I was in a car accident on November 25, 2009 on my way from Denver to Albuquerque. It happened just outside of Las Vegas, New Mexico. I swerved to avoid hitting an animal in the highway and my car flipped several times, but thank God and all my angels, I survived. I was taken by ambulance to Alta Vista Medical Center. As the ambulance doors were opened, one of the EMT's said we should take her to Albuquerque, but someone said, we're already here, let's leave her here. I was hurting all over, I had two big bumps on the side of my head, I was on a back board and had a neck brace on. I was at the mercy of the hospital until my family arrived. I was given morphine for the pain. I was in and out of consciousness (which I think was the morphine)and it was not until my son arrived that I was taken for MRI's and scans on my head and body. After the results came back, the ER doctor removed the back board and neck brace. The doctor's ordered more scans and xrays on my neck, head, left leg and arm (after they discovered I had insurance!) This doctor, Dr. Leyba, talked loudly at me and was condesending, as if I could not understand English. The nurse that was in the ER said that he had come from Phoenix and he seemed to having a hard time fitting in with the small town culture. I was then moved to the ICU and Dr. Leyba ordered the neck brace to put put back on and that I was to lay flat on my back until another doppler scan could be done on my neck.
It is sad that people are treated so badly, even when you do have insurance. What would have happened to me if my family had not been there? Who is there to speak on behalf of the people that have no other options?
Before my accident, the concept of "health disparities" was abstract, but now that I have experienced them, firsthand, it is now a passion! I want to collect ER stories to see if something can be done to improve patient care. I intend to follow up with the hospital board in Las Vegas and in Albuquerque to see how they can improve their services.
Please send your stories and help us to get these stories into the hands of the people that can change the status quo.
We would like to hear your stories about your experiences in emergency rooms. Are we trying to get access to all for a broken system?
ReplyDeleteI was in a car accident on November 25, 2009 on my way from Denver to Albuquerque. It happened just outside of Las Vegas, New Mexico. I swerved to avoid hitting an animal in the highway and my car flipped several times, but thank God and all my angels, I survived. I was taken by ambulance to Alta Vista Medical Center. As the ambulance doors were opened, one of the EMT's said we should take her to Albuquerque, but someone said, we're already here, let's leave her here. I was hurting all over, I had two big bumps on the side of my head, I was on a back board and had a neck brace on. I was at the mercy of the hospital until my family arrived. I was given morphine for the pain. I was in and out of consciousness (which I think was the morphine)and it was not until my son arrived that I was taken for MRI's and scans on my head and body. After the results came back, the ER doctor removed the back board and neck brace. The doctor's ordered more scans and xrays on my neck, head, left leg and arm (after they discovered I had insurance!) This doctor, Dr. Leyba, talked loudly at me and was condesending, as if I could not understand English. The nurse that was in the ER said that he had come from Phoenix and he seemed to having a hard time fitting in with the small town culture. I was then moved to the ICU and Dr. Leyba ordered the neck brace to put put back on and that I was to lay flat on my back until another doppler scan could be done on my neck.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad that people are treated so badly, even when you do have insurance. What would have happened to me if my family had not been there? Who is there to speak on behalf of the people that have no other options?
Before my accident, the concept of "health disparities" was abstract, but now that I have experienced them, firsthand, it is now a passion! I want to collect ER stories to see if something can be done to improve patient care. I intend to follow up with the hospital board in Las Vegas and in Albuquerque to see how they can improve their services.
Please send your stories and help us to get these stories into the hands of the people that can change the status quo.