doctor see me, would’ve been more appropriate in this case. I have also failed to mention in this review that I’ve been a nurse for 25 years.

Overall, this experience...

When I arrived at 7pm, there was an elderly man in a wheelchair sitting in the lobby. Upon my arrival, he asked the ladies at the registration desk for a blanket because it was cold in the waiting room. They acted as if he was a nuisance to them for asking. A couple hours later, he began vomiting on the floor. The ladies were clearly frustrated and brought him a vomit bag. This man kept asking for them to approach closer because his hearing aid batteries we're dying. This clearly irritated them as well. He keep asking when he was going to see a doctor.. he was advised that they had no clue. He asked if they were really busy and the younger of the two stated, "no not really too busy tonight." When he asked the second lady, he was advised that they were "really busy." He started vomiting on the floor again and they were yelling across their desks and telling him not to throw up on the floor, to use the bag they gave him.. he obviously could not hear them due to his hearing aid batteries going dead so the older of the two ran around the registration desk with another vomit bag and told him to use the bag and not to throw up on the floor.. this made me really angry. The left the vomit on the floor, advising other hospital staff to "watch where you walk" and pointed to the floor. It was eventually covered with a blanket several hours later, before someone from housekeeping came to clean it up. I sat there in the waiting room for 4 hrs, and as previously stated, this gentleman was already there when I arrived. I was taken back for x-ray in my normal clothing and then sent back to the waiting room to wait. Just before release, I was placed in a room long enough for the doctor to come in and tell me that they didn't see anything on the x-rays and I was released with a prescription. My visit wasn't bad except for the 4 hour wait, but I sure felt sorry for the older gentleman and the way he was treated. Can't wait to see the bill for that 4 hour wait in the...