Civista Medical Center previously Physician Memorial Hospital (PHM) aka LaPlata Hospital Medical Malpractice, Wrongful death, Insurance Violation, Rude Staff, Wrongful billing, just to name a few. LaPlata Maryland

I would like to address some of the comments I have read about PMH or Civista and about the EMS service in Charles County.

First of all, I feel I am qualified to comment on both since I am a life time member of and one of the charter members of the Charles County Mobile Intensive Care Unit. I have been a nurse for over 20 years also working in both the ER and in critical care.

I have never worked at Civista. I have been a patient there, a family member of a patient and a medic who has brought patients to Civista.

Over all I must say that Civista has been disappointing in their service. The staff has been rude and uninformed. I have had one positive experience at Civista as a patient in their ER and one positive experience when my son was a patient in the ER. At those times the staff was friendly and did their jobs well.

However, when my dad was a patient, they were rude and neglectful. The staff nurses on the floor were woefully uninformed about basic medical care. One nurse told me that a pulse ox of 74 was "normal in an older person." My dad had pneumonia and was in mild respiratory distress at the time. But, and maybe this is because I am a nurse, I was insistent that she phone his doctor which she did and he was given the appropriate medical treatment. I do wonder what would have happened if I had not been a nurse and had not been a "pushy broad" and made her call the doc.

I do think that attitudes towards patients and their families are institutional wide. If a hospital puts an emphasis on quality, compassionate care and reinforces that routinely then the staff lives up to that expectation. I don't see that as a high priority for Civista.

Even as a medic bringing in patients the staff would be rude and I was always pretty sure that the patient hadn't had an accident or heart attack just to inconvenience the staff.

The distance from Waldorf to SMHC or Civista is about equal. Medics will usually take you to either. However, if you have a life threatening emergency (which is the only time you should call an ambulance except for extenuating circumstances) they MUST take you to the nearest emergency room that is equipped to handle your illness or injury. They are not 'trained' to have you sign a release if you don't want to go to the nearest appropriate emergency room.

I will say that I have found SMHC to have a more personable staff, a better informed staff, and more compassion for the patients and families than at Civista.

I would like to address some of the comments I have read about PMH or Civista and about the EMS service in Charles County.

First of all, I feel I am qualified to comment on both since I am a life time member of and one of the charter members of the Charles County Mobile Intensive Care Unit. I have been a nurse for over 20 years also working in both the ER and in critical care.

I have never worked at Civista. I have been a patient there, a family member of a patient and a medic who has brought patients to Civista.

Over all I must say that Civista has been disappointing in their service. The staff has been rude and uninformed. I have had one positive experience at Civista as a patient in their ER and one positive experience when my son was a patient in the ER. At those times the staff was friendly and did their jobs well.

However, when my dad was a patient, they were rude and neglectful. The staff nurses on the floor were woefully uninformed about basic medical care. One nurse told me that a pulse ox of 74 was "normal in an older person." My dad had pneumonia and was in mild respiratory distress at the time. But, and maybe this is because I am a nurse, I was insistent that she phone his doctor which she did and he was given the appropriate medical treatment. I do wonder what would have happened if I had not been a nurse and had not been a "pushy broad" and made her call the doc.

I do think that attitudes towards patients and their families are institutional wide. If a hospital puts an emphasis on quality, compassionate care and reinforces that routinely then the staff lives up to that expectation. I don't see that as a high priority for Civista.

Even as a medic bringing in patients the staff would be rude and I was always pretty sure that the patient hadn't had an accident or heart attack just to inconvenience the staff.

The distance from Waldorf to SMHC or Civista is about equal. Medics will usually take you to either. However, if you have a life threatening emergency (which is the only time you should call an ambulance except for extenuating circumstances) they MUST take you to the nearest emergency room that is equipped to handle your illness or injury. They are not 'trained' to have you sign a release if you don't want to go to the nearest appropriate emergency room.

I will say that I have found SMHC to have a more personable staff, a better informed staff, and more compassion for the patients and families than at Civista.

I would like to address some of the comments I have read about PMH or Civista and about the EMS service in Charles County.

First of all, I feel I am qualified to comment on both since I am a life time member of and one of the charter members of the Charles County Mobile Intensive Care Unit. I have been a nurse for over 20 years also working in both the ER and in critical care.

I have never worked at Civista. I have been a patient there, a family member of a patient and a medic who has brought patients to Civista.

Over all I must say that Civista has been disappointing in their service. The staff has been rude and uninformed. I have had one positive experience at Civista as a patient in their ER and one positive experience when my son was a patient in the ER. At those times the staff was friendly and did their jobs well.

However, when my dad was a patient, they were rude and neglectful. The staff nurses on the floor were woefully uninformed about basic medical care. One nurse told me that a pulse ox of 74 was "normal in an older person." My dad had pneumonia and was in mild respiratory distress at the time. But, and maybe this is because I am a nurse, I was insistent that she phone his doctor which she did and he was given the appropriate medical treatment. I do wonder what would have happened if I had not been a nurse and had not been a "pushy broad" and made her call the doc.

I do think that attitudes towards patients and their families are institutional wide. If a hospital puts an emphasis on quality, compassionate care and reinforces that routinely then the staff lives up to that expectation. I don't see that as a high priority for Civista.

Even as a medic bringing in patients the staff would be rude and I was always pretty sure that the patient hadn't had an accident or heart attack just to inconvenience the staff.

The distance from Waldorf to SMHC or Civista is about equal. Medics will usually take you to either. However, if you have a life threatening emergency (which is the only time you should call an ambulance except for extenuating circumstances) they MUST take you to the nearest emergency room that is equipped to handle your illness or injury. They are not 'trained' to have you sign a release if you don't want to go to the nearest appropriate emergency room.

I will say that I have found SMHC to have a more personable staff, a better informed staff, and more compassion for the patients and families than at Civista.

I would like to address some of the comments I have read about PMH or Civista and about the EMS service in Charles County.

First of all, I feel I am qualified to comment on both since I am a life time member of and one of the charter members of the Charles County Mobile Intensive Care Unit. I have been a nurse for over 20 years also working in both the ER and in critical care.

I have never worked at Civista. I have been a patient there, a family member of a patient and a medic who has brought patients to Civista.

Over all I must say that Civista has been disappointing in their service. The staff has been rude and uninformed. I have had one positive experience at Civista as a patient in their ER and one positive experience when my son was a patient in the ER. At those times the staff was friendly and did their jobs well.

However, when my dad was a patient, they were rude and neglectful. The staff nurses on the floor were woefully uninformed about basic medical care. One nurse told me that a pulse ox of 74 was "normal in an older person." My dad had pneumonia and was in mild respiratory distress at the time. But, and maybe this is because I am a nurse, I was insistent that she phone his doctor which she did and he was given the appropriate medical treatment. I do wonder what would have happened if I had not been a nurse and had not been a "pushy broad" and made her call the doc.

I do think that attitudes towards patients and their families are institutional wide. If a hospital puts an emphasis on quality, compassionate care and reinforces that routinely then the staff lives up to that expectation. I don't see that as a high priority for Civista.

Even as a medic bringing in patients the staff would be rude and I was always pretty sure that the patient hadn't had an accident or heart attack just to inconvenience the staff.

The distance from Waldorf to SMHC or Civista is about equal. Medics will usually take you to either. However, if you have a life threatening emergency (which is the only time you should call an ambulance except for extenuating circumstances) they MUST take you to the nearest emergency room that is equipped to handle your illness or injury. They are not 'trained' to have you sign a release if you don't want to go to the nearest appropriate emergency room.

I will say that I have found SMHC to have a more personable staff, a better informed staff, and more compassion for the patients and families than at Civista.

First, No, it doesn't matter where you pulled your information up, SMHC is NOT closer to anyone in Waldorf, except maybe the Pinefield area. Secondly, like I stated before, 9 out of 10 times, there is NO choice for people, but to be stuck going to Civista as SMHC is too full. Probably all those that Civista has treated badly. Next, when we had a good experience at Civista, I posted such. Finally, I drive my children all the way to DC (CNMC) to see doctor's that know what they're doing. . But then I guess to the COS, the grounds must look good to trick people into thinking they'll get good care. By the way, where did I call you a name. Read again before assuming what you want.

Yes I really live in LaPlata. And I don't think that I made myself look stupid, before you go about name calling maybe you should do some research yourself...If you were to type into Mapquest and pull up the map for directions from Waldorf to SMH and directions from Waldorf to Civista, the difference in time is 4 mins or 3 miles, depending on exactly where you live in Waldorf, SMH might be closer to you (Mapquest used Smallwood drive as the starting point) and I do believe that I said "isn't much further" So my point was if you think that Civista is so awful in the quality of service that they provide then any reasonable person would choose to spend the 4 extra minutes for a better quality service, which would in the end save you alot of grief. I am not defended Civista, there is room for improvement, but what I don't understand is if Civista is so bad, why isn't even a thought to put you money eleswhere.

Angela, do you really live in La Plata? It's strange that you would say that SMHC is closer to Waldorf. Since when? Civista is where 90% there is no choice but to go to, why? For the simple fact that SMHC is on code alert because people prefer to go there and it gets to crowded to take people. Civista just got a hell of a suit won against them for the same negligence others have complained about. You're intitled to your own opinion, but try not to make yourself look stupid in the process!

April I think that you need to get a life and spend more time with your children then sitting on the computer typing up complains about a hospital that you make the conscious CHOICE to go to. I agree with Marianne, Vickie and Christina if you don't think that Civista MEDICAL Center is such a great hospital and isn't good enough for your standards then why don't you quit complaining and go up the road to Southern Maryland Hospital, which seems to be closer to you anyways seeing as you live in Waldorf.

Southern Maryland Hospital isn't that much further seeing as you never get the quality of care needed every time you visit Civista. I know that if I felt as if I was recieving sub-quality care, I would make a conscous CHOICE, being as it is a free world to go somewhere eles that I felt I would recieve the quality of care I needed. If I go anywhere and I get treated badly or my family gets treated badly I don't continue patronize that facility, that to me is stupidy on your part.

I myself could careless that you take time out to explains about you bad business experience but after hearing 5 to 7 of your bad experences, it just sounds like you are someone who is very hard to please. I have lived in LaPlata all my life and I have been to PMH/Civista ER and I have been to Southern Maryland and I personally don't see much difference, so maybe you should complain about the care in Southern Maryland hospital/medical centers in general, or take more care as not to get sick.

I can definitely relate with you. I have experience neglect too. I have posted my own rip off report too. I was so glad to have come across your report its' about time people know the truth. When I was being prep for my surgery and waiting for my doctor to arrive he was very late. I had an experience that upset me there was an under 2-year-old boy who had just came out from having his procedure done and was very upset. I could not believe the way the nurses handle him. They were I feel rough and not to patient with this child they kept trying to get him to take a bottle and he wouldnt' stop crying so one of the nurses said he wont take it I quested we need to go get the cow! Meaning the boys Mother because she breast feed.I feel like I had been treated like a slab of meat from some warehouse.To this day I suffer.Being able to express this helps in some small way.I just wish I could have talked to that boys mother to let her know how her little boy was handle.I'm sure she would not have been very happy.I know I couldn't believe it myself.I'm a mother of 3 boy's if I had a knew of something like this with any of my boy's there would be no holding me back.In closing I do not doubt any of what you report.God Bless You and know you are not alone.I would not recomend this Hospital to anyone.I know I will never go back there myself.DLA

I wanted to make this update to let the readers know that Civista has changed a little. As I have always said, if the hospital I reported does anything right or wrong, I would update it. So here I am, doing just that. Appearently, since my last visit, they have hired more competent staff members, I still don't see name badges on all, but some.

Anyway, one of my children took a very nasty fall, he hurt his finger, hip, face and head. His face & Head looked so bad, I took him to Civista. We didn't wait very long and the triage nurse was very nice. Within 5 minutes we were called back to the ER. The nurse seeing him, was so god with him. She knew just what to do or say to make him more at ease.

The doctor came in and looked at him, she saw that his finger was not broke, but sprained and said it would need a splint to get better. His hip was bruised bad, (the fall landed him on our driveway, it was raining)probally from a rock, his face and head was knotted, bruised and scraped pretty good and he suffered a concussion. She said they would clean him up, splint him and he could then go home.

The nurse, her name was Darlene, came back in and as she was cleaning his face said, "This is to clean the booboo." Then she went to put neosporin on and said, "This is just booboo cream." Well, to a 6 year old, this was amussing and as a parent, a perfect way to keep him from getting upset. She was great.

A few minutes later, the doctor came back in and said she spoke to a college because my son is factor 7 defficent and they thought it would be best to do a head CT because of the injuries there. She told me it would take about 20 minutes to do and about an hour after to get the results. I agreed and thought it was great to take precaution.

They can in and took him to the CT room, he was very very scared, he's never had a CT and thought it looked scary. She allowed me to hold his hand and she explained that how it works and that it would take pictures of the inside of his head. She asked if he had anything in there and he said, "A brain." So she laughed and said, "Then we'll amke sure it's still there." He laughed.

When we came to back to his ER room, the nurse had left him a little gift bag on his bed, he was exstatic. The rest of the time we were there he just kept talking about how nice the nurse was. That really made him feel better.

I wanted to tell about this experience because it was a great experience. And this goes to show that any Hospital can change it's habits or staff or whatever it takes to see that the patients have this type of experience.

OK, you start this rebuttal out bad mouthing my grammer, saying I'm not educated, blah, blah, blah! Then in your next sentence, you use getto slang like; albeit. OK, whatever.

Now down to the rest of your unfounded comments. To start, appearently you read what you wanted and nothing else. My report started by telling what happened to family members there, then I went on to tell about my own incounters with these people. When a EMS worker has to be called to your home, depending on the circumstances, as with my son, grandmother and husband, you don't have that choice of where to go, the EMS staff is trained to make you sign a waiver if you do not choose the closest ER. Laplata (Civista) of course. The only time you get a choice if if some one has a minor injury or illness, common cense. So, if you were ever given a choice, then obviously, you really didn't need their services in the first place. And have waisted tax payers, like myself's, money.

Now, on to the name badges, I'm taking it, you either know someone there or haven't been there for a long time. Last time I was on labor day, my friend was hurt and needed stitches, I took her there. The staff was great that night, maybe in part because no one else was there. She got stitches, was in and out. But the only one with a badge on was the security gaurd and her's was were I couldn't read it. Unfortunately, while my 21 month old was being babysat, he feel down the stairs, this was the following day, I meet them at the hospital. He suffered a bad head injury, the staff was, some, pretty good that night.

When I arrived, I saw that he was on the bottom of the list, I spoke to the triage nurse as to what happened, she said he would be called in turn which was a 1 to 2 hour wait. I looked at his head and saw a hugh blood filled knot, he was also playing fine, so I felt she was correct by keeping him in line. When he got called to triage, his nose was turning purple, they paniced and took him straight back into a room. By the way, NO NAME BADGES!!! Then they took him to x-ray, the woman was very good with him and YES I did tell the hospital how nice she was. If you know anything about children, you should know that they do not form a nose bone at this age. So, their panic was called for. The "Doctor" came in and released him, saying his x-rays were fine and take him to his doctor the following day. She had a badge, but it was shoved backwards into her pocket of her coat. While we were in x-ray, my husband had just gotten off work and came straight to the hospital. He was told to come back, then when he got back to the room, was stopped by a nurse who told him, he had to wait to our son was released. He siad he wanted to know what was going on with him, and again was told to leave. He didn't see any badge and asked for her name, she refused to give it. Real good hospital, huh?!?

We did go to the doctors the following day. I cleaned my son's nose because there was dried blood in it and put him to sleep, I didn't sleep that night because he was having trouble breathing. His regular doctor examined him, and called the hospital. The hospital supervisor of radialogy was on the phone with her, he re-read the x-rays and said he saw what looked to be a small crack in the face plate. Again, if you know anything about children, you would know this is a very dangerous injury. She proceeded to test the clear stuff coming from his nose, it tested possitive for spinal fluid. Because the hsopital didn't see this, he had to be put on several medications asap, and we had to keep a very good eye on him for 2 weeks.

Now, as to your "community hospital", call Civista and ask them if they are a hospital. Nope, a Community Medical Center, you do know the difference, right? At least you have some common cense, and know lawyers do except pay offs. I could careless what you think of myself or anyone else that trashes bad businesses, but the fact of the matter is, they are. Get over it. Find yourself a hobby or a man. But don't bad mouth me because I'm better than you and have a life.

Oh where to start. An educated person doesn't make as many mistakes in their typing as you have, but that is beside the point. I have had the opportunity, albeit unfortunate, to need the ambulance services of our county more than a few times. Each time, they ask what Hospital would YOU like to go to. Simply tell them, SMHC, seeing that you think Civista is so bad.

Every time I have been to Civista, I have always seen the name badges on the employees, even the floor sweeper. They also show you them so they aren't held liable. I.E. someone taking your blood at 5am shows their name badge. I Haven't had any problems with any person, Doctor, Nurse, PCA, PA, Radiologist. And sad to say, but I have dealt with that hospital three times this year alone. I feel that you are an ex-employee, with a grudge to bear. Maybe that is your "medical background"???? Just makes me wonder.

Oh ya, just a little hint,,, practice your grammar,,,, their, there and they're three different meanings. It will make your story a little easier to read!

Oh and yes Lawyers, especially those in LaPlata, are always open to pay-offs. Get real. No body in their right mind is going to believe you by now. I sure don't. But that is my opinion, and I am sticking to it.

I hope you get over your reasons for trashing the only community hospital that has many to take care of and many more who go there for a cold. Just my simple advice, use SMHC for your medical needs... but then, you will probably find something wrong with them after using them for a few visits.

"Not a sermon, just a thought"

All i can say is i have been a nurse for over ten years, I am the one holding your loved one when they are sick or are passing away! You are too busy with your life to be there, so I AM there for YOUR loved one.Until you walk in my shoes DO NOT JUDGE me or any other nurse, do NOT say we are ALL lazy etc... etc...
just like any Profession or JOB there will be some that are better than others!!

Let me start by saying; I'm sorry for assuming you worked there and do understand you questioning what I've said.



Unfortunately, even the ER personel that I know are doctors,their tag don't say such, when they do wear tags. That was my point on that.



As to my grandfather, My family and myself are not persuing this any further, because, like I stated before, It wasn't for any money, it was so that people were made aware of things that continuously occur there.



And, the thing about the ER waits. Civista doesn't always take those brought in Via Ambulance. For example, My 6 year old 2 years ago had an accident at the place we were renting (a duplex), where the neighbors were having a party and someone slammed their door, causing a window pane to fall on his back. He had a very deep laceration in his lower spine. The EMS were worried because he is Factor 7 Deficent and had been bleeding perfusely. They rushed him there. I arrived at Civista about 45 minutes later to find my husband and son sitting in the waiting room. My son was still bleeding badly. I demanded they take him back and stop the bleeding. 30 minutes later they finally did. I voiced my anger, and was told by the staff that they were sorry, they had no idea why he was sent to the waiting room. They couldn't stitch him until he had an xray of his spine to make sure that nothing was damaged. That came back fine. But, because of the wait, he not only had to endure stitches, but a shot to help his blood clot that he wouldn't have needed if they had kept him in the ER. So, NO it doesn't matter how you get there.



I just truely hope, that if you go there, you won't endure what others have. I don't wish that on my worst enemy.

What do you mean by "you can tell me you worked there"? I was not in 100% defense of Civista, I clearly stated at the end of my post that they had much room for improvement. I was questioning the statements that you made.



As far as the employee id's go, anyone who only has their first and last name on their badge should be a clue that they are not a physician or a physician's assistant. A physician, physicians assistant, registered nurse, lpn, etc. will be have their credentials after their name. If a physician is coming in to do rounds he will not have a badge on, BUT the house doctors and doctors on staff in the ER should have badges on. If they didn't, I would question them treating myself or my family.



I can sympathize with your frustration on the long wait in the ER with your child. I have in the past waited over 4 hours in an ER with a sick child. But the bottom line is, in the ER waiting rooms you wait unless you are brought in by an ambulance. It's unfortunate but that's the way it is.



I am sorry you lost your grandfather. If Civista is covering their a$$ for their negligence and no attorney in Charles County will sue them because they are being paid off, I suggest maybe you look outside the county for an attorney.

No, at no point did I ever misunderstand or read things wrong. And appearently you no longer work for this hospital, their name tags have a first and last name on it, they do not say PA or MD, once in a while there is one or two people that can be seen with this information on their tags, and there are several times I've seen employees with NO tag whatsoever.



The attorney that admitted to a pay off stated this over the phone, the letters from attorneys read as follows; "We are sorry, but after looking into the situation of negligence and wrongful death by the staff of Civista, we can not persue this. We were recently involved in a suit against this hospital and upon the settlements have signed a waiver to not disbute any actions by this hospital. We are sorry for taking up you time and wish you the best." and another letter from another attorney stated, "We are sorry, but after due consideration we've looked into the possibilities of a lawsuit and can not at this time because of a previous settlement agreement." Now you have the facts.



All probelms were made very aware of to the house doctor, their personal physicans, the hospitals administration, and the staff. The hospital was contacted by another attorney and their exact words to him (I also have this letter), it read (from the administrator), "Mr. Sparrow was very ill stricken from cancer. He was olderly and his body was not strong enough to fight this decease. We feel that we probally could not have prolonged his death." When the attorney asked about them improperly mixing the bags, their response was, "We aren't the ones who mix these bags. This is the parmasutical companies doings. It may or may not of had any barring on the progression of his problems." When asked about their neglect, their response was, "We did everything we could." Now after reading my exact encounters of my grandfathers stay, and reading their poor responses, you should understand why this hospital has done everything it can to cover it's a*s.



As to your comments on other hospitals ER waits, first off, my problem with the wait was that they didn't do what should have been done in the first place, and every hospital will take an infant with these concerns very seriously and prioritise it. Civista could care less if your bleeding to death. With them, it's first come first serve. The other hospitals you spoke about, I have never been to SMH, Childrens, or Washington's ER and had to wait more than an hour, and I have been there when they are very very busy.



Plain and simple, defend them all you want, but the fact of the matter is, they are at fault and cowardly don't want to take any responsibility.

As being a former employee of Civista, I can assure you that the pay scale is hardly over the national average. A nurse can make quite a bit more traveling a few more miles into D.C. Also, I find it hard to believe that each nurse only cares for 2 patients during their shift.



The hospital must have had a miriculous increase in nursing staff if this is true. Possibly you are confusing other staff members (patient care associates, techs) for actually being RN's. Same true with the "doctors" in the ER. Each employee should have a name badge on, therefore, looking at the name badge any patient/visitor/family member can see if the badge reads M.D. or P.A.



There is always a M.D. overseeing the ER, there is always a Nursing Supervisor overseeing patient care and there is always an Administrator on-call. Were your concerns about your grandparents directed to their attending physician? Also, the turn around time for radiology reports is 24 hours. Also, unfortunately the waiting time in any ER is long, at city hospitals it can be longer than 6 hours.



At SMHC is can be as long as 6 hours. The wait depends on the number of patients they are treating (unless of course it is a heart attack, etc.). I also find it very, very hard to believe that any attorney would put in writing that a hospital/medical center would "pay them" to back off a case. Isn't that bribery and unethical? Why in the world would an attorney tell anyone that, let alone put it in a letter. Civista does have room for improvement, but I have to question some of the statements you have made, i.e., the attorney admitted to taking a bribe, P.A.'s stating they are M.D.'s, etc.

Civista is a crappy hospital, 3 years ago, I was having severe chest pains that went down my left arm, my wife was very concerned and called my doctor, he said to send me straight down to Civista because I was showing symptoms of having a heart attack. I was on the way back from work and went straight there.



I went through a series of tests and eventually they wanted to do a CT w/ contrast. They asked the normal questions about allergies, etc. I informed them that I was epileptic. Well, after the IV contrast had ran throughmy vains they proceeded to do the test. I started screaming from pain and told them to get me out I was going to get sick. The woman doing the test laughed and said, what's wrong, I said it's burning so bad I'm getting sick. She never took me out. Next thing I know, I wake up in the iCU a few hours later. A nurse comes in and tells me that I'm very lucky, they almost lost me today. I asked what happened, she tells me that I went into a massive seizure, so much so that they lost my pulse and heart rate and had to revive me.



In the mean time, it's been several hours and my wife keeps calling the ER to find out how I'm doing and if they know what's wrong with me yet, they keep telling her that I'm fine, they are just doing more tests on me. Well, you know she was really shocked when the last time she calls, they finally transfer her to ICU, where I appearently was for several hours before waking. They told her what happened and she was ticked. She asked why noneone called her, which it says to do in my chart, and why she was told for the last few hours that everything was fine and they were just doing tests. She came up to the hospital after this and came and saw me, they wouldn't let her in and told her that I was now stable and they were moving me downstairs to a regular room. She went downstairs and filed a complaint with the administration, nothing has ever been heard from them.



Needless to say, No one did their job there. We saw so many nurses coming by, but everytime I needed something or wanted information, my wife was told she would have to wait for my nurse. After awhile, she went to the nurses station and demanded to know who my nurse was. They told her that she was outside on her smoke break. Mind you, there were 15 other nurses and a few nurses aides at this location, but no one else would help. An hour and a half later, she goes back out and tells them we've been waiting for my nurse. Now they tell her, that she's at lunch. This went on and on for hours. I never did see a nurse until late that night when they changed shifts. The nurse that I saw then said, their other shifts are just plain lazy. After a few days of this, when I was able to be moved to another hospital, my wife demanded that I was, the staff said they wouldn't do such. During all this time, I was never given any medications, no others tests were run, nothing. She said she would take me somewhere else herself. So they made her sign a AMA form. She took me to another hospital. They did a few tests, and it turns out I had a hiatal hernia which had protroded very close to my heart and I would have to be put on medications until it gets to the point where surgery is the only option left.



So, how can this woman who keeps rebuttaling, tell people that this hospital is like others and that the people misunderstand the situations. This hospitals only onjective is to take what they can and forget their oath to help people.

My mother-in-law fell last year and started suffering very severe back pain. After MONTHS and HUNDREDS of tests, her doctor decided that she needed back surgery. Well they botched the surgery SO BAD that she had to have another surgery (8 hours worth) to repair the mess that they made. Months again go by and she is not getting better, she is getting worse. One of her sons is a Cardiologist and he gets seriously involved because he knows something is wrong. Thanks to him, but unfortunately too late, we find out that the pain had absolutely NOTHING to do with her fall, that she was eaten up with cancer. It was noted on the front of her charts, but EVERY SINGLE doctor just read the previous doctor's report. Never looked at the front of the file. Anyway, my brother-in-law who is the doctor said himself that the medical profession has gone to hell.



The only thing that nurses want to bother with is their paperwork because it has something to do with their licensing requirements. They DO NOT want to help patients. As a matter of fact, we got a couple of nurses FIRED for their "CARE" and I use that loosely, of my mother-in-law.



Needless to say, we are pursuing malpractice and have an attorney more than happy to take our case because he said that he is sick and tired of the number of people that come to him with these sort of cases and that it is time that something gets done. So, I will keep you in my prayers because, believe me, I know EXACTLY what you have gone through!!

For starts, when I have updated my reports and wrote the original I also have alot of others things to do. I know it's an rotary cuff, I didn't bother to check over what I wrote. Don't you have better things to do then be so petty. I know exactly what I am talking about, I did not nor do not misunderstand any situation. First and formost, there ARE 10 nurses at one time for 20 rooms, well, that means 2 patients per nurse. Wow, really under staffed, huh? I have solid proof of this! You want to tell me that my grandfathers premature death wasn't a result of their incompitence? Guess what the hospital did when my family tried to make this public by seeking an attorney? They paid each attorney that we sought to BACK OFF! I also have solid proof, I even have a few letters I kept form these attorney's telling me that the hospital has paid them an undisclosed amount to not persue this any further. You tell me. Apparently you work in a hospital that is understaffed, fine, I simpathize with you, but don't put me down and tell me that I "Misunderstood" the situation when I have made it perfectly clear of the specifics. There is another hospital that is out of the way, we have had to go there before. In fact one of the times we had to go there is when one of my 6 year old twins was 5 weeks old and had Pyloric Stenosis, which his regular doctor and myself knew was the problem. I'm sure you know that it MUST be confirmed by sono, and usually not clearly seen until 6 weeks of age, before surgery can be done to fix it. This hospital is understaffed. Were talking 4 nurses to 20 rooms. But they did all they could at that time, they sent him to children's so not to take the chance of waiting to long. (He was 5.13 lbs. when born and by that time was 3.2 lbs.) They at least read the xrays correctly, they go above and beyond what they have to, and they don't become lazy because their overworked. They have problems like most hospitals, but it's understandable, people have patients knowing their understaffed and doing what they can. But, people don't make excusses for a lazy hospital, and that's what your doing. If you lived around here and debated this with me is one thing, but your not. You think that you can make an opinion on your thoughts, probally professional, thinking that you know the "Real" story, you don't. What I have written is the absolute truth, again I have proof and it has been proven. Nothing here is misunderstood, except how you preceieve this. Making an honest mistake is one thing, but constantly, no! I guess next your going to say it's ok for them to put themselves off as Doctors when they are nothing more than PA's, huh? Know that you know everything, are you still going to say they understaffed, or overworked? Spare me and the other readers. Like I said, take a trip here and see for yourself before you make anymore unfoundly comments.

If you had the education you say, you would know that the "rotary cup" you keep taking about is really called a "rotary cuff." Your statements about the hospital's staff and how well they are paid also tell me that if you were ever in the field, it was many years ago. How many patients does each nurse have to take care of on a floor? You might see three or four nurses, but I would be willing to bet that each of them have about 20 patients to be responsible for.



Like I said, I think you are misunderstanding the entire situation at that hospital, mainly because it doesn't suit you to hear the truth.

For starts, I appreciate you taking the time to rebuttal but, if you read my original report, you'd see that I have education in the medical field. As to my previous update, No, the woman did not have to give me my resolts, which I read for myself, but, I DO have clots, I DO have a strange looking hole inside my leg where the knot appeared (that I do not know), but taking a week or more to send these results to my doctor is what I am complaining about. I need blood thinners and to find out what the hole is.



As to my accident, No I didn't say they were responsible for the degeneration in my shoulder, I swam most my life and I'm sure that was from swimming, as to everything else. The AC tear was in fault of the hospital and the rotary cup tear should have been seen. If they knew how to read x-rays in the first place, then the AC tear could have been prevented. Yes, people go long term before needing to do anything about a rotary cup tear, but with the AC tear, I now, do not have that pleasure nor do I have that choice. As to my nose being broke, I had a head CT, unless their blind, they should have seen it. My complaints are because the hospital should have seen these problems, mind you, I was not put on any medications whatsoever. Now, maybe you'll understand this a little more.



Let me make this very clear, Civista has plenty of staff and they are paid better than most hospitals nationwide. Yes, the administration is at fault for hiring incompitent staff, but like I said, they are not understaffed. Things like my accident are because their staff is too lazy. If you read my original report, this hospital has caused wrongful deaths because of laziness and incompitence, they've caused injury same reasons, etc. You'll read above, that their administration was contacted before and never did anything. Their the type of hospital that works souly on taking money. When my grandmother needed copies of my grandfathers medical records, she paid an arm and a leg for these files, of which, I might add, were altered and inportant information blacked out. The ER staff also presents themselves as doctors, then you find out that their PA's, that is againt Federal law, they can not falsify their medical experience.



Yes, other hospitals pull the same crap on patients, but when confronted usually do something, maybe small steps, but something. Whereas, Civista NEVER does anything to help situations they've caused, they ignore them. Hospitals nationwide, do not cause wrongful deaths on a regular basis, Civista does. Hospitals nationwide cause injuries here and there, Civista again on regular basis. This hospital, unlike most, has much financial support form Doctors, and county government. They hide these facts because Charles County is very industrialized, and that is the only hospital in the county, if they publically make their true statistics show and were to be investigated, they would be shut down, and the county government can not have that. I know how they are funded, because I trusted my entire families doctor, until we said what was going on in that hospital years ago, so that my grandfather would be transfered, then was told that he, like most doctors in Charles County, had a financial responsibilty to that hospital and would not do anything to help.



Tell you what, if your ever in town, go in this hospital, walk around for a while, then stop and listen to everything going on around you. Then rebuttal. I have been to many hospitals, again, they have the normal problems, but nothing like this. I've been there, I've seen all this with my own eyes. So, please don't tell me their like other hospitals, til you've seen this yourself.

I understand your anger at the hospital, but as far as your "update", let me give you some more information and perhaps you can understand things better.



As far as the Doppler on your leg, the technician was RIGHT in not giving you his/her opinion on the test. It is the physican's responsibility to interpret the data and relay the information to the patient or the patient's physician.



In regard to the injuries you suffered in your accident--none of the injuries you describe required emergency treatment. You were right in going to be looked at to rule out a serious injury, but really, there wasn't a whole lot that could be done with the knee. It needs to heal. The only time they would do something with the nose is if you couldn't breathe out of it. The shoulder? People live with rotator cuff injuries for years before they decide to get them taken care of, and most of the time, you must go through a long period of conservative treatment (physical therapy, steroid injections, etc.) before surgery could be considered. The AC tear and the rest? Not unusual at all. A degenerative condition means just that, over a long period of time, the joint has deteriorated. It would be a long stretch of the imagination to think that the hospital caused a degenerative injury.



I have never been to the hospital you mention, but I certainly don't see anything different going on there than what's going on in the whole country. Hospital workers are paid slave wages and hospitals are understaffed. Don't blame the people working there, blame the administration.

I went to my regular doctor for a check up from a car accident I was previously in. I have had problems with my leg. My doctor was very concerned that I might have a blood clot that was moving towards my lungs and heart and called Civista and told them that I was on my way and this test needed to be done asap. They told him that as soon as I arrived, they would take me back for the test.



I arrived and signed in at 3:11pm. I was called to registration at 4:00pm. They tell me that they have to send me the bill because they "all of a sudden" can't find the accident information. Whatever, they finished the registration at 4:22pm (mainly because they continously talked about how one woman never did her job, blah, blah). I walk back to radiology and check in. Finally at 6:03pm, I get up and ask how much longer. I told the woman that I was to come her and have the test done right away. She says there is still someone in the Sonogram/doppler room and they only had one person working back there. At 6:44pm I finally go back. The test itself only takes about 15 minutes. I ask for the information on my leg, the woman tells me she can't tell me anything, that a doctor will probally read it sometime tomorrow and then they will fax it to my doctor next week. So, in the mean time I just sit and wait, what?



Let me give you the background information on my accident. On Saturday, March 16th I was the passenger in a 3 car accident. My air bag deployed late, therefor I hit the windshield, I knew I was hurt I just didn't know how bad. I elected to have my husband take me to the hospital. I was in an accident, yet I was put into "Fast Track". My friend, who suffered whiplash, was put into a regualr ER room. Weird huh? Anyway, the doctor came in to see me and told me that I would have to have a head CT, chest xrays, and several other xrays. At this point, I could not move my neck, nor more right shoulder, I had a very bad bruising to my right knee and extremely bad bruising to my chest. I had all these things done. The doctor tells me that they can release me, etc. He says that I have a server concusion, blunt chest trama, and bruised knee cap, and a bruised shoulder.



I go to see my regular doctor for a check up and find out that they have me completely different information (even listed on my printout, what I was told) than what the xrays really said. I turned out that the radiology doctor said that (yes) I did have a server concusion, and blunt chest trama, but went on through each xray report is what is different. My knee cap was bruised and the report indicated that it should be checked peroidically for clotting (Expected), along with the blunt chest trama I recieved sereral bruised ribs, a broken nose, and I torn the rotary cup in my shoulder. My doctor was outragged that this was just sent to them. I am still enduring physical therapy because of my arm and leg. In fack I had sugery to my shoulder for some expiramental MRI's, etc. That showed I also had degenerating bone loss and a torn AC in my shoulder. The torn AC was probally as a result of not being treated right by the hospital.



While I was waiting so long Monday for the test to be done, I picked up one of their newsletters. In it they have a graph that shows the national average of patient satisfactory in hospitals. Then they have their average, which in each case was slightly higher. I have NEVER met anyone that gave that hospital a satisfactory rating, so I'm assuming that staff botched these patient studies. In fact the one I found the funniest, they were refering to the time it takes a nurse to respond to a patient, now, anyone that has ever been a patient knows, we can never find a nurse.



Again, please avoid this hospital.