SERIOUSLY!!! Part 2

Hello Followers,

After much feedback on my blog entry SERIOUSLY!!! I did go forward and wrote a letter to the hospital in regards to everything that occurred.  It went in the mail yesterday.  The letter is below.

The word of the day is rhythmic but I can not put it in the letter as it would alter the original content.

Until Tomorrow….

February 17, 2017

Dr. Thorton,

My name is Bruce and on February 12, 2016 I understand that you were one of the main people that saved my life.  If you don’t remember my story, I was taken into your hospital by ambulance with a Sudden Cardiac event.  I must of been unconscious when you intercepted me at Sturdy as I do not remember two weeks of my life starting on that day.  You ended up getting me stable enough to transport to Boston Medical Center where I remained in the ICU.  If you are not aware of the outcome, I ended up with two strains of pneumonia, a collapsed lung, and a major heart event.  I was in a coma for two weeks in the ICU, when I woke up they decided it was in my best interest to insert a pacemaker/defibrillator inside of me.

I am so grateful for everyone that played an important role in my life.  I have met the dispatcher as well as the paramedics that played a part in this.  I have also returned to BMC to thank the doctors and nurses in the ICU.  However, the one person I haven’t had a chance to thank is you and I wanted to do it in person.  I have attempted to meet you about a half of dozen times when either my wife or I was at the hospital for routine care.  I would always stop at the Emergency Room desk to see if you were on shift.  For the most, I was told that you were not working, however on Monday, January 30, 2017,  I had a much different experience that I would like you to be aware of.  I have also CC below other people that I feel need to hear about this.

On January 30^th, 2017,  I came into the hospital for a CT scan.  I had my appointment, which was very traumatic because I needed to have contrast and it was the first time since my event that I was on a table once again.  Afterwards, while I was there, I checked in at the ER desk to see if you were on or at least figure out a time when I could meet you.  As usual, I told the receptionist why I was there and what you had done a year ago.  She asked me to have a seat and that a patient liaison would be right with me.  About 15 minutes later, a member of security asked me to come with him so he could talk to me.  I was then taken to a corner of the ER, near the door, and integrated, belittled, and embarrassed on the reason that I was there to see you.

He then told me that he understood that I had stopped in before and asked about meeting you and that the emergency staff was uncomfortable with that.  He told me that this was inappropriate for me to do this.  I was completely and utterly shocked of what he was saying.  I mean, I did nothing wrong, but wanting the chance to say thank you, in person, to the person that saved my life.  I was asked not to return and ask for you in the future and that I may want to try to write you a letter and see if you wanted to even meet me.  I was applaud, disappointed, heart broken, and felt like I was being treated like a felon.

I am now scared to even come back to the emergency room because I do not want to be stared at by staff or security that was there during that day.  I really would like an apology from security for the way I was treated and still would like the opportunity to thank you in person.  Anyone could have gone into my medical record and checked out what I was saying was true.  I held nothing back from them including my full name and birth date.  I am very disappointed in this whole ordeal.

Also, I have spoken to my counselor, my family, and many friends about this situation and they were shocked about how that this matter was handled.  It also shed a negative light on what people thought about the hospital.  This never ever was my intent.

If I never get a chance to thank you in person, I would like you to know how thankful I truly am for of all of your hard work and dedication taking care of me that day.  I am literally alive because of you.  My entire family, especially my wife, thanks you for not giving up on me that day in February.

Sincerely,

Bruce

cc:

Director of Security

Director of Emergency Room Medicine

Patient Relations Department