Fairview Medical Center, read this horror story and be ashamed!

Take a trip with me, dear reader, into the depths of shame. The shame belongs to Fairview Medical Center, a string of ignorant health workers and our medical system in general.

Our story begins with my friend Nancy, not her real name, a Phd candidate from a developing Asian country studying some pretty involved sciences in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Nancy got hurt. As much as she loved being outdoors and playing sports, her back hurt real, real bad. So she went to Fairview for treatment, and after a horrendous surgical experience in the hospital, she can barely move. So she's quitting her Phd program and returning home, which is a loss to Minnesota's academic community and a loss to all those Minnesotans and Americans who would benefit from the highly specialized knowledge Nancy brings to her field.

But don't take my word for it. Here's my friend Nancy, in her own words to me via chat the other day:

Message 1:
I was pretty depressed and discussing it with you does help me. To be honest with you, although my physical is getting better, my mentally stage is getting no where. The first day, I couldn't stand >1 min. On the second day, all I could do was 2 mins, then yesterday, it was 3 mins, and today, well... we'll see after I see the specialist this afternoon. It was horribly painful. I scream so loud in the ER because both local anesthesia and the injected pain killer didn't work well (they rushed the procedure b4 the pain killer took effects due to the limited number of rooms and beds for the next patient).

Message 2:
i'm
miss home so... much
especially after that traumatic event in the ER
makes me hate U.S.'s health care systems
i was waiting for a bed to be available for 2-3 hours
n was rush to get out off the room almost right after they finished cutting me

Message 3:
Friday ER was worse than average hospitals in (my home country, which is a developing country)
Fairview
sick, coughing people were laying down on the floor
only one Triad nurse to screen everyone, even though I had a referal
after screening I was wheelchaired back to wait again. no foods, no drinks because I couldn't walk

Message 4:
i had to ask a guy who came w his sick wife to find water for me
i was almost fainted since my first meal was 9 am.
i was dropped in front of the Triad (screening nurse) by Boynton, the U of M's clinic before 3 pm

Message 5:
I was screened at almost 4 pm
despite the fact that there was only one patient before me
the nurse were busy entering those required information into the Epic, fancy electronic medical record system, which i think it is a huge waste of time.
she had to focus more on the system instead of caring for patients

Message 6:
there were 5 patients after me before screening
after screening there were 10-12 people in the waiting area. many came alone just like me
waiting to be treated w no medical attention at all
there is a sign that the priority is for severe patients. although, it makes sense. patients who are waiting wouldn't be able to get in unless they pass out
because there is noone to check on them while they are waiting for screening
n this hospital claimed they are ranking #1 in many areas because they care
i don't think so
anyway, after screening (waiting for about an hour), despite the referral sheets from the nurse from the clinic who brought me and filled out a form for me, i had to wait for almost 2 hours for the bed/room to be available

Message 7:
i thought most people were more like me who had to come because most specialty clinics only work 8am-5pm M-F
my physician was not familiar w my case which i heard from my specialist later that he did his best by consulting the on-call specialist n w the resource he had
yet i consulted three specialists later n found out it was not the best treatment i could have
i'm ok w it now n understand my treatment options, partly because i'm a health professional myself, yet i can't imagine how terrify it would be for those w/o medical background
waiting in a crowed space to medical attention w coughing people laying down the floor
i meant waiting in a crowed space w/o medical attention next to coughing people laying down the floor
technology is supposed to help people work faster, not distancing and distracting providers from patients who deserved medical attention
U.S. health care systems invest so much on electronic medical records, but is this making it worse!!!
i was asked the many same questions more than three times for each, even though they were on my referral sheets.
n i have been their patient for years, went to the same ER twice since 2010. imagine how long would it take for the new patient w/o a company
in short, i think #1 worst was the understaffing to screen n taking care of patients while waiting, especially when they already know that each patient has to wait for at least a few hours
a few hours seem to be short for most people, but it was like forever for sick people
#2 worst is investing on objects (i.e., technology), but lack of realizing patients as a human/client/customer
#3 worst, the doctor has a very little to spend on each patient.

there were lots of nurses on the station that day, chatting, laughing, yet i was left alone in the room waiting forever
i really thiink some of those laughters should be out in the waiting room or helping out the one Triad/screening nurse to take care or deal w that Epic system
i heard some other patients said they may switch the insurance or hospital. they could have save their patients/customers if they have just one staff outside in the screen/waiting area
this was the third time I went to Fairview ER and it is getting worse every time, especially with the waiting time and process
i'd not go to Fairview if I have other options
please feel free to let me know if u need more info. i look forward to reading your blog.