Froedtert Hospital — Local services in Wauwatosa

BEWARE OF PATIENT RELATIONS DEPT whose policy is to protect Froedtert.

Because the staff doctor in the ER refused to come near me during his so-called exam, later the PA explained that I should stay overnight to do a stress test on the treadmill the next morning as a convenience. Meanwhile, my heart assessment was very good and in fact did not necessitate an immediate stress test. However it was 10 p.m. or later and I wished not to disturb friends to come pick me up. I remained in an Observatory room in the ER overnight.

At 8:50 a.m. I was taken to the area for the stress test. Once I arrived I found out that they intended to inject radioactive isotopes into my blood stream twice, one time before and another during the treadmill challenge. I was never told about this type of nuclear procedure. I found this exceedingly disturbing. (Please note that prior to taking the injection I explained to the technician that I am not comfortable with any form of drug especially directed into my veins.) At this time the tech should have explained to me that there was also the option of an echocardiogram. Instead she simply remarked that after 15 years of serving in the nuclear department no one has suffered from side effects. I explained in great detail that I have had serious venous problems in the past including but not limited to Von Willebrand. In fact I wear a medical alert bracelet because of this disorder.

The PA failed to mention anything about radioactive isotopes as part of the procedure. I was therefore subjected to an irreversibly damaging treatment. Exposure to radiation may be a minor concern for doctors trained to administer it in spite of research substantiated by facts its deleterious effects.

Further, no pricing was given upon any of my enquiries. How does one make an informed decision without essential information the hospital possesses but conceals from patients desirous to manage expenditure and appropriate care?

Having taken the first round of the venous injections with this type of invasive approach, another gentleman was rolled into the prep area and was surprised to learn that injection would be administered. He said that he was accustomed to the Echo. In other words, he, too, was misinformed about the procedure prior to the actual execution. These are signals of egregious oversights when informing patients of what to expect. Patients generally are in compliant mode while under care trying to trust the healthcare system.

Following the test I was told I needed to have another blood draw because they had diluted the first attempt at a draw making it unreadable. I requested no charge should be incurred due to their errors. The nurses and other staff members informed me that they must submit the charges according to electronic protocol.

And another nurse missed a vein keeping the needle in my arm filling it with fluid so obvious yet never addressed until later when I finally brought to their attention my discomfort.

A day later lesions mysteriously broke out all over my body. I took pictures to document side effects. When I went to see my Froedtert doctor and showed her the pictures of the sores and current ones she explained that she does not deal with this sort of matter.

The Nuclear Dept. never asked to examine me even after I shared with them my symptoms. The doctor in that department sent me the ingredients, and it turns out that metal was part of the solution. In the past I react to metals. Had I known this in advance I could have avoided this ongoing issue.

And don't be fooled by the Patient Relations veneer of caring for patients. Their job is to protect Froedtert. They dismissed my concerns without seeing me face to face or interested in observing first hand all the lesions on my body. My issues dismissed was...

Please take your loved ones elsewhere for medical care. If it were possible to give this despicable organization a 0 rating I would; however, a 1 will have to suffice. Froedtert and their inept medical team killed my father. From his initial misdiagnosis to dragging out a biopsy to confirm that my father had lung cancer; which, when diagnosed, had progressed to Stage IV, and then delayed his initial cancer treatments. Followed by mistake after mistake by the healthcare team that would have gone unnoticed if my sister, who is a certified physician assistant, wasn't at his bedside for nearly 30 days straight to catch every single mistake that Froedtert's team made. My father would have passed away much sooner than this.

The lack of empathy by the healthcare team, especially Dr. Hu, who came into my father's room on the first day of his rotation, without even giving my father a physical exam nor even acknowledging him, stated to my mother and sister: "Patients like him with his symptoms typically will only last a month." He then simply left the room...What kind of doctor behaves like that, with no regard to his patient's well-being, no empathy, and no regard for how those statements would not only affect his family, but the fragile mental state my father was in while trying to fight to stay alive???

Lastly, the worst thing that Froedtert did, and something that I will never forgive this organization for, happened on Monday night, 10/26. My father did not have much time left, and was declining rapidly. I sat by his bedside as he was no longer conscious, holding his hand as I watched his vital signs decline. The night nurse came into his room, promptly at 8:00pm, and kicked my brother and myself out of the room because "visiting hours were over." I argued that my father was dying, and would be passing soon, and that I didn't want him to die alone; however, we were demanded to leave. Two hours later, my mother and sister receive a phone call from my dad's doctor saying he has significantly declined and would be passing shortly, if we wanted to, they would make an "exception" and let us come back to be with him as he passed. However, the catch was that, only my mother and sister would be allowed in the room, not my brother nor myself. My mother and sister rushed to ready themselves to get back to the hospital, as my mother lives 45 minutes away; however, ten minutes after they pulled out of the driveway my father passed away. He passed alone, which was his biggest fear....

I firmly believe that Froedtert's inept medical team and lack of a plan of action killed my father when his condition could have been treated. And I will never, ever, forgive them for kicking my family out of his room during his last few hours on this earth, and forcing him to die alone. I plead with all of you who read this review to please, please, if you value the care of your loved ones, to take them elsewhere for medical treatment. My father's blood is on...

If you can avoid this institution, do it. The care providers may be good, but overall treatment is probably better in a prison. Starting with the information desk, to the Family Center, to the rent-a-cops, they are overzealous, power hungry, individuals who not only do not treat people with "dignity and respect", but are also discriminatory, and will deny you your religious freedom.

A family member was having emergency surgery and we were gathered in the chapel praying quietly while she was in surgery. 3 rent-a-cops of color confronted us, and one male in our group left to avoid any futher interaction as he was continually being cut off. The 3 rent-a-cops continued to not listen or discuss the situation with the females. The rent-a-cops began attempting to intimidate the females in the group with not one, not two, not three, but 4 rent-a-cops of color harassing 2 WHITE females. (Badge/Unit #'s 205, 317, 102 & 200)

It is obvious that they have little training with speaking to people respectfully. What is so ironic is that the hospital has two placards posted stating... "Kindness Matters This is a place of healing. Treat each other with dignity and respect. Words and actions that hurt your health care team will not be tolerated. In the state of Wisconsin, it is a felony crime to assault a health care worker. Thanks for keeping out patients, visitors and staff members."

How about when staff, including the rent-a-cops, do not heed the hospitals expectations?

Another placards states... "Racism (with a red line through it) Froedtert Health sees racism as a threat to the health of our community. We will help to end racism and racial disparities in health care by: 1. Examining our own biases 2. Measuring, tracking and reviewing our policies and practices to meet the needs of everyone we serve 3. Treating people with dignity and respect 4. Leading change in our communities ."

It is very clear and evident that this institution does not train or monitor their workers who set the tone for the hospital, those that have first contact with families and patients, and have little regard for families in crisis.

One of the same rent-a-cops harassed a white male the night before in the emergency room, refusing to follow hospital protocol, and not let the male back with the loved one for nearly 30 minutes. It was not until a nursing staff member came out and questioned why the male was not being allowed back that security steps were taken to give clearance.

It is very clear that there is little to no acceptance of religious freedom and prayer, discrimination runs rampant through the group of rent-a-cops of color, and the extreme lack of compassion and empathy is evident.

((Dan C, a security personnel, was AWESOME to deal with. Very helpful...