Witham Health Services — Local services in Lebanon

I have a pretty extensive experience with Witham in Lebanon. Last year my mom went there for some lung symptoms which she ended up learning was Stage 4 lung cancer. The initial pulmonologist she met with who was supposed to do a thoracentesis to get a sample of the lung fluid basically never did it and didn’t tell my mom. Which prevented her from finding out her cancer diagnosis by a couple months due to that. He randomly left Witham right after her appointment to move out of the country. Super weird and no one ever followed up with us about his failure to give proper care to my mom. The next pulmonologist she met with Dr. Cieciuch, was absolutely wonderful and amazing. She received great care from him initially and also at her visit in the ICU.

Once she started receiving treatment in the Oncology unit, things were a little up and down. Bria, one of the oncology nurses, is just amazing and really truly cares about her patients. The other nurse who also ended up leaving during the course of my mom’s treatment, was very unpleasant and rude. My mom dreaded going in for treatment some days just because of how bad the nurse’s attitude would be. I am glad that the Oncology unit is training more nurses and getting more help, but a huge complaint that I have is that they are really bad about getting to cancer patients who are home struggling with symptoms and aren’t getting help from the office. There were several occasions where my mom’s symptoms were escalating and they would say they would call her back and she would never hear from them. It was really frustrating watching that happen to her, especially when things a started getting worse. Maybe someone specific added to the team to help handle calls from patients who need help would be really beneficial to the office.

Dr. Mulherin is a very knowledgeable oncologist. I know he did his residency at the Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis, where we got a second opinion. The Dr. there fully supported his treatment plans and recommended him as a good oncologist. Although my mom had a terminal diagnosis, Dr. Mulherin made sure to do everything he could to treat her. I do think Witham could benefit from more than one Oncologist who is only there twice a week though.

The ER is okay. The rooms are fairly quality and the attention given by the nurses is good. I do wish testing and doctor visits in the ER were more efficient. We would spend upwards of 5-6 hours in the ER sometimes waiting for tests and a doctor to discharge us.

The ICU is great. The nurses are really great at their jobs. Shelley and Craig in particular are two nurses who stand out. The ICU teams were very accommodating when my mother was having issues getting discharged and overall they gave her very quality care.

The social work team is GREAT. Erin Buckles is a miracle worker, she was a beacon of light during my mom’s treatment in the oncology side for over a year. Erin helped my mom with many many things and got her connected with so many resources. Karrie was my mom’s case worker during her time in the ICU and she was amazing. My mom’s situation was complicated but she never made us feel like we weren’t important, even though I could tell she had quite a lot on her plate. Heidi was also a great help.

The food team is always great and very friendly. They also went out of their way to accommodate my family while we were visiting.

Overall Witham is a smaller hospital with quality technology. It’s clean and cozy. I just think like all hospitals they...

I have thought over this review for two months now, trying to decide if it’s worth posting but I know realize more moms need to be warned! Dr Olabi (OB/maternity ward) needs to be removed from this hospital! I delivered by second daughter at this hospital in December (first birth was fine). During my labor and delivery they were extremely short staffed, my OB was not in so Dr Olabi was supposed to deliver her, he did not show up until after a NURSE and the Anesthesiologist delivered my baby, called for a respiratory team to get her breathing, & delivered the placenta. When Olabi entered the room he was extremely rude, said all of 3 words to me, never ONCE looked at my daughter, and even dismissed the nurse and questioned her opinion about an infection she suspected I had (my baby and I both had an infection, SHE was right & probably saved my baby’s life!!) Dr Olabi never checked on me again until I was being discharged and was very rude during that encounter as well. My baby has to stay an extra day and he seemed to have no idea that I was leaving before her. Fast forward a day, I’m talking to my mom and she informs me that my daughter wasn’t breathing because the cord was around her neck and she was blue, goes on to tell me the anesthesiologist is the one that unwrapped the cord and started doing things to get her breathing. I have NEVER been told this by a single medical professional in this hospital. Not a dr, a nurse, pediatrician, nobody. I had to find out from my mother who thankfully was in the room. Fast forward to last week (two months after birth), my daughter was experiencing symptoms of aspiration (gasping for air, coughing, choking during feeds), I told her pediatrician and she called in a referral to Riley and Peyton manning hospital. When I arrived home that day I started looking through medical papers from my baby’s discharge papers. Under the category medical problems it lists respiratory distress, the infection she had in her bloodstream, AND MECONIUM ASPIRATION SYNDROME. I WAS NEVER INFORMED. If someone would’ve told me this when she was born, I would’ve known what to be looking for these last two months. Instead they kept it to themselves (like most of the information) and my daughter has now been swallowing milk into her lungs for months. Aspiration is no joke & needs to be communicated with a mother no matter what! Witham has completely failed my baby and myself. I mailed a complaint about Dr Olabi a month ago or more and have never received follow up. I am beyond disappointed in their care after all these years of service with them. Mothers- please stay away from this dr, requests a new one for you and your...

Beyond thankful.

I was driving my father in law from Illinois to North Carolina so we could take care of him. I flew into Chicago Friday morning, picked him up, and started driving. We were not given truthful information on his health. If we had known, we would have arranged a professional medical transport service. Hindsight is 20/20, however, and we were already on the move.

The mission began to deteriorate at our first restroom break when the oxygen regulator began to not work. It was then I found out my travel buddy did not know how to use his device. After a few frantic minutes and calling the company with no real help, I decided to head to the nearest hospital. Side note, the hospital was only a few minutes away and we were already in the vehicle. I knew I would make it there before a 911 ambulance could be dispatched.

When I ran into the ER, my first contact was with a security guard who was very attentive to the situation being told to him. A member of the medical staff was passing by and stopped at what she thought she was hearing (accurately). She asked me a couple of questions and then called someone to come and look at the oxygen regulator.

Within minutes we were in front of the ER doors and the doctor or nurse that came out was head first into the car troubleshooting the machine. She got it working very quickly and then showed me how to use the equipment. Before we left, the security guard assisted in bringing my Father in law inside so he could use the bathroom and then again back to the car.

I am beyond thankful to the ER staff at this hospital. Calm, collected, vigilant, and caring. All of them. If anyone that was there, 18-Nov, and is reading this... Thank you. Dad has made it to his destination. He is clean and safe and receiving the love and medical care he...