Author Topic: Hospital incompetence? (Read 241 times)

OIO · « **on:** March 21, 2005, 04:46:10 PM »

Im really pissed off right now.

my mother works in the enviromental services at the Fla. hospital.

In Feb. a patient that had been admited 2 times already for tuberculosis in previous months had been admitted to the hospital for some other reason other than TB.

The hospital placed this man in a regular room.

For those of you not familiar with this, anytime anyone with TB goes to the hospital they are placed in an isolation/airborne room where everyone coming into contact with them has to have masks and other gear to prevent contamination.

My mom was assigned to that room, she said that she stepped in (with no protective gear since it wasnt an isolation room), was beggining to pick up the garbage can when she saw the man in the bed and realized it was the same man she had seen a couple of times before that had TB. She left the room quickly. What happened to that man after that I dont know.

My mom told her supervisor about the man. Apparently that did nothing.

A MONTH later a letter is given to her. Letter says she has to go test for TB because of an 'incident'... namely that man being in a non-ISO room. Letter had a date of almost a week before the date she was given the letter. Apparently the supervisor didnt 'get to it' until a week after the letter was handed to her.

Her test came positive.

Now the hospital is saying they assume the costs of any treatment or medicine needed to treat the TB.

I dont need to tell you how frightened my mom is right now..and pissed off. How can a hospital admit a patient that had been admited in previous months for TB and put him in a non ISO room and then wait a whole *****g MONTH to inform its staff... and then the supervisor taking a WEEK to hand out the letters.

We dont know what to do at this point. My mom cant take many medicines since she's a cancer survivor..heck she cant even take hormones (and for a 50yr old menopausic woman its hell i hear). Now we're waiting for an x-ray of her chest to be done tomorrow and see what other 2nd opinions we can get from a doctor not involved with the Fla. Hospital.

GtoRA2 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 21, 2005, 05:02:10 PM »

Sucks man.. That is really terible.
Sue. You have a case. Maybe the money lost will teach them to be more carefull.

What I want to know is why people like the TB are allowed into the public with a disease that is contagious?

OIO · « **Reply #2 on:** March 21, 2005, 05:07:45 PM »

Its not like that GT.

TB can be 'latent' in a person and never develop.. latent carriers do not infect others. Only those who have had their TB become active are the dangerous ones.. one cough or sneeze and a whole room becomes infected.

Latent carriers have a 1 in 10 chance of the TB becoming active. Theres a drug that makes the chances be 1 in a 100.

Incredibly, people at the hospital have even said that 'its ok' because lots of people are TB latent and 'nothing happens'... the NERVE of the fediddleers to say that amazes me.

GtoRA2 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 21, 2005, 05:14:25 PM »

but this guy was a latend spreader?

Is he alowed out in public?

Still man it sucks, and I feel bad for you. I hope your mom will be ok.

OIO · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2005, 05:19:17 PM »

the guy had been admited twice already because his TB was active. Theres treatments that they get that kills off the bacteria that cause TB but once your TB is active, you either keep taking that drug or you will keep being bedridden and spreading it.

The guy was admited to a regular room for some other reason (we really dont know) even though he had a clear history of having active TB very recently. I think they put him in ISO later that same day my mom saw him.

And thanks, I hope she'll be ok too. we all live together in the house and shes very scared of getting us infected.