Highpoint Health – Sumner with Ascension Saint Thomas — Local services in Gallatin

My mother in law was sent here for a psyche eval by the assisted living facility where she currently resides. We were told she was slapping at the staff which is behavior we had never witnessed & neither had anyone else .After she was admitted, we were told that it would be better if we didn't visit her. However, my husband & I showed up the next day with clothes because the hospital wanted us to bring her clothes. We were allowed to see her & she was upset as she had no clue what was going on or why she was there. The hospital never told us what tests they would be running or anything ...we were completely kept in the dark about what all this eval involved. My MIL had mild/moderate dementia & her condition had been stable for 3 or so years but the ALF had wanted her medicated from the day she moved in but we refused to have her drugged up just to make their job easier....my mother in law is 90 lbs and is the sweetest person I know...she lived with me and her son for 6 mons before we put her into. a facility ..while we were visiting her at the hospital, the nurse on staff, told us that my MIL was sweet, kind and compliant .....the staff continued to tell us that they saw no aggressive behavior from her and that she was sweet and kind....the social worker, Ashley I believe is her name, told my husband to ask to review the video at the Assistive living facility because in her own words said, "because they ain't got nothing". My MIL was discharged 4-5 days after being admitted and we discovered that the Dr had prescribed her Haldol....we had no idea what that medication was and my husband, who is her POA, was never asked or told anything about this medication. The ALF told us that if we didn't follow the doctor's orders, that she would evict my MIL. Well, approx 3-4 weeks after she was prescribed the Haldol, we picked her up to take her to dinner....we were shocked at her condition...she could barely walk, talk or feed herself....She wasn't present mentally and just sat and stared out into outer space..she didn't even know what a piece of buttered bread was...I had to pick it up and feed it to her....after this terrifying experience and seeing how much she had declined in such a short time, I started researching this medication only to discover that it had a black box warning which is the strongest warning the FDA can give before pulling it off the shelf....the warning specifically stated not to prescribe to patients 65+ yrs old with dementia. The side effects were horrible & we couldn't believe this dr had chosen to prescribe this dangerous medication. I texted my sister who is a nurse at a nursing home in FL & asked her about it and she said they did not use that medicine unless the patient is consistently very combative and that they rarely used it...she couldn't believe that it was prescribed to my MIL....I have since spoken to others who can't believe that a dr would prescribe this medication. My MIL was only on 2 blood pressure medications and prescription eye drops when she moved into the ALF but since then, they have tried to prescribe her everything under the sun....we found out she was nauseous once & they prescribed her a medication that was used for patients taking chemotherapy! .it was obvious they just wanted her knocked out because she was the most mobile person at the facility and she got on their nerves...the facility hires anyone off of the street...people from factories with zero experience dealing with the elderly and allowing these people to administer medication. We have since had her taken off of Haldol but the damage could be permanent.She's been off for 1.5 weeks and is still not the same. We requested to see the video from the ALF and they refused to let us see it. I would never recommend this place for what this Dr did to my MIL!! He needs to be reprimanded by the medical board! The hospital also never changed her clothes or showered her the whole time she was there that we could tell as she was still wearing the same clothes when she...

I've been to Sumner 3 times. Admitted all 3 times. I couldn't say enough wonderful things about the staff during my first 2 admissions (with the exception of one nurse during my 2nd). From triage, to er nurses and dr's to floor nurses - all excellent. Truly caring and compassionate. I wish I could remember all of their names, but the two that really stick out are Katrina and Lakeisha - best nurses ever. During my 2nd admission I had a day shift nurse named Taylor. I could write a book on how incredibly rude and abrasive she was, not to mention judgmental. Asked her for a Norco (ordered by my DR) she said no. Just plain no. Asked her for one hours later, she rudely handed it to me and left without watching me take it (against protocol). Overheard her later in the day speaking about me in the hallway - in front of patients and visitors. In a very negative way. About an hour before her shift end I asked her for my IV pain med, she said the dr had changed it from every 4 hours to very 6 so I couldn't have it yet. I asked why - she said he feels I didn't need it. I asked to speak with him - he came right in. Told me she called him and told him I didn't seem to be in that much pain - this coming from a nurse who came in my room a total of 4 times during her 12 hour shift. He said he'd change it back, no problem. Again, overheard her telling him to at least cut my dosage in half. This poor Dr sees so many patients per day and I have no idea how he keeps them all straight in his head. He did cut dosage in half, I imagine it was simply to shut her up. She came in with the meds and said "i got it all fixed for you". I asked her if it was the same dose and she lied straight to my face and said yes. Wonderful to have a nurse who ignores dr's orders, doesn't follow protocol and lies to you when she is in charge of your health care. Her name is Taylor and she was on the 2nd floor. I have filed a complaint and will follow up. Next admission - admitted for same issues. I was not even off the stretcher from the ER and in my bed yet when nurse Taylor (who was NOT my assigned nurse) and Dr. Sharon Wilson entered my room. Both incredibly rude. The Dr did not physically examine me, or ask me what was going on with me. They simply told me they were going to call my husband regarding some GI meds I was prescribed. I said fine but please call him from my room as I'd like to be involved in a conversation about MY health care. They ignored me, called him, and could not get in touch with him. My assigned nurse (very nice man) came in and told me she had ordered some meds for me - one I have never once taken before, and he did not see an order yet for the potassium that I was actually admitted for. He (upon my bequest) asked the Dr. to come to my room and speak to me about this. She never showed up, stopped answering her pages and left for the night. I was not going to take a medication that I've never had without an explanation as to why. I spoke with the night nurses (again, very sweet, caring people) to see if I should just wait for the night doctor and ask him to change my meds to what I always get when i'm admitted. They told me she put in my chart "NO medication changes". Which I don't understand why one doctor cannot change another doctor's orders - especially since she did not examine me or speak to me. Sumner is in my experience a wonderful place to be when you are ill, however I will never return. Taylor the nurse and Dr. Wilson have completely destroyed my faith in the medical profession. I am following up to find out if I can file a report with the TN Department of Health due to the fact that Taylor did not watch me take a narcotic that she gave to me and also due to Dr. Wilson ordering medicine without physically examining me or speaking to me about why...

I went to Sumner hospital E.R. via ambulance. I had passed out, at home, alone, twice, that early morning; falling flat on my face. It was quite apparent, as I had multiple contusions on my nose, which later, swelled.

Being confused and disoriented, I gave the ER crew pertinent medical history, Type 1 diabetes, C.A.B.G. x 3, 6 coronary stints, POTS, peripheral neuropathy, DYSAUTONOMIA (AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM DYSFUNCTION), etc.

Paramedics put I.V. into right arm..being left in for the duration of my less than one day stay. ER put another I.V. in left arm, as was told I would be receiving fluids. I never received ANY fluids. My left arm, having injured due to passing out, TWICE, was now swelling from the I.V. lead, causing MORE pain.

I was given a neck collar, as one WOULD expect (no need to be a "medical professional" to ascertain I was in terrible pain from a flat fall.).

Then given CT scan. The ER attending "doctor" came in, telling me the CT scan was unremarkable. Great news! One concern checked off. Then, abruptly, without warning, the doctor released the neck collar, discarding the front, and without proper care,YANKED the back piece out, letting my neck violently fall backwards, hitting the gerny.

Having some presence of mind (as I had no one to advocate for my well-being), I stopped a nurse from giving me a blood pressure pill AND blood thinner, that i had told them 3 times, i had already taken, that very morning.

I was given Tylenol. Visited by Internal medicine doc, she said, "Honestly, we don't always know why people pass out. We will observe you and you will consult with a cardiologist. It could be you passed out due to the vasovagal response."

Ahh! I knew that term. In my terrible pain, and. disoriented state, I couldn't bring it to mind, I could only tell them, DYSAUTONOMIA.

Six hours later, put in room, 5th floor. Pain, in my face, head, neck, left shoulder, left arm. No one ever tended the contusions on my nose. Nurse Abby comes in...my hearing was off in my left ear, as I told the Internal medicine doc. Gave nurse answers to questions...made her aware of pain, in all aforementioned areas. Was told, "I will check on something stronger for the pain." Two hours later .. Nothing. Called nurses desk to inquire. Still, nothing. Blood sugar drops. Called for help. Nurse sees sugar dropped. Said she would check with doctor to see IF she could give me anything.

IF !!???

FINALLY given o.j. . Tech comes in for vitals check. Said I would be given Tylenol (had been waiting for hours, in that room, with no promise of alleviating my suffering). The tech then informed me that I wouldn't be getting a cardiologist consult. No doctor had even bothered to check for themselves after the care of my current miserable state.

I asked tech to have someone take out the I.V. leads.. I needed real help...I was leaving. She took them out, herself. Trying to orient myself, needing elevator, the nurses station with others meandering, and hovering about it, my "nurse" barks (her face devoid of her prior fakeness from her cold comfort lies, when alone with me in the room), showing her teeth, her true self, with haughtiness and derision), "You need to sign papers for discharge and AMA. I replied, "No, I don't. I needed help, and I received little, here, today."

*I have picture of my contusions on nose and evidence of my swelling face.

(Arrived at ER, Friday,...