Chippenham Hospital

My husband was referred to the ER at Chippenham Hospital by an Urgent Care provider due to abnormal labs. As a healthcare provider, I was appalled at the disregard for patient dignity, lack of adherence to HIPPA standards and lack of infection control/hand hygiene. He was literally treated with IV fluids in the middle of a crowded waiting room and all of his personal information to include lab results and diagnoses were discussed with us in the middle of this crowded ER in spite of me asking to at least be move to an area that was partitioned and would provide some form of privacy. The "resident 1" who started his IV fluids had the audacity to joke about the circumstances and was offended that we didn't laugh at his sense of humor. My husband's IV fluid were not monitored and he nearly "ran dry". I had to clamp his IV myself (for which I am qualified) and go find a nurse or provider to discontinue his IV. We were asked by one of he PA's to go to the front desk and a nurse would remove the IV. We stood there for 10-15 minutes before anybody acknowledged our presence or addressed our needs. I have worked in healthcare for more than 20 years and would never treat any of my patients in this manner. It saddens me to see the lack of quality of care and the disregard for patient dignity and right to privacy. This review is not only to speak up on behalf of my husband but for all of the patients who sat in this same ER and experience the same inadequate and substandard level of care.

I visited Chippenham Medical Center yesterday, Wednesday February 18, 2015, for severe sciatic pain on my left side, due to a suspected herniated disc. The only reason I went to the ER was because we had a big snow storm and all medical offices were closed. The triage and wait times were great. The triage nurse took my blood pressure twice, the first being 156/116, and the second being 152/106. She said this was high, but most likely due to the amount of pain I was in. I was taken immediately to a bed and barely had to wait before the doctor came in. When I tried to explain to Dr. [redacted] what was going on, and the doctors I was seeing, he pretty much shut me down and said this was for my doctors to handle. He barely touched my spine, which at that time, wasn't where I was hurting. I am one to take a lot of pain before seeking treatment, and if I say I'm hurting, then I am in serious pain! He didn't address the issue that I could barely walk and had to lift my leg with my hand to move it around. He neglected as well to check my urine, which I have done my research and my symptoms could be a multiple of things. My main issue though, is he allowed me to leave the ER without even mentioning my blood pressure. I was at stroke level! This is very negligent as a physician. My top number has NEVER been that high. He probably spent five minutes with me, and ran out to give me a prescription to [redacted] and a [redacted]. Which has not worked on me before. I have tried every anti inflammatory, muscle relaxer, steroid, physical therapy, hot/cold, physical therapy (which aggravated another injury). But he didn't want to hear this or write me anything for my blood pressure. I was hoping since I was in so much pain, he could have ordered an mri or something. Regardless though, my blood pressure should have been monitored and treated. If it wasn't for the triage nurse, I would have never known to keep an eye on it. I think this doctor owes me an apology, and needs to be reprimanded for what could have happened to me! Doctors are not above anyone, and they need to put there self in others shoes. I don't think I should be responsible for any of this bill, due to the negligence I received!