On February 29th, after calling the nurses line, I was advised to bring my daughter into the emergency department. We were called to the triage room approximately 20 minutes after check-in. I informed the civilian triage attendant of my child's symptoms (high fever and severe localized stomach pain). He asked how I acquired her temperature and I told him in the axillary (armpit) area to which he told me that I was incorrect for taking her temperature there as that is not an appropriate place to do so. Really dude? So you are trying to tell me that all these years, I have been taking not only my children's temperature wrong but any child I came in contact with when I was a Hospital Corpsman? Very interesting.....
He then told me he needed to take her temperature rectally. While attempting to do so, my child go very upset. After a few moments, the tech stated "that will have to do" even though the thermometer had not finished (he stopped at 100.6). I was then instructed to return to the waiting room and the tech left the room. When I lifted my daughter, she started vomiting profusely. After yelling for help THREE times, the tech returns to room, sees her vomiting then looks at me like I am suppose to clean it up. He leaves the room to grabs some towels and instead of handing me one to start cleaning up my daughter, he puts them on the floor to clean up the floor. My child then got very upset since she had vomit all over herself, on me and her blanket (my kids hate to be dirty but I think in this instance, most kids would be upset). I asked the ED staff if they had anything I could put on her, at first they said they had nothing that we could use. I said "are you serious? you have nothing I can put on her so she doesn't have to sit in her own vomit?" and they stated they could only offer me a thin sheet but I would have to return it when we left the ED. Then I asked if I could have some paper towels to clean her up and I was instructed to take her to the waiting room bathroom to clean her up.
While this was all transpiring, my son (who was with us because my husband is currently deployed and we rushed to the ED, figuring I would call someone to come get him if I needed someone to) was standing in the doorway, trying to avoid the vomit. A First Class Petty Officer came over and lectured my 5 year old son about keeping the door shut for patient privacy. However, the ED staff had little concern for the dignity of my 3 year old daughter and sent me to the waiting room with only a thin sheet to cover her now naked body with the exception of her underwear. The best was that when I stated to the tech that he could add vomiting to the symptoms, he informed me that my daughter only vomited because she got so upset when he attempted to take her temperature. I was livid about how we were treated. My friend came up and rescued me since I wanted to leave after being treated so terribly.
We went to the civilian hospital, where my child continued to vomit (remember, the tech said it was only because she was upset) and was eventually admitted to the hospital for possible appendicitis. We spent three days in the hospital and we eventually found out that my daughter had a kidney infection as well as being dehydrated and having strep throat. I have never been more upset about the horrible treatment of patients that tends to occur at military facilities. They are so concerned about numbers and have very little compassion for sick people. Everyone is on the same playing field and there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to how people are seen. Someone needs to be held accountable for their actions and this Momma is going to make sure that happens!!!
This will not go by the way side by any means!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
