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American Medical Response Ambulance Services, Inc. American Medical Response (AMR), Emergency Medical Services Corporation (EMSC) technician caused fall and severe injury to Aventura Hospital patient (in Florida) who was already diagnosed with "Unstable Gait" and a "Fall Risk" when he asked her to get from her hospital bed Greenwood Village, Colorado
American Medical Response's Negligence Caused Patient Injury & Aventura Hospital's Charge Nurse...
See Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQIvUIMT_Dw
My name is Dina. On 12/20/2010, I sustained injuries from a terrible fall, during my discharge from Aventura Hospital. The EMS Technician from American Medical Response (http://www.amr.net/About-AMR/Corporate-Compliance.aspx) asked me to walk from my hospital bed to the gurney on my own- even though he knew my diagnosis was "unstable Gait" and he knew I was hospitalized for frequent falls. AMR and their claims representative have refused to accept liability- to date. My treatment for the left rib injury (by a specialist) has stopped, because AMR refuses to pay. Their action has left me no choice but to sue them and Aventura Hospital.
In this video, almost 5 hrs after my fall, I am still begging the Charge Nurse from Aventura Hospital for a wheelchair, so I can get to the hospital's emergency room- for treatment. The nurse never examined me nor questioned which areas I felt pain. I INSISTED OVER-AND-OVER ON BEING PHYSICALLY EXAMINED BY A DOCTOR- either in my hospital room or at the ER. This Charge Nurse made it clear- NO DOCTOR was going to be sent to my room and he refused to accommodate me with a wheelchair, so my son could at least wheel me to ER.
American Medical Response (AMR) was not picking me up to take me home. I was not well enough to go home yet. The AMR technicians were called to bring me to an in-patient physical rehabilitation facility for further care. Protocol requires EMTs and EMS technicians who are picking up a patient- to be familiar with the patient's diagnosis and required care prior and during transport. Also, both technicians are required to be present and assist the patient from and to the gurney and/or transport vehicle. I AM NOT SURE WHY THIS 1 TECHNICIAN REFUSED TO HELP ME GET TO THE GURNEY. I am also confused as to why the 2nd AMR technician out in the hospital's hallway- did not come in to help me. Please see: "Trauma Transport Protocols & Inter-facility Transport Guidelines (http://www.doh.state.fl.us/demo/trauma/transports.htm).
I had a "Fall Risk" band on my wrist; the large board in my hospital room stated my diagnosis as "Unstable Gait" and next to those words were written "Fall Risk;" and I told the technician that I had "problems with falling." What would you do if this happened to your mother, your sister, or your wife? Again, AMR to this date (08/24/2011) has refused to accept liability for my fall.
Do you think the hospital Charge Nurse and Administrator (on-duty) had some "hidden" motive to keep me from being examined by the ER doctor after I fell? By the way, when my son finally got me downstairs to Aventura Hospital's ER, the doctor nor the ER nurse ever had me to get into a hospital gown to be examined. He just sent me for x-ray and MRI and discharged me to home instead of calling a different transport company to take me to the in-patient rehabilitation facility where I was already registered to begin physical therapy.
Would you believe Aventura Hospital and Medical Center is rated as one of the top 100 hospitals in the nation- by the Joint Commission (http://www.jointcommission.org/report_a_complaint.aspx)?
To my disbelief, American Medical Response (AMR) states on their website, "Today, AMR is a leader in the emergency medical services sector which is known for implementing and providing the industry's best practices (http://www.amr.net/About-AMR/History.aspx).
Did AMR's technician disregard transport protocol because I am black? Was it because of something written in my chart or something missing? Has a similar tragedy ever happened to you or a family member? Was it by an AMR technician?
Please post your story about AMR or Aventura Hospital here or email me your hospital or ambulance horror story at (((ROR redacted))). If you have a video of the event or want to share your story by video, that would be great.
Thank you for taking the time to read my horror story. I still suffer left rib pain today.
CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Ozzie!
Deviot,Internet,
Australia
Sorry about your accident but....
#3Consumer Comment
Thu, August 25, 2011
I am genuinely sorry that you fell and hurt your rib. If your diagnosis was indeed as you say then I am indeed very surprised that they allowed you to try to walk to the gurney yourself. Especially when you told them that you felt uneasy about doing so. I am an RN and that seems incredibly irresponsible to me. I am in Australia, and I work in a public hospital. Here, you most certainly would have been checked out by a doctor in your room even if you stated you were fine and there was no obvious injury. Let alone if you had severe pain. That is our protocol. I am not familiar with the US hospital system, but it does not sound like you got very good care post your fall. You state you still have pain in a left rib. Do you mind if I ask if it was one rib, and whether it was broken? My hubby fell off of our house a few years back ( he was building it ) and broke five ribs. Such injuries can definitely be very painful indeed. His still ache very occasionally, especially in winter. Unfortunately, there is not a lot that can be done about it, and he just has to pop a couple of Panadol (aka Tylenol in the US ) if it is really bad. One thing however I do doubt. I don't think it was because you were black. Us white folk really do not seek out opportunities to hurt black people just because we don't like them. Really we don't. Anyway, I hope that things improve for you. Our attitude to the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" makes such a difference to how we get past them. Don't let this become the focus of your life. Easier said than done when you have pain, I acknowledge that. Thoughts truly with you. I hope you have the help you need.
Ken
Greeley,Colorado,
USA
Looks like you're already seeing the dollar signs in your eyes.
#3Consumer Comment
Thu, August 25, 2011
A quote from your post:
"Did AMR's technician disregard transport protocol because I am black?"
The old, tired race card, who couldn't see this one coming?
At least you weren't too subtle with it.