Update
A senior representative of the Norwegian American Hospital spoke to me explaining that confidentiality was the cause of their communication with me. This is important. Sacred Heart Nursing Home appears to have dropped the ball in this incident. Sacred Heart did not provide a face sheet with their admission paperwork when transferring my cousin from their facility to the emergency room of Norwegian Hospital. Therefore, Norwegian did not know of any family members to contact or that may have been interested in knowing the prognosis of my cousin.
After I wrote this piece and sent it to Norwegian and Sacred Heart, Norwegian Hospital acted and talked to Sacred Heart requesting more information on my cousin. Sacred Heart forwarded a face sheet to Norwegian, but the face sheet was not current. Luckily, Norwegian Hospital was able to contact my cousin's daughter from the "old" face sheet. I will have to contact Sacred Heart requesting they send an updated face sheet to Norwegian Hospital.
July 2, 2009
Norwegian American Hospital
Mr. Michael O’Grady
1044 North Francisco
Chicago, Illinois 60622-2794
Mr. O’Grady:
On July 1, 2009 my cousin, Betty xxxxx, was transferred from Sacred Heart Nursing Home to your hospital’s emergency room. I am not sure of why she was transferred to the emergency room of Norwegian Hospital (Norwegian). Nurse Thomas from Sacred Heart informed me that she would be sending a face sheet by fax to you, which list the contact person for any issues with Betty, and that is me, Fred Nance Jr.
Betty has approximately a 40-year history of mental illness. Betty’s daughter Tracy has called your hospital and the response she is getting from your team of “professionals” on unit 3B is horrible. Tracy lives in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
On July 2, 2009, I called Norwegian and talked to Margarita requesting to speak to the nurse handling Betty’s case. Margarita informed me that Nurse Flor was handling the case and that she was busy. I asked to speak to her supervisor. Margarita told me I could not speak to a supervisor, and that I had to speak to Nurse Flor. This is absurd.
As I continued talking to Margarita about her denial of my request to speak to a supervisor, she informed me that Nurse Flor was available. I spoke to Nurse Flor, explaining who I was and that I needed to know the condition of Betty. Nurse Flor informed me that she could not give me any information. I told her I am the contact person, and that I am listed on Betty’s records at the Nursing Home. I asked Nurse Flor for her supervisor’s name. She informed me that her supervisor was Cassie, and that she was not in the hospital. I asked to speak to whoever is supervising her. Nurse Flor stated she is the supervisor, and that there is no one monitoring her. I asked to be transferred back to the operator so that I could talk to the President of the hospital. I talked to Mr. Abey. I left a message with him requesting a call from you. When Tracy called me again telling me her frustration after calling again to find out about her mother, I called Mr. Abey requesting your address, stating I would write this letter. Please assist us.
Thank you.
Fred Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS
cc:
http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/
Sacred Heart Nursing Home (fax)
