- Report: #816118
Complaint Review: Port St. Lucie Hospital Hospital Inc. - Port St. Lucie, FL 34952 Internet
Reported By:
Becky -
Kodiak, Alaska, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
Port St. Lucie Hospital Hospital Inc.
2550 SE Walton Road, Port St. Lucie, FL 34952, Internet, United States of America
Phone:
772.335.0400
Web:
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
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Port St. Lucie Hospital Hospital Inc. Marketing Agent Ed misrepresented facility as 21 day. Web site states 21 day. NOT SO. Filthy, understaffed, HIPPA rights violated by all staff. I suspect Medicare fraud, Internet
I went to this facility to detox from Oxycodone that was legally prescribed to me for 1 1/2 years by my Dr. for undiagnosed abdominal pain. After a surgery I willingly went to a Detox facility to get off of the drug. I am free of the drug to date. I also suffer from PTSD.
We found this facility via internet searches. We spoke to a man named Ed, who stated I would receive one on one counseling daily, excursions to the beach, a private room and a clean and up to date 28 day detox facility for dual diagnosis patients. He clearly stated I would not be placed with persons arrested (Baker Act) and placed in this facility by a judge. All of this was NOT true.
My HIPPA rights were violated the very first day and daily thereafter until I started requesting a private consulting area. All patient consultations take place in the open around up to 13 patients. Most at the front desk with a chair at the front counter.
The facility is filthy. The water pitcher on the counter used to dispense medications was never washed until I requested it. Patients were given the pitcher to fill for all other patients.The paint is peeling from the walls in places. It stinks unbearably in the facility. Smoking is permitted in a room outside without adequate ventilation. The whole ward reeked of cigarette smoke. Smoking was allowed directly off of main room. Second hand smoke was everywhere. We frequently ran out of drinking cups.
It is understaffed. We had 1 nurse and 1 aide for 13 persons. Medications were not given according to Dr. written prescriptions, but on nurse schedules only. When you asked for your medication you were spoken to rudely and ignored. Men and women went in and out of each others rooms. The doors could not be secured against anyone entering. Without enough staff, I was worried for my physical safety as this IS psychiatric facility containing Baker Acted person's without enough staff to watch the ward.
My blood pressure was severely high for 4 days. The visiting PA lied in a report he filed in my chart stating he saw me, then the report disappeared from my file. My insurance was charged for this fictitious visit. I was finally given a medication for my high blood pressure, but the time it was prescribed does not correspond with the Dr.'s prescription, which came later. This would be the only way you would be able to discover their lie, unless they altered my file again.
I never had a one on one psychological visit with a trained and certified psychologist. I never had a private room. In fact one room mate was in a wheel chair, and she could NOT reach the toilet.
I was told by my Psychiatrist that the facility was a 10-14 day facility only. The web site clearly states it is a 28 day facility.
I was told by all staff that people have been told lies routinely by the marketers since the early 1990"s, but they don't stop them from telling the lies. I flew from Kodiak AK to Florida on the basis of the man's(Ed) words.
I checked myself out early after Dr.'s prescriptions were routinely missing from my file. I requested a copy of my file which I have never received. I was not allowed to fill out an exit survey. I filed a grievance which was never answered. They were supposed to have a person speak to me about it within 24 hours.I never saw any such person.
We were only given 30 minutes to stand in line, receive, sit, eat, then clean up our area during meal times.
We were never taken to the beach. In fact there were days at a time that we were never allowed to go outside. Then it was for short 15-30 minute periods in which smokers smoked, and us non smokers had to stand apart from benches etc. to keep away from the smoke. It was in a fenced courtyard.
I sincerely worried about my physical safety in this facility. The Dr. had written to continue my protocol of taking Oxycodone for up to 3 more days. When I mentioned this to Nurse Mary, she grabbed my file and said, see, it is not there, you are finished. 2 days later it showed up in my file(when Nurse Mary was no longer there). I was already in a very uncomfortable withdrawal and wanted out of there so badly that I would not take any more Oxycodone because it would make my stay longer.
All phone calls to family were monitored without our knowledge. These phone calls had to take place in an open area with up to 15 people within hearing distance.
I was told I could bring my Kindle, it was taken away from me. I was not allowed to keep my phone, which has a camera so I can not include photos, or recordings of the blatant lies I was told. My toothbrush is a sonic care. It was taken away from me. I am just happy I carry a travel toothbrush or I would not have been able to brush my teeth.
I can not say enough to convey my sense of betrayal or worry for my physical and mental health in this facility. I believe it should be shut down, and/ or an undercover investigation take place. Undercover is the ONLY way you will see what is happening. I sincerely believe it needs a Medicare Audit. My file was changed routinely to cover the ineptness of the staff. When I questioned it, they would give me a dead pan look and state they knew nothing of what I was speaking about. They are all very adept at lying.
We found this facility via internet searches. We spoke to a man named Ed, who stated I would receive one on one counseling daily, excursions to the beach, a private room and a clean and up to date 28 day detox facility for dual diagnosis patients. He clearly stated I would not be placed with persons arrested (Baker Act) and placed in this facility by a judge. All of this was NOT true.
My HIPPA rights were violated the very first day and daily thereafter until I started requesting a private consulting area. All patient consultations take place in the open around up to 13 patients. Most at the front desk with a chair at the front counter.
The facility is filthy. The water pitcher on the counter used to dispense medications was never washed until I requested it. Patients were given the pitcher to fill for all other patients.The paint is peeling from the walls in places. It stinks unbearably in the facility. Smoking is permitted in a room outside without adequate ventilation. The whole ward reeked of cigarette smoke. Smoking was allowed directly off of main room. Second hand smoke was everywhere. We frequently ran out of drinking cups.
It is understaffed. We had 1 nurse and 1 aide for 13 persons. Medications were not given according to Dr. written prescriptions, but on nurse schedules only. When you asked for your medication you were spoken to rudely and ignored. Men and women went in and out of each others rooms. The doors could not be secured against anyone entering. Without enough staff, I was worried for my physical safety as this IS psychiatric facility containing Baker Acted person's without enough staff to watch the ward.
My blood pressure was severely high for 4 days. The visiting PA lied in a report he filed in my chart stating he saw me, then the report disappeared from my file. My insurance was charged for this fictitious visit. I was finally given a medication for my high blood pressure, but the time it was prescribed does not correspond with the Dr.'s prescription, which came later. This would be the only way you would be able to discover their lie, unless they altered my file again.
I never had a one on one psychological visit with a trained and certified psychologist. I never had a private room. In fact one room mate was in a wheel chair, and she could NOT reach the toilet.
I was told by my Psychiatrist that the facility was a 10-14 day facility only. The web site clearly states it is a 28 day facility.
I was told by all staff that people have been told lies routinely by the marketers since the early 1990"s, but they don't stop them from telling the lies. I flew from Kodiak AK to Florida on the basis of the man's(Ed) words.
I checked myself out early after Dr.'s prescriptions were routinely missing from my file. I requested a copy of my file which I have never received. I was not allowed to fill out an exit survey. I filed a grievance which was never answered. They were supposed to have a person speak to me about it within 24 hours.I never saw any such person.
We were only given 30 minutes to stand in line, receive, sit, eat, then clean up our area during meal times.
We were never taken to the beach. In fact there were days at a time that we were never allowed to go outside. Then it was for short 15-30 minute periods in which smokers smoked, and us non smokers had to stand apart from benches etc. to keep away from the smoke. It was in a fenced courtyard.
I sincerely worried about my physical safety in this facility. The Dr. had written to continue my protocol of taking Oxycodone for up to 3 more days. When I mentioned this to Nurse Mary, she grabbed my file and said, see, it is not there, you are finished. 2 days later it showed up in my file(when Nurse Mary was no longer there). I was already in a very uncomfortable withdrawal and wanted out of there so badly that I would not take any more Oxycodone because it would make my stay longer.
All phone calls to family were monitored without our knowledge. These phone calls had to take place in an open area with up to 15 people within hearing distance.
I was told I could bring my Kindle, it was taken away from me. I was not allowed to keep my phone, which has a camera so I can not include photos, or recordings of the blatant lies I was told. My toothbrush is a sonic care. It was taken away from me. I am just happy I carry a travel toothbrush or I would not have been able to brush my teeth.
I can not say enough to convey my sense of betrayal or worry for my physical and mental health in this facility. I believe it should be shut down, and/ or an undercover investigation take place. Undercover is the ONLY way you will see what is happening. I sincerely believe it needs a Medicare Audit. My file was changed routinely to cover the ineptness of the staff. When I questioned it, they would give me a dead pan look and state they knew nothing of what I was speaking about. They are all very adept at lying.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
g8orgirl
Fort Pierce,Florida,
Agree and disagree with above reports
#2Consumer Comment
Fri, May 10, 2013
I have been a patient at this facility approximately 4 times and I agree and disagree with the above reports. First I would like to point out that persons detained under the Baker Act have not been arrested, the Baker Act is Florida's name for an involuntary commitment to a mental health facility, it has nothing to do with being arrested or being in some sort of legal trouble. I can understand that the original poster was nervous about being on the same unit as people who have been Baker acted especially if she's never been in any kind of psychiatric facility. That being said, when I was at PSL hospital the involuntary patients (Baker acts) were kept on a seperate unit from the voluntary patients. When I was there this unit was known as the ITS (intensive treatment services) unit. If you were an involuntary patient you absolutely had to go on the ITS unit, no exceptions. I was placed on ITS once even though I was a voluntary patient, it happens when there are no other beds available on the other units.
As fas as the facility being filthy and/or dirty, I honestly didn't see that when I was there. In fact there was a cleaning crew that came in almost every day and cleaned the unit as well as the patient rooms and bathrooms. I was a patient there between 2008-2009 so maybe their cleaning policies changed since then. I agree that the smoking patios were not very well ventilated, the smoking patios are off the main living room area and it does smell like cigarette smoke quite badly at times. I'm not sure why the OP was told she would have a private room, there is only one private room on each unit. All the other rooms are doubles. I'm also not sure why she was told they would be taken on outings (to the beach) as I never saw that happen. As far as phone calls being monitored, I was not aware that this was going and if it was I was never told about it.
I have seen patients consulting with the doctors in open areas within hearing distance of the other patients. The particular unit I was on though the consulting took place in a small room away from the other patients. You are not allowed to bring in any electronic devices (cell phones, laptops, ipods etc.) so I'm also not sure why they would tell someone they could bring in a kindle. I can't comment on what was wriitten/not written in files and charts. I've never seen my own chart nor have I ever requested to do so.
I'm sorry the OP had a bad experience, I think she was expecting a rehab/detox facility and this facility is mostly considered a psychiatric hospital. I do agree that at times the units seemed understaffed and this could potentially be a problem in the future. My stays there weren't horrible but I've been in and out of psych hospitals quite a bit so I guess some of the stuff I'm just used to. I think overall this place is an okay facility, not the greatest but not the worst either. And I totally understand about running out of cups. When I was there we were given a styrafoam cup and told not to lose or misplace it as it would be our only cup on the unit. I though that was ridiculous, that they couldn't afford cups for the patients. Overall I would reccomend this facility to people who need to go inpatient for addiction and/or mental health issues. It is a private facility so one needs to have insurance. It's not fancy though, just your run of the mill psych/addiction facility. I do agree the inside needs some maintenance, this facillity has been around since about the mid 1980's (used to be Savannas hospital) and it hasn't really been updated.
Sonja
Lee,Massachusetts,
Port st lucie hospital rehab
#3Consumer Comment
Thu, April 04, 2013
My sister is there right now and has confirmed everything you
said about the place. She flew in from NY and was
told she is going to a "good place". I am afraid
for her safety like you were. She came down with
A bad cold/flu the night she got there and they
Took her cough drops (Ricola) from her,
and said she couldn't have them and last
night gave her 2 prescriptions AND some
cought syrup at the same time that could
potentially cause a severe drop in blood pressure
and respiratory depression...I hope to hear from
her this AM and have booked her ticket back for
this Monday I just hope she is ok still by then. I will ad
to this post after I hear back from her.
