Intermountain Health Layton Hospital — Local services in Layton

I’m sad to post this, but I think people should be aware of how the patient advocates here address patient concerns. I came to the hospital last year for SEVERE pelvic and spine pain. I was trembling/shaking uncontrollably due to maddening pain. I’d just had complex cervical/brain surgery and had a sudden increase in pain vaginally and in the low spine. The first time I went for this pain, the Dr was kind, trusting and compassionate. He told me to come back in if the pain remained or worsened. He offered me pain meds.. The next day, the pain rose to 10/10 pain and I came in writhing pain. I assumed it was an infection, but had no idea what was happening. Pain made it impossible to even get on to the CT table for imaging. They took me back, ensuring me that I could get some pain meds that would enable me to get some imaging. I was sent to a dark room (it appeared almost unused) that required a special key to enter. Dr Franklin was overseeing me and I could sense some level of disinterest when I met him (of course, this isn’t noted in his records). He refused to give me pain meds and flat out told me he worried I was an addict (still, not noted). Aren’t we taught innocent before proven guilty? Not any time of my life have I ever been an addict. I was very open about what meds I used at home for my chronic pain. My home meds were clearly not working for me. While the Dr was out I had several seizures due to this intense pain -some focal ones when he was there too. The only way I could get addicted to IV morphine is if I had access to it on a consistent basis. But; then, why would I go in to the ER for IV Morphine if I had access to it at home? Please use common sense. Please. Either I’m writhing in pain because it’s real, or I’m a seriously GOOD actress. Ask anyone I know, and they will laugh at prospects of my acting skills. After hours of sobbing from pain, I was given nothing to control it. I went home and went into the greatest panic attack imaginable. I was nearly catatonic for days. Not simply because of still-present pain. But because I was living with the terrifying knowledge that the medical system had failed me; and frankly, didn’t care. They decided they couldn’t trust me because some stranger somewhere was addicted (not dependent on - the medical community rarely distinguishes between the two) to pain meds. I later found out that the nerves in my spine had ballooned out with cerebral spinal fluid, creating several aneurysms big enough that I could actually see and feel bulges in my lower spine. If you have had advanced Tarlov Cyst disease, you understand the delusional and maddening pain this causes. I received a complex surgery weeks later that revealed 8 CSF aneurysms. I remained bedridden (unable to even lift my head) for 8 months; isolated, and in such great pain I lost contact with my children and husband. Does it sound like I was a person who just went in to get a fix?

The next visit I had to the ER (following a second surgery) I was instantly placed in the same dark room requiring key access. They told me it was the only room open; but a quick scan of the hall told me otherwise. Whether they admit it or not, there is a reason they have been placing me there. Several nurses I’ve spoken to say it’s a room for mentally unstable individuals. I was also not offered pain control (which, I expected so I took some pain meds before I went in). I also never got to see a Dr (hopefully this was just because of my symptoms).

I’ve been so traumatized that I’m seeing a therapist to help me through the times I have been gaslighted, called an addict and shown lack of compassion. Vulnerable people (often chronic pain sufferers) place their lives in your hands, and it’s important to know that if you have chronic pain, you may not be treated kindly here.

When I addressed these concerns with the patient advocates, they reviewed the reports from the Dr, who had noted that he simply “educated” me on pain med addiction. Does this sound accurate to you? Sadly, the staff care more about the hospital than...

My review is for the instacare and er departments specifically.

TLDR: my concerns were ignored and I was made to feel crazy and like a waste of time when I advocated for myself. My family doctor reassured me I was experiencing very concerning symptoms, and the neglect I experienced here could have ended VERY badly.

Long story: I arrived at the instacare, and while I was checking in, the lady at the desk told me I should go to the ER because my symptoms were extremely concerning, and that the instacare wouldn't be able to provide me the medical care or tests I would need for the symptoms and condition I was describing. She said if I checked in at the instacare, they would have me go to the ER anyways. So I walked down the hall and checked into the ER.

The wait time in the waiting room was not too bad, but once I got into the exam room, it took awhile for the doctor to come in. He asked me three questions, did no physical exam, and said my condition was due to dehydration,. He ignored me when I said there is no way I am dehydrated due to me drinking plenty of water. He ignored the fact that I had a clear cause and effect for my symptoms, and said if I really wanted he could give me an anti nausea pill. Again I stated my nausea wasn't my main concern, and he said "Maybe you were just stressed out and emotional, because at the moment there's nothing wrong with you. Any diagnostics like blood work or an MRI would be a waste of time and money." I was shocked. I was hurt. I was scared. And he made me feel like it was all in my head and that I was wasting his time. I tried to advocate for myself and reiterated my concerns and he said all he could do for me was prescribe an anti nausea pill and refer me to a therapist and psychiatrist to get me on an anti-anxiety medication (which I am already on, and already see a therapist weekly) and that was it. Since I was nauseous, I accepted the anti nausea pill, and after 45 minutes of waiting for a nurse to bring the anti nausea pill, I left the facility feeling scared and defeated.

There is no way it was a miscommunication either, because I work in a medical field, I had a clear, concise, written down list of my symptoms and incidents, and I am a very thorough and detailed person. I am not one to overreact and worry about every little ache and pain. In fact, quite the opposite, I am one to ignore it and push through even when others around me are concerned.

So, I went to work the next day and I scheduled a follow up appointment with my normal family practitioner immediately after. In that visit, my family doctor truly listened to me, informed me that I was experiencing very concerning symptoms, educated me on my condition, told me I was absolutely unable to drive or go to work, so he wrote me a note for at least three weeks off, put me on strict bed rest, and referred me for an immediate brain MRI.

I understand ERs have to give precidence to the most concerning cases, and there could have been a life-or-death situation in the room next to me, but I was shrugged off, ignored, and made to feel like I was just being an overreacctive and overanxious woman. And from what my MRI and physical exam from my family doctor revealed, the lack of care I received could have ended VERY badly. I am thankful it didn't, but concerned for anyone else who walks into this er with my condition, because it could end...

My sister had her baby here and the worst experience ever when she first arrived the nurse was nice but all the other nurses rude and no sympathy for the patients the when my sister got the epidural the anesthesiologist attempted 3 times to get the epidural and my sister screamed in pain after the first attempt and during the first attempt she yelled telling him to get out of there (meaning get out of her back) then she told him no she didn't want one and he proceeded the 2nd time telling her that she would want it so he attempted the 2nd time and failed again then he said I'm going to try one last time and she kept telling him no and he then again told her that she would want it and told her to not move that he was going to try one last time she told him to wait give her a minute then he proceeded to attempt the 3rd time and he put It in saying it takes time to work but she continued to feel every contraction and also after the 2nd attempt I asked the nurse if there was any other pain relief things they can do other than the epidural and she told us no which was not true then after the 3rd one he left it in saying it takes like 20 minutes to start working which I have never heard of that I've had 4 kids all epidural and C-sections and it works instantly so I know that was a lie and he knew he didn't get it then when she was taking to the operating room to have a C-section I was told she had to be put to sleep because she was screaming in pain because she could feel everything and my mom and sister are both traumatized it took a very long time and apparently my sister lost a lot of blood as well and when they were done and brought my sister and her baby back into the room the anesthesiologist told me to my face and I quote I had a feeling we were going to have to put her under unquote also the nurse that was there when they brought her back from the c section Was rude I obviously went straight to my sister to make sure she was okay and the nurse yelled at me saying can u move I need to put the blood pressure cuff on that to me tells me he knew that the epidural did not work and I'm furious that this being my sister's first child and now she is so traumatized that she never want to ever have another child and she's in severe pain in her back and has crunching in her back every day shame on the rude nurses and shame on the anesthesiologist for forcing my sister to continue allowing him to attempt the 3 failed epidurals even after she kept telling him no she didn't want it anymore shame on the nurse during the 3 attempts lying saying they couldn't do anything else to relieve My sister's pain during labor shame on the hospital for allowing rude nurses and anesthesiologist to continue doing this to other...