INCOMPASSIONATE PHYSICIANS AT ARMC

You would think when a family member or friend is in the hospital, especially the Critical Care Unit, you would receive comfort and compassion from the physician and nursing staff. That is not the case at Abilene Regional Medical Center. After the physician made the senseless mistake of injecting a drug into my mother's body against her wishes and ours, and she was rushed back to the critical care unit, it was as though WE, the family members, had made the mistake. After being verbally assaulted by the physician in CCU, it was very difficult to even find a physician to talk to. If you are familiar with Abilene Regional's Critical Care Unit you are aware they have limited visitation times. When we asked a nurse to speak to the physician, we were told he had already been around. DURING NO VISITATION HOURS. How convenient. On one occasion, we had contacted the physician by phone and he stated he would meet with us the next morning. When he failed to show, we asked the nurse and she stated he had been around earlier and we had missed him. Once again, it was during NO VISITATION HOURS. I contacted the physician by phone and he stated, "I guess I am not aware of visitation hours." You would think the CCU physician after all the years would know the CCU visitation hours. But once again, this IS Abilene Regional Medical Center. There is one physician that WOULD come around, the nutty infectious disease doctor that would only talk about lawsuits. Those are really compassionate physicians at Abilene Regional. Most hid and avoided the issue, but sent the nuttiest one to talk to the family about lawsuits.

COMMENTS FROM AN EMPLOYEE AT ARMC

AS POSTED ON JOBVENT.COM:

Abilene, Texas: "Oh my god, this is the worst place ever. As a healthcare worker who works in this hospital- I personally recommend people NOT to come here. Believe me, if you ever get in a wreck, don't go to this hospital."
This was posted by an employee of Abilene Regional Medical Center.

I have spoken with several current and former employees of Abilene Regional Medical Center who are extremely unhappy about events that have occured at the hospital over the years.

During the most recent conversation with the attorney for the owners of Abilene Regional Medical Center, he admitted there were problems but claimed they are working on correcting them. The question is, How many more patients and families have to suffer due to the these problems at ARMC??????

HOW ABILENE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER COMPARES TO OTHER HOSPITALS

Would patients recommend the hospital to friends and family? ARMC scored 60%

How do patients rate the hospital overall? ARMC = 58%

How often was the area around patients' rooms kept quiet at night? ARMC = 59%

How often were the patients' rooms and bathrooms kept clean? ARMC = 66%

How often did staff explain about medicines before giving them to patients? ARMC = 57%

How often was patients' pain well controlled? ARMC = 62%

How often did patients receive help quickly from hospital staff? ARMC = 54%

How often did nurses communicate well with patients? ARMC = 67%

ABILENE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER SCORED BELOW AVERAGE ON ALL BUT ONE OF THE QUESTIONS ON THE SURVEY.

THE VICTIMS OF ABILENE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

The attorney for Abilene Regional Medical Center called me several weeks ago and claimed he was arranging a meeting with the VP's of Abilene Regional Medical Center and he would see to it that we receive an "Apology." Thanks for the offer Mr. Serpe but after one year, it is alittle too late for an apology.
Since this ordeal began, I have met numerous patients and families who have experienced problems with Abilene Regional Medical Center. I am working on getting approval to start listing the physicians and staff of Abilene Regional Medical Center at the center of these problems. This includes cases where physicians or nursing staff administered the wrong medication, too much medication, failure to document important information, as well as numerous other mistakes. This should create an uproar but I am concerned about the safety of patients and future patients of Abilene Regional Medical Center.
I hope to start posting details within a couple of weeks.

ABILENE PHYSICIAN'S HORRENDOUS LIE

During the physician's relentless attempt to talk myself and my family out of filing a lawsuit, the physician stated his mother went through the same thing our mother was experiencing. He went on to say his mother passed away during surgery years ago and it was still very hard. Later, we read in a local newspaper where this particular physician's mother was visiting Abilene from another state. It was later verified, his mother is alive and well. I am very glad to hear she is alive, but how low can a person go??????
This physician also contacted my niece in New Mexico and informed her the news that her grandmother had passed away. This is BEFORE we could even notify her. I personally believe this physician is out of control. I have talked to others and have been told of their experiences with this same physician.
The nurses and others I have spoken to all had one word to describe this physician: "WEIRDO".

SILENCE FROM ARMC

Mission Statement:
Abilene Regional Medical Center is committed to providing quality healthcare in a safe, comfortable and compassionate environment.

At Abilene Regional Medical Center, we're here to enhance the quality of your life. We accomplish that goal by creating an environment that fosters physician participation, recognizes the value and contributions of our employees and strives to meet the unique health care needs of the area we serve.




One year ago this month, the staff at Abilene Regional Medical Center disregarded our mother's and our demands to not have a certain drug given to her again. Sadly, she was rushed back to CCU and never recovered. During this ordeal at ARMC, I was yelled at in CCU by the physician in front of my family, nurses, other patients, and visitors. We were visited by another physician who could only talk about lawsuits. (We had never discussed lawsuits) This was in our mother's CCU room as she lay there about to pass away. Very compassionate doctors they have at ARMC. We attempted to talk to the physician in charge of our mother's care, but he kept dodging us. Later, he stated he wasn't sure of CCU visitation hours and evidently came when we weren't able to visit. There is more. ALOT MORE. I have to wait to release that information. Including the autopsy report.
Meanwhile, the administration at ARMC is extremely quiet. No phone calls, no letters answered. I assume they believe this will fade away. It will not. I am concerned about the publics safety. Is this a rare experience at ARMC or does it happen often. We have spoken with numerous families with stories about ARMC. I have news for those of you who have had similiar problems with the hospital. Please feel free to contact me.
Also, ARMC, I recommend you update your mission statement.

Abilene Regional Medical Center: DID THEY COMMIT MURDER???

Should a hospital and or physicians be charged with assault or even murder when going against a patient's request not to be given a certain drug? Should patients and their families overlook this as "just a mistake." I don't think so. Has this happened before? According to numerous families I have spoken with, there are far too many mistakes being made at Abilene Regional Medical Center.
When a mistake is made, is it right for a hosptial such as Abilene Regional Medical Center to ignore a patient's family and the questions they have?
The truth is Abilene Regional Medical Center is very fearful of a lawsuit. After all, they are the first and only to bring it up. They know this is going to be very public and they will continue to receive negative publicity. Mike Murphy, you claim to have an open door policy when questions or conflict arise. Are you going to come forward and discuss this????? If not, please update your website and admit you will dodge any questions a family may have regarding mistakes you make at your hospital.
Also, when you place an ad for help wanted, you can add, CRIMINALS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.
You can't deny it. I have a list of names of the employees with criminal records employed by your hospital. Maybe that explains why there are so medical mistakes and victims at your hospital. Maybe they aren't mistakes.
If the attorney for ARMC is reading this, it has been several weeks since you contacted me and claimed you are arranging a meeting with the staff at ARMC. I am still waiting.