Before I give my opinions to this matter, I'll share some few things that happened in the ER, in the OR, and the ward. First of all, I want to mention that the government hospital is a tertiary hospital with approximately 300 bed capacity which is located in Manila. (DAY 1) At the emergency room, we were endorsed to the neurology department but later transferred to the ER surgery department. They were evaluating our relative and after the evaluation, the doctors did not bother to tell us what's going on. We were asking nurses, and doctors as well, but we seem to be invisible to them. Of course, we got a little bit anxious and just like any hospital, they immediately respond to anxious relatives. They told us that they needed to run another set of exams, x-ray and CT scan. After these tests, they concluded that surgery is needed. They gave us a list of medicines needed for the operation. We bought it and gave it to them and they told us to wait outside the hospital until the operation was done. When the operation was done, we still could not see our relative, even when she was transferred at the ICU. And yes, we were still outside the hospital waiting to be called in case anything was needed. (DAY 2) When she was transferred to the ward, we finally saw her. After 24 hours of staying outside the hospital and restlessly waiting if our names would be called, we were finally able to go inside the hospital. The ward was clean, as they claim it. The small cockroaches freely crawling around the ward would say otherwise. Nurses can be frequently seen, I guess the RN heals project of our government has proved its efficacy. I do hope that they are compensated justly. Ironically, the response of the nurse's station is slow. Frequent follow-up is needed.
But the slowest response became the fatal one. (DAY 3) It was around 2 a.m. when we told the nurse station that the patient seems to have difficulty in breathing. The nurse in charge claimed that she already called for the resident doctor. As we have timed it, the doctor came more than 1 hour after we reported that the patient seems to have trouble breathing. After a few minutes after the doctor came, our relative was pronounced dead due to cardiac arrest probably secondary to acute myocardial infarction (heart attack).
The doctor did not even had the courage to explain what really happened. We only found out that cause of death was cardiac arrest secondary to AMI when we had the death certificate.
I don't know how to start and give comments about this matter. It's hard to separate your professionalism from your own personal experience as a patient's relative. I will try to be fair in choosing my words.
First, doctors or any health workers for that matter should be fair to all types of patients: rich or poor, charity patients or paying patients, indigent or not. It would also be easing for the relatives if doctors would talk them and give them an idea of what the patient is going through. Being uninformed makes the patient and the relatives restless. ICU and OR are restricted areas of the hospitals. Its sterility have to be maintained. But I have to point out that it would be decent if there is a proper waiting area for the relatives. "Cleanliness is next to godliness" as the saying goes. For crying out loud, it is a hospital. Being clean is not an option. It is a must. And get rid of your pest problems. I was actually pleased with the performance of the nurses especially the ones in the RN Heals program. I got nothing but praises. Finally, the biggest issue here is the response time. I don't know how many residents are supposed to be monitoring the wards. But all I can say is either the doctor is trying to revive another patient during that time or the doctor is simply negligent. It is your duty to save people's live. You made an oath, not the patient's relatives nor me. I have to strongly address that being late for more than one hour after being informed is unacceptable.
Going back memory lane and meeting old friends brings smile. Losing a loved one in a hospital you used to work for bring tears. Not just ordinary tears. These are tears of sorrow, tears of anger and tears of disappointment. I was hoping for something great when I re-entered that hospital especially after seeing some good old friends. But the story was different, there might have even been some patient negligence. It was a disappointing return indeed.
To all my fellow Med Teks and health workers, please treat every patient with utmost respect. Never mind if the patient is paying or indigent. Always remember that the patient is someone's relative, brother, sister, mother, father, best friend, family, or a loved one. To all the nurses, Med Teks, health pros and doctors to that government hospital that are giving their best everyday, thank you and job well done. To a certain Dr. G of that hospital, may you always sleep well at night.
Dedicated to our Ate Helen... May you Rest in Peace!
Evangelina "Ate Helen" Barroso (06/06/1950 - 05/15/2013)
