Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center — Local services in Wilmington

This was, by far, the worst experience I have ever had in a hospital. I started experiencing migraines accompanied with fainting and left side paralysis. I was brought in by ambulance to the ER on Nov. 6th. The doctor was concerned about the paralysis and did not want to send me home until I had feeling and use of it, so I was admitted around 1 pm that day, but was informed that due to overflow, there were no beds on the Neuroscience ICU floor and 3 people ahead of me waiting for a bed, so they placed me in a room on the other side of the ER. They had no beds available either, but the would switch me out from the stretcher to a bed when one became free. When second shift came, I was still on the stretcher and in my street clothes. The nurse asked why and I told her what was relayed to me to which she replied "there has been a hospital bed in the hallway for 2 hrs." Even the nurse was upset. The next morning, one of the Head doctors of Neurology came into my room and stated that everything looks good, but no explanation of what is causing the fainting and paralysis. When I asked him about a referral to Duke, his response was "what's the point when it's only migraines?" That's like saying it's just a headache! He then said the medical team would come around to talk to me (a TEAM never showed up, just one person). He also said he would call the neurology clinic to make a future appointment for me and I could also call myself. He never examined me, didn't touch me, just stood at the foot of my bed for 2 minutes and left. 10 minutes later, the nurse came in saying I was being discharged and I informed him that the original doctor did not want me to go home until my side recovered. I hadn't even seen anyone from Occupational Therapy and NO ONE had checked my side (until the next day when after I mentioned it), which was still paralyzed! He informed the medical team and they decided not to release me. The next morning, the same Dr. came back with an attitude and said to me" I am confused, I thought everything was good." I said to him, "no I told you that the pain from the migraine had subsided." He then asked me if I called the clinic like he told me to. I said" I am in the hospital and you said you were going to contact the clinic! I asked him if he had reviewed my chart and knew about my left side paralysis before he came in my room the day before and he replied "Oh yeah" and i told him that's funny because not once did he attempt to examine my left side to check my strength or if I had regained feeling. At that point I told him to leave my room and I told the nurse that I did not want him back in my room. I am normally pretty calm, but when this doctor left, I broke down crying in frustration. 2 MRIs later and still not explanation, I started getting a little strength on my own. They offered to send me to a habilitation center for therapy, but I told them i just wanted to et out of there and go home. All I kept hearing was my tests came back negative for stroke, but no one tried to figure out why i was having the other symptoms (by the way, I never saw that medical team, just one person each time). It wasn't until my husband placed me in the car on Nov.9th when I was discharged and I read my discharge summary. There was a diagnosis of Hemiplegic Migraines. None of the physicians even talked to me about my symptoms, how often this happens, nothing. I was just a number in a bed. The neurologist tried to make me feel like I was crazy. Did I also mention that I didn't get to wash until I went home. Knowing that I did not have use of my left side, none of the nurses came in to wash me and my room was never swept or mopped while I was there. I know if I name the neurologist my post may be removed, but if NHRMC really cares, he worked morning shift Nov.7th,8th. You can look at the scheduling for clarification of who the doctor is. Traumatic does not even begin to describe my experience. I would not wish that on anyone. People will suffer because you have doctors who do not care. If I could give negative...

UPDATE AS OF DECEMBER 17, 2023 .....I am placing this update at the top so it doesn't get lost. I was given grim news today by Dr Dominick, I had spoken with Dr Pagliei and told her without a doubt that i was refusing hospice and the Chaplains,* At 12:40pm Deena the Case Manager walks into my loved ones room with out being invited in. She failed to introduce herself and started speaking hospice, death and dying over my loved one. It is clearly in his chart that no negative talk will be permitted around him. I asked her name and told her to step out in the hallway.. She kept wanting to talk and i again told her in the hallway. when we got outside i told her " How dare you talk hospice, death and dying over him" It is in his chart this isn't allowed. She wouldn't shut up and told me she is doing her job. I told her, I don't care as it won't happen. (I noticed in her report many falsehoods) then less than 10 minutes later the Chaplain walks up and wants to talk, I told the RN "NO" and walked away. I found out that Dr Jennifer Pagliei put in for the referral after being told that i don't want their services. I need to make you aware that Dr Pagliei asked me just before all this what is my religion as she is Catholic? SERIOUSLY? They have no respect for anyone here. December 19, 2023 Dr Pagliei came into his room without knocking as I had the door closed. First thing she did was walked up to the side of the bed and never looked at him, nor touched or listened to his breathing, etc, and said " how is he doing today?" I said, :"he was doing good when i got here, but was given a shot and he became sleepy" She turned with any thought of my Loved one and walked to the door and said, " ok, I'll see him tomorrow" She was in his room for less than 1 minute. While sitting here in his room I looked in his portal and saw the note she posted to today's visit, where she claims she examined him and spent a greater of 36 minutes of critical care time with the patient. That's not possible when she was in here for less than 1 minute total she also states that greater than 50% of this time was spent counseling the patient. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE AS HE IS UNRESPONSIVE. Novant as a whole, why do you continue to let this happen? YOU MUST DO BETTER!!! I have seen so many patients and familes/caregivers having issues here. WHY NOVANT? Novant you have people in leadership positions who promise they will get back to you and very seldom do. I was told by Ms Heath, Director of Nursing that she would get back to me last week again, and this never happened. I have made Ms Akers and the Ethic Committee aware of some of the problems and concerns we are facing and it seems no one in the " upper said leadership roles truly care" They want you to tell them things but sure won't kept you updated on anything nor do the Pathetic Care ever improve. WHY NOVANT? I see often in the portal where Dr's claim they have been in here and seen him/ examined him which is often a lie as i am in his room all day. They even claim they talk to me, which is also a lie. I would know if i saw them and spoken to them. Are they invisible or something? Medicare and medicaid would like to know all about this as i"m sure many locals and others may want to know about this " Remarkable Care" which in my opinion is Pathetic Care". Dr Pagliei also wanted to know what religion i am, Seriously?????? Update AS OF NOVEMBER 26, 2023 **This is V Webb-Hooks, If you notice from a couple days ago where I made a review and promised to update daily. Since i was capped at how much I could post on the original and couldn't make a new post under the name provided, I elected to start a new account to keep you updated as promised. I had to give one star as you can't write a review without. Seriously, doesn't deserve a single star. I noticed no one from Novant has commented on my post. It appears as they truly don't care. I have tried to be patient and give them time to correct the many issues and they refuse to get in touch with me to see what all...

I have mixed feelings about this particular facility. The surgical pavilion is outstanding! The ER, is hit or miss..I think it depends on the doctor you have. I have had both good and bad experiences at this ER. I have never been admitted as a patient here, and I refuse to! Now let’s go into why. My loved one was admitted here three times. When they say the third time is a charm..it was my worst nightmare. My loved one was admitted after his second round of chemo. He was fighting for his life. No one was allowed in because of Covid, I only ever seen him on video call and talked to him on the phone. However, he was severely neglected during his stay..I had suspicions and made multiple complaints…but nothing was being done, I couldn’t prove it..not at that time. It came to the moment I was told they were releasing him, that he was weak and they would be resuming home health, and physical therapy. They even set it up. He was brought home by an ambulance at 2 am. His kids and I were overjoyed. I thought I’ll get him cleaned up and nursed back to health. Upon his arrival, I was proved WRONG. He was not just weak, he was dying (I wouldn’t know that til a couple days later…but they had to have known) When I looked at the ambulance driver and said what is going on he said “I’m so sorry ma’am we are just doing our job, we have bumped up his oxygen for you” I immediately took notice of his physical appearance, he was filthy…and there were other obvious signs of neglect. I am not going to go into detail on everything because I re live it all of the time. He had come home from this facility in worse condition then he was..when he had first been admitted. I did what was necessary and what I was capable of at that time of night. I knew he was going to have to go back but not without me being there. That very next morning I called an ambulance and before they even left the driveway.. I was on the phone with patient advocacy. Telling them everything he had told me during his stay, what I heard, and seen for myself. On video call and when he came home. They were aware he was going to be en route back to their facility shortly. Once he arrived back there, I started receiving calls from his nurses..updating me every step of the way. His ER ATTENDING was wondering the same thing..why was this patient back in worse condition then he was when I first admitted him, YES…it just so happened it was the doctor who admitted him in the first place. I consider that a blessing because all of that got me into the hospital to be able to stay with him. I helped with his care, and I was still advocating for him…not just him..but complete strangers. Nurses were standing in front of their doors making fun of them..they did the same to him during the first part of his stay…I reported everything!!! Their family members weren’t there to advocate for them..so I did. However, I would like to give a shout-out to the comfort hospice care floor. We were treated amazing on that floor..with nothing but care and compassion. I would not have settled for anything less and they gave the best they could in that type of situation. There is a particular nurse I want to give a huge shout out to..Christian if you are still working there I want to thank you from the very depths of my soul. You were the nurse that held me as I cried when I was unnecessarily thrown out the first night..with a promise you would get me back in…I’m also aware that you tried to find me to pay for my cab out of your own pocket because you were so upset by the whole situation.You SIR are an Angel and there needs to be more nurses like you in this world!!!!

To the rest…no I will never stay one night in your hospital…I witnessed my loved one and other patients being treated horribly… All of those things I will live with for the rest of my life!! It is my hope that someone will read this and consider taking your loved one elsewhere please..especially if they need admitted…from all the reviews I have read..absolutely nothing has changed and it is...