Doctor Professionalism

On Friday, I awoke at the same time to prepare for a long day at the hospital. I got my things and Sabrina ready for the days activities. I drove the 20 minutes to my mother-in-laws and placed the still sleeping child in bed, before heading to Bluefield Regional Hospital in Bluefield, WV.

I arrived at 8:30 to find that my grandmother had already been taken down for her procedure. I sat quietly in the surgical waiting room, listening to another family discussing their relatives problems and current surgery. A short time later my father, grandfather, and uncle appeared around the corner. We finally found my other uncle a few minutes later in another part of the hospital, in another waiting room. My grandmother's procedure was finished by 9:30.

We returned with her to her room on the third floor of the hospital. She was doing great. She had to lay flat for a couple of hours and if everything went well she was told she could go home in 6 hours. She was happy, she doesn't like hospitals much. Little did we know what was to come later.

Here recently Bluefield Regional Medical Center has been getting a lot of print time in the local newspaper. These articles claim that the service provided here have been below standard. I have to give them praise this time. I was concerned that we would be waiting all day just for the staff to take her down for her procedure. I was happily surprised when I arrived at 8:30 to find she was already having the procedure. The nursing staff was prompt and helpful. The nurse who took care of my grandmother was very nice and professional. She should be recognized by the hospital as an outstanding employee. I had no complaints about the nursing staff or hospital in general, and if you know me and hospitals that's saying a lot. I did have another problem, one in which I have never encountered before.

At around 11:30 or so, we were visited by a doctor. He was not the doctor that had performed the procedure, but seemed to know about it. He came in to ask some questions. He seemed quite intelligent, but there was something about him, I could not put my finger on it, that I just did not like. He continued to talk on and on and on until finally he said it. "I think we should keep you here tonight and run some more tests to find out what is going on." Now my grandmother is visibly upset. The reason for her being so upset is because about 3 weeks ago she spent 4-5 days in this same hospital undergoing a battery of tests only to find out very little. She speaks up and tells him this. He states he will need time to look at her testing records to find what he can do for her.

I finally speak up and ask him how long he would need to look at those records and when could we expect him back to talk to us. I do not feel that what I said or asked is out of the ordinary. I mean it seems to me that he should expect this type of question and reaction from patients and patient family. He glared at me and stated around 3 o'clock. I said OK and turned to my grandmother and told her not to get upset, we will just wait and see what he has planned and decide later whether she should stay or not. By the look on his face, I don't think he liked this.

We all had lunch and began the long wait. At around 2:45, I left to meet my mother-in-law to pick up Sabrina. I brought her back to the hospital. I knew that having Sabrina there would give us all something to do and brighten every ones outlook. She has that effect in this family. Time keeps marching on - 3, 4, 5 o'clock. No doctor. I finally ask the nurse. She informs me that she will do her best to find him, but he is the doctor on call. About 30 minutes later she returns to tell me she can't find him. I politely state that he was supposed to look at her records and discuss what he plans to do or ,if there are no other tests, release her. She states she will beep him.

About 30 minutes later she calls the room to tell us that the doctor will be in shortly. Now here comes the moment of truth for my reason for titling this post Doctor Professionalism. This doctor walks into the room, my grandmother says quietly and kindly "I want to go home." and the @#@& hits the fan. He has the gall to throw his hand up, in the way you would if you were a teenager stating talk to the hand, in the direction of my grandmother and states "I can't deal with someone like this". Holy Crap!!!!! OH NO, YOU DIDN"T!!!!!!

I let it go, I did not fly off the handle, although I should have. He informs us that if we want to know what's going on (referring to my father, grandfather and myself) then we needed to walk outside into the hallway. I stand up and walk out with them, Sabrina in tow. Within 3 minutes, I would be mad enough to kill this man in the hospital hallway. Sabrina is 3 years old and active and at this time she chooses to scamper over the man's feet, while he is talking.

He has another unnecessary outburst. I reach for Sabrina as he informs me that "This is a hospital for adults, that's why he never brought his children and I should control my child! This he states is not the pediatric ward!" I felt fire emit from both of my eye balls, I say not a word, but I have had it with this Man! I continue to listen to his explanation of my grandmothers condition. All the while watching that Sabrina is CONTROLLED!

He speaks to my father and grandfather, but never again makes eye contact with me, until..... After listening to his drawn out explanations and examples (treating us like we have no clue about simple human body functions) and still not hearing anything about what new tests he would like to have done, I speak up again. "So, what you are saying is that there is no other tests you can perform, and you can give her the medicine that she needs and send her home!" If looks could kill I would be dead. This "professional" reiterates "Well if I was not so rudely interrupted I could explain what I think should be done." "That's all I need to Know! I'll get granny ready to go home!" I state and return to her room to help her dress. We sign her discharge papers and leave a short time later.


Here is my problem. I do not feel that this doctor ever planned on returning to discuss results that afternoon. When I pressed the nurse to his where abouts and she beeped him, this ticked him off. When he entered the room, he was already pissed off at me at calling his bluff. He has no private practice that I can find on record in Bluefield WV or VA. He is new to BRMC, because it still states on the VA state Board of Medicine website that he works in Roanoke. He has only had a license to practice in WV for 6 months according to WV Board of Medicine website. His specialty is Internal Medicine at both websites and that he has been a board approved medical professional for 25 years.

You would think after all of those years of education and experience he would know that pissing off people will only hurt yourself. As a consumer, we have the right to ask questions and expect answers in a prompt and respectful manner. This man did neither. As a consumer I would think that BRMC as a business would want to hire and keep only those that will increase business not deter it. I will never again see this doctor, as a patient of his, or allow him access to any other member of my family. If this is a problem, then I will not use BRMC every again and neither will any of my family members,