I have been going back and forth in what to do about the experience with Ashley. The whole part with her not even listening to me and calling it a "communication error" I can sort of look the other way at this point. Actually no, she didn't listen to a word I said, and by her calling it an error in communication is wrong. I looked this girl up - she is newly into the genetics counseling role. I personally think she knows what the books and statistics say, but she has not learned the human aspect of the job. What really bothers me is the fact that she had a student observing her - not the fact that there was a student in the room - but the fact a student was observing her. Wouldn't a student learn from someone with more experience?
Well, after the whole "communication error" there was the "oh, lets forget to tell Kimberly what to do and not do before a procedure". That I cannot look away from. That is textbook. The other little tidbit of information I have not blogged about it something that happened in the doctor's office - the day of the ultrasound. It was after all measurements had been taken and all anatomy had been looked at - it was crunch time, the final decision time. I remember asking the doctor what the correlation of my child having an abnormality was with the thickness and time of the measurement. She asked, "oh, didn't Ashley give you that information?" I said, "no." What happened next confirmed my suspensions of Ashley and her job. The look the doctor and the nurse gave each other - it was one of those "once again she didn't do her job right" looks. Once again Ashley failed me - I was not given information to help aide in my decision. The doctor went through the paperwork and did not find the information anywhere. She then asked if that information would help me in my decision that day. Well, of course it would, but I knew my decision was pretty much already made. Besides I thought I remembered reading somewhere that my chances were like 3% or something like that. Maybe I should be paying google for all of my medical information.
So, the point is I don't know what to do. What she is doing is not right. I am assuming that because she was the way she was with me - in each encounter - that she is this way with others as well. I want to file a complaint. I always talk about complaints I need to file, but I never do it. When I start to think of what could happen - and then I think about some ridiculous Lifetime movie. You know, the one where the woman calls the "are you a good driver hotline" to complain about the guy cutting her off; he gets fired; then he stalks her...etc, etc...
I may write this letter and sit on it for a little while...
The Big Boo Cast, Episode 421
1 week ago
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8 comments:
I have a lot of issues with doctors and medical professionals. I think I have come to realize that they know a lot less than they pretend to and they are much less invested in their patients than they should be. I have had success in the past by finding out who the CEO of the medical group is (if it is a larger medical group there is likely someone acting in an admin role at the center of it) and sending a copy of the letter to that person and the other relevant medical professionals. I am sorry they have made this so difficult for you.
I don't know if the detachment comes with the job, but our genetic counselor was awful as well. She seemed to know what her facts, but right after we had gotten the news that something was wrong and we were both visibly upset and crying, she sat us down and asked us what the doctor had told us like she didn't have the chart in front of her and like we would even be there with her if there wasn't a huge problem. She also had a student in there with us and they both just sat there and stared at us while we cried and tried to blubber out our problem. She was not helpful at all in the facts about our specific situation leading up to our amnio.
We never complained about her, but I think that we should have. Maybe you could send the letter to your doctor (if you trust him) and let him pass the word along to whomever needs to hear it. I am sorry that she has made an already impossible decision even more difficult.
Sit on the letter, yes, but ONLY with the intention of reviewing it and making sure it still sounds Christian. It does need to be written, and it does need to be sent. She is failing in her job and she needs to be reprimanded somehow. She needs to realize that what she is doing can have dire consequences. Unless someone actually complains, she's not going to realize that.
I think you should send the letter! She needs to do her job...a very important one. Our genetic counselor was wonderful! I need to get you her name in case you have any other questions...she is great!
I think that if I was in this situation I would write the letter. (It wouldn't be easy!) I hate to think that she is this way with everyone. Sickening!
wow! you are pregnant! Congrats! You look great too. I will definitely pray for everything with you. Thanks for the encouragement for our situation.
I would defiantly write the letter and SEND IT!! When I was pregnant with Kasey the techs who found the abnormalities the red flags were RUDE, didnt say ANYTHING. I had to wait a week or so to find out that there was reason for concern. I wrote a letter expressing my concern, if anything it made me feel better, they said they were going to talk to the techs, if they did or not I dont know.
My name is Debi Reece and I'm a friend of Cortney Schwalbe. It is through her blog that I found your blog.
Perhaps I can offer my opinion in the hopes of helping you further form your thoughts and clarify the path you want to take in this matter. If you believe that this person has been negligent in her job, you need to let her superiors know, as well as those in a position to do something about the problem. Do you want someone else who is less informed to suffer because her lack of follow-through? And if you have flashbacks to Lifetime movies, remember that by doing nothing, you are giving her the power to manipulate your actions, to have CONTROL over what you do and don't do. Because ultimately, who ever instills fear has the control. Don't let someone else suffer from a lack of information in this most important of events in life. I hope that helps and good luck! Btw, I've followed your blog firstly because your experiences, along with Cortney's, help me to appreciate what I have, my little boy. To a lesser extent, I enjoy following your blog because I am one week behind you in pregnancy.
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