St.Pete (FL) Times article
I got up this morning and started a pot of coffee before going out to grab the St. Petersburg Times from the driveway. Wandered back in, placed it on the table, grabbed a cup of coffee.
Back at the dining room table, I opened up the paper. Hmmm...didn't make the national news. Didn't think I would. Checked out the Metro/City and State section. Okay.
Then I checked the Neighborhood Times. Lo and behold: Widow warns others in blog. It can be found at http://www.sptimes.com/2007/03/18/Neighborhoodtimes/Widow_warns_others_in.shtml .
At this point, as I write this, I've had 7 or 8 people add their comments to this blog. Rest assured, if you've already commented here to this blog, I will respond. It may take me a day or two to get back to you, but I will do so. Anyone else considering posting a comment, I will consider responding where needed. So far, I appreciate the responses I've read. I know from talking to others that there are problems at this particular hospital which needs to be addressed. I also know that the way to address these problems are through the legal system. It is my belief that the only way to get one's concerns and grievances heard is to keep one's head while those around us are losing their's.
Again, thank you, all who have posted. Thanks (in advance) to those who post from here on out (or are reading this blog). I will post updates to keep everyone addressed on what is happening. All I ask from anyone who posts with a "Let me tell you my horror story" comment: please keep it honest. If three people in at this facility screwed up while you (or your loved one) were there, don't make it 100 people who screwed up. If you can't remember the exact number, that's cool, too; just tell your story as you best remember it. That's all I ask.
After all, honesty is what we have going here, folks. That, and the belief that the profit-line should not take precidence over great patient care.
Back at the dining room table, I opened up the paper. Hmmm...didn't make the national news. Didn't think I would. Checked out the Metro/City and State section. Okay.
Then I checked the Neighborhood Times. Lo and behold: Widow warns others in blog. It can be found at http://www.sptimes.com/2007/03/18/Neighborhoodtimes/Widow_warns_others_in.shtml .
At this point, as I write this, I've had 7 or 8 people add their comments to this blog. Rest assured, if you've already commented here to this blog, I will respond. It may take me a day or two to get back to you, but I will do so. Anyone else considering posting a comment, I will consider responding where needed. So far, I appreciate the responses I've read. I know from talking to others that there are problems at this particular hospital which needs to be addressed. I also know that the way to address these problems are through the legal system. It is my belief that the only way to get one's concerns and grievances heard is to keep one's head while those around us are losing their's.
Again, thank you, all who have posted. Thanks (in advance) to those who post from here on out (or are reading this blog). I will post updates to keep everyone addressed on what is happening. All I ask from anyone who posts with a "Let me tell you my horror story" comment: please keep it honest. If three people in at this facility screwed up while you (or your loved one) were there, don't make it 100 people who screwed up. If you can't remember the exact number, that's cool, too; just tell your story as you best remember it. That's all I ask.
After all, honesty is what we have going here, folks. That, and the belief that the profit-line should not take precidence over great patient care.
Labels: Northside Hospital (Tampa Bay), Paul Swider, St. Petersburg Times
posted by feminist writer - Robin Shwedo | 2:06 PM
2 Comments:
First of all you got a well written blog of your experiences at Northside Hospital as well as the coverage in this morning's St. Petersburg Times Neighborhood Times section (3/18/07). Keep up the good work!
Seven years ago I lost my mother on 14 March 2000 to a second heart attack. She ended up at Northside Hospital for three weeks before passing away in Northside's ICU unit. I feel that there are some differences that need to be explained.
Back in October 1999 my mother had her first heart attack and - luckily - I convinced the paramedics to take her to St. Anthony's as her doctors were there who would know her condition. A week or so later she went to All Children's for the heart catheterization to see what kind of damage was done. There was some damage that convinced the doctors to admit her to Bayfront Medical Center for a few days for observation.
Then fast forward to February 2000. I got the call from my mother while I was at work for me to call 911 - my co-worker at the other desk called 911 and I had two phones in my hand, one talking to my mother and the other with the 911 operator. After I got off the phone with the 911 operator I immediately headed home just to find the Lealman paramedics and Sunstar ambulance already loaded my mother up and I asked the paramedics if she could be taken to Bayfront (again, her doctors have privileges both at Bayfront and at St. Anthony's and her doctors would know her condition) and the reply was no - instead she was headed to Northside Hospital where she had no doctors that knew her condition!
Once I got to Northside I courteously went up to the ER desk and asked the clerk, a young lady, about the condition of my mother. Instead of taking the time to find out for me, the clerk got verbally abusive with me and told me angrily to go sit down. A few hours later I was allowed into the area where my mother was being kept at. My sister showed up later.
I tried contacting my mother's cardiologist to see if I could get her transferred to Bayfront - I could not reach her cardiologist as the office was closed for the day. Back when my mother had the first heart attack she went from the ER immediately to the ICU at St. Anthony's. However, this was not the case at Northside, as my mother did not go straight to ICU - instead, she was wheeled up to a regular room and once that was done, I told her how much I loved her as visiting hours were over and I had to leave her in the hands of Northside for the evening.
Around 2 or 3 AM in the morning the next day my sister gets a call from Northside with the dreaded news: My mother's condition escalated and she went to ICU. From there she was in ICU until I sadly lost her on that March afternoon in 2000.
What I believe is that if my mother went to Bayfront or St. Anthony's at least she would have went straight from the ER to ICU and she would have had doctors that knew her condition that I believe may - and I say may - have saved her life somehow. Northside did not do this, instead opting to place my mother in a regular hospital room for observation. After all, a heart attack is an extremely serious matter requiring prompt treatment to avert serious damage. If my mother needed to be admitted to the hospital she should have been sent to the ICU in the very first place and observe her there!
Enough said on that. Going through the memorial service and probate was a testing experience for me. But I had to move out of my mother's house to get away from being taken to Northside if something happened to me and I found a good place in the far northeast section of St. Petersburg.
About a year or so ago I asked St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue as to what hospital I would be taken to if in the event of a medical emergency and in the paramedics judgment I required closest hospital. I was shocked and my jaw dropped when I was told that I would have to go to Northside. At least I spoke with my sister about this and if something like this were to happen in the interim I would call her and she would arrange to take me to Bayfront. Part of my goals is to move somewhere else in St. Petersburg so that I am out of the immediate reach of Northside Hospital.
I agree, Bayfront and St. Anthony's did their very best for my mother when she was there. As for Northside, the ICU was OK but I did not appreciate how I was treated by the ER staff at Northside. Additionally, after I contacted my mother's cardiologist to see about having her transferred to Bayfront I was afraid to ask the ER staff any further about my mother being transferred for fear of being escorted and banned from Northside (which did not happen, luckily).
Maybe later on I'll probably move and be in the reach of the better hospitals in St. Petersburg and outside the reach of Northside. Being taken to Northside is the last thing my sister needs at this point.
Good job. There are many horror stories from people who lost loved ones or had horrible care from Northside hellhole. I wonder how long before a class action suit becomes a reality.
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