Update: December 29, 2006
On December 27, 2006 and December 28, 2006 I called Oak Forest Hospital requesting to speak to Mr. Tony Maverick, Director of Oak Forest Hospital's Emergency Room. After writing the letter of December 2, 2006, Mr. Maverick called me on or about December 11, 2006. We discussed my issues. Mr. Maverick suggested I call Robbins Clinic, Cottage Grove or Woody Winston Health Center for aftercare services in order to get my medication. Mr. Maverick informed me that if I called one of these aftercare facilities and was put in the system computer that I had an appointment, I could come back to Oak Forest Hospital and get medication until I had my appointment. I called each one.
Robbins Clinic and Woody Winston Health Center were not taking any patients. I talked to Cottage Grove speaking to the administrator Ms. Donald who informed me I could get on a "written" waiting list, which did not put me in the system computer, but allowed me to get an appointment in July of 2007.
I have attempted to call Mr. Maverick on the dates above to inform him of this "written" waiting list, which would not show up in their system computer because it is not put in the computer. The receptionist who answers the phone at 708-633-4270 states she put my telephone message in Mr. Maverick's hand on December 28, 2006. Mr. Maverick did not call me back. I left another message with her on December 28, 2006. Mr. Maverick has not and did not call me back. I informed the receptionist I had 3-days worth of medication left when I called on December 27, 2006.
On or about December 15, 2006 I received a "Limit of Liability" statement from the Cook County Bureau Health Services. It states I have qualified for the Cook County Bureau of Health Services Limit of Liability Program, which will take care of my health care bills for the next year. I called Mr. Maverick to see if this letter is sufficient to acquire services for receiving my medication. I am awaiting his call.
Update: December 2, 2006
December 2, 2006
Cook County Bureau of Health Services
Oak Forest Hospital
Dr. Conture, Emergency Room Director
15900 South Cicero Avenue
Oak Forest, Illinois 60452
Re: Emergency Room Visit on November 16, 2006
Dr. Conture:
On November 16, 2006 I visited the emergency room at Oak Forest Hospital. After the doctor examined me for my high blood pressure, which I informed them of, he prescribed the following medication for me: Hydrochlorothiazide and Toprol-XL. After looking at the prescription, I noticed there was no refill on it. My attending physician was Dr. Koctin Go. I informed the doctor, along with informing other nurses in charge of taking my vitals, I had refills given to me before on my prescriptions from this emergency room. The doctor informed me the emergency room does not give refills with their prescriptions. I informed the doctor his statement is not true. The doctor did not give me a refill.
I visited the emergency room on or about August 17, 2006 for the same issues of high blood pressure. I was given the same medication and the prescription had 3 refills attached to it. My attending physician was Dr. Cory Cunningham in the emergency room, on this date. Why is there a difference, between your staff, in the operation of this emergency room?
After my visit on August 17, 2006, the nurse who gave me my prescription, who had me sign my discharge papers, informed me the hospital will call me for my follow up visit for intake. I never received the call. After calling repeatedly leaving messages and getting a return phone call and after my prescriptions ran out, I was forced to visit your emergency room again on November 16, 2006. I called and talked to an individual before my visit of November 16, 2006 who informed me I would have to visit your emergency room again because I did not follow up with getting an appointment in your clinic. After informing this person of what I had been going through, she informed me this is the way the hospital makes their money if people do not follow up with services suggesting I visit the emergency room on a Wednesday or Thursday and it might not be crowded. November 16, 2006 was a Thursday. There was only one other person before me. I was able to get out of your emergency room in “3 hours.”
Sir, please explain what is going on? Are your doctors authorized to give refills with their prescriptions? Why is there a disparity with your physicians? Why are the employees giving messages like a received stating the hospital is making money on people by making them revisit the emergency room? An emergency room visit payment is much higher than a regular medical office visit. There is something shady going on.
Please review and comment. I will post this letter on my website at http://click.townhall.com/, along with posting with the letters I have written about this hospital on my other website at http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/. I hope to get comments from you and get a prescription for refills on my medication, without having to pay another emergency room bill for services I should have received as aftercare.
Respectfully submitted,
Fred Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS
cc: Ms. Bobbie Steele/Mr. Todd Stroger, Cook County Board President
http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/
August 17, 2006
Cook County Bureau of Health Services
Oak Forest Hospital of Cook County
Mr. Martin Grant, Director of Pharmacy
15900 South Cicero Avenue
Oak Forest, Illinois 60452-4006
Re: Emergency Room Visit and Prescription/Medication pick-up
Mr. Grant:
I, Fred Nance Jr., visited the emergency room on August 17, 2006 at 8:00 am. My visit concerned high blood pressure prescription medication. After being triaged and visiting with the Physician Assistant, I was given a prescription for medication.
Upon arrival at the pharmacy department, the young lady informed me I would have to wait 1 ½ hours for my medication to be filled. This young lady informed me my prescription was the only one present at this time. It was approximately 9:35 am. The young lady also informed me I should be glad I only have to wait 1 ½ hours because the waiting time is usually 3 to 5 hours. This is ludicrous.
Please explain why it takes so long to get a prescription filled. While I was waiting, 6 other patients, seeking prescriptions filled, were told they would have to wait an hour for their prescription medication.
The concern for me is of low value. My greatest concern is the elderly and those individuals who may be really sick. It should not take hours to get a prescription filled, especially if it is not crowded. Please respond. The public would like to know also.
As I was leaving the hospital, the young lady who waited on me apparently was going on break. I suggest she was going on break because she asked another employee if they were ready to go on break. I would bet the employees of Oak Forest Hospital do not miss going on their breaks on time. Do you think the waiting time for prescriptions to be filled is because someone is slacking in their responsibilities of care? Time should be utilized working to provide optimal care to patients. This is a ridiculous situation.
Respectfully submitted,
Fred L Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS
cc: Ms. Sylvia Edwards, COO; Mr. John Stroger, Commissioner (fax copies only)
http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/ or C.L.I.C.K. for Justice and Equality
Our tax money goes toward this type service. This appears to be the normal operating procedure of Oak Forest Hospital's emergency room. Take a peak inside when you have time.
October 11, 2005
Cook County Bureau of Health Services
Oak Forest Hospital
Dr. Conture, Emergency Room Director
15900 South Cicero Avenue
Oak Forest, Illinois 60452
Re: Emergency Room Visit October 10, 2005
Dr. Conture:
On October 10, 2005, I, Fred L Nance Jr. (Fred), and my brother, Ray A. Nance (Ray), visited the Emergency Room of Oak Forest Hospital. Ray has prostrate cancer, which has developed into a bone cancer with severe pain to the left side of his body. We visited Oak Forest Hospital’s emergency room for Ray’s pain and to enlist his enrollment into Oak Forest’ Oncology outpatient clinic. When Ray called Oak Forest Hospital about his pain, along with his attempt to enroll in Oak Forest Hospital’s outpatient Oncology clinic, he was told he had to go to the emergency room to get a referral to the Oncology clinic.
We arrived at Oak Forest Hospital’s emergency room at 11:31 pm. Ray informed the triage nurse, Sophie, of his extreme pain giving history of his diagnosis of prostrate cancer, along with supporting documentation. Ray informed Sophie he was just released from Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s hospital on or about October 7, 2005. Ray informed Sophie the pain was not under control.
At 3:15 am Fred approached the officer on duty requesting to use the phone in the emergency room to call a supervisor about the poor/no service for Ray. The officer gave his permission to use the phone. I called the operator requesting to speak to a supervisor for the emergency room. Ms. Vance called me back. She said she was the supervisor on duty for the emergency room. I gave Ms. Vance all the pertinent information about Ray so she could make an informed decision as to urgency of his need. Ms. Vance informed me she had talked to someone who would come and talk with us.
I approached the triage nurse and she said she would check Ray’s vitals. I refused this and stated we wanted to see a doctor as requested of her supervisor. Sophie informed us she called the charge nurse and told him we wanted to speak to him. No one came to talk to us. I called for the supervising nurse again at 3:35 am. The operator did not answer the phone. I continued to call the operator of Oak Forest Hospital until 4:10 am without getting an answer. I informed emergency room duty officer Causey at 4:10 am stating I could not get an answer from the operator on the phone. Officer Causey informed me he had no way of contacting the operator of the facility. Officer Causey got on his radio, started talking to someone. At approximately 4:15 am, another client requested to use the phone. She called looking for the supervisor of the emergency room because she had been waiting to see a doctor for 5 hours. The operator answered the phone.
At approximately 4:20 am, Charge Nurse Tanwa Dawodu called Ray and 4 others. I informed Nurse Dawodu I would write his supervisor about the poor service of Oak Forest Emergency Room. Nurse Dawodu stated, “You can write whoever you want it don’t mean nothing to me.”
A physician did not see Ray until approximately 5:10 am. Ray was given a referral to the outpatient Oncology clinic. Ray sat in his personal wheel chair for almost 6-hours waiting to see a doctor. He was in pain described by him to Nurse Sophie and Ward as being an “8”. We left Oak Forest Hospital at 5:45 am.
During all of this it should be noted, Nurse Joelle Ward was very professional and caring about Ray and the services needed for his care. She was very cordial and polite at a time when Ray was in pain.
Therefore, I would hope an investigation into the matters of comprehensive and optimal services needed in the emergency room of Oak Forest Hospital be expedited immediately. People who enter the emergency room should be treated according to priority and with dignity. People with severe traumas and pain must be seen in a timely fashion. Charge Nurse Dawodu informed me he had a 7-hour window to see a patient. This ludicrous and absurd. Charge Nurse Dawodu was very unprofessional. When Ray and I did get to the back where patient’s were being seen, I heard a lot of laughter and talking from staff. It appeared to be more of a playground than a professional area on concern for patients visiting an emergency room.
I think I know how an emergency room may operate. I worked as an emergency room psychiatric therapist for the mentally ill at St. Bernard Hospital in Chicago.
Since talking to colleagues about my experiences with Oak Forest Hospital’s emergency room, I have heard there have been many complaints about services. I am an outsider. If I can get this type of information from the outside, I know the insiders have the same information. Someone is not acting.
I will post this issue on my website for public viewing. I would hope Mr. John Stroger’s office and you will act in a responsible and professional manner about this issue.
cc: Mr. John Stroger
http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/
