Erlanger North Er Problems

On August 19, My wife flipped our Jeep Cherokee on the W Road. Thank God she was not injured. She drifted off the right shoulder and over corrected, striking the rock wall and then flippling. She was not entrapped but could not get out of the vehicle on her own. Walden's Ridge Emergency Service (WRES) responded and Jody Clift and another member went inside and cut her down.My Sincere Thanks for these gentlemen. When I arrived, she was sitting on the gaurdrail, shaken but no cuts and bruises. Regardless of her appearance, she could have suffered some internal injuries and myself and other family members thought she should be checked out. She refused an ambulance ride because we were about 5 minutes from Erlanger North and she did not want the added expense.

When we arrived at Erlanger North we informed the lady at the counter that she had been thru a rollover. She did not show any sign of concern. There was no Triage, no pre qualification, just have a seat and we will be with you. The waiting room had several patients ahead of her, even though you would think a rollover might move her up thru the Triage System. She waited and waited, watching the "patients" ahead of her. Most were complaining of back pain, others anxiety. They exhibited systoms of withdrawal, extreme sweating, agitated and such were obvious. We watched as the steady parade of patients entered an came out rather quickly with a script in hand. One Anxiety patient, after one hour, started cussing and stormed out of building, I am sure to enter the traffic flow with a pre set case of road rage.

One patient was so alarming, my daughter in law called my son, a Hamilton County Deputy and had a Deputy dispatched to the Hospital. He was standing outside and beating his chest like Tarzan. When we left, the same Deputy was still talking to this gentlemen. After 3 hours, Deanna was called back to see a Doctor. This man was a wreck, totally overwhelmed. He was in the room maybe 2 minutes. He listened to her chest and when Deanna commented on the groups outside as drug seekers, he said "Yes, he knew". Deanna was discharged and that was it.

No security was visible execept for an elderly black man in uniform without a weapon and really he did not stay around much. The news shows shootings at Hospitals on a regular basis, These individuals do pose a risk and my wife and family felt at risk. This was Erlanger's responsibility, to provide a safe environment for patients and workers alike.They have failed.

After my wife communticated all this to me, I tried to wade thru the maze of upper management, to find someone to complain to. Finally I got a name , Mickey Lilitta. I called his number 2 times and his secretary stated he wasn't in the office much, to try his cell. One eveing about 4:45 PM I contacted Mr Lilitta on his cell, he advised he would be home in about 15 minutes and would call me then. No Call. I have tried sveral times to contact Lilitta or just someone to listen to me.

I now have the bills, so far.$ 350.00 from Erlanger and $548.00 from Emergency Physicians. I have NO intention of paying these bills. Now exactly what did we receive from these people, nothing. Just a trip to Erlanger North and an exposure to the Drug Seeking world we live in. An Emergency room out of control. I was not satisfied that she walked out of there safe. She could have dropped dead from an internal injury, NO Thanks to these people. To my knowledge, Triage has been around a long time, but not there. It appears Erlanger doesn't not provide an avenue for Customer Complaints, Maybe the Court of Public Opinion will wake them up. Access to upper management should be very simple, an open door policy, unless Upper management simply does not care.

If they cannot secure the ER, have a Triage in place, and give quality patient care, close the ER !

Mitchell Thurmer
mthurmer4300epbfi.com
Signal Mountain