Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Not Impressed

Okay, so I have a PILE of posts that I need to get up but today I have to vent.....I am so very frustrated with the lows we've been seeing with Ms. J over the last 48 hours. On top of that, I broke down and called Children's (which I don't do unless we're at a complete loss because it ALWAYS adds to my frustration). Today didn't disappoint in that realm, I called at 2pm, left a message for an advice nurse, with the details, my call back number and waited. And waited. And waited. TWO hours later, I get a call and upon introducing herself, asks who she's speaking with and how she can help me.....really? So why didn't I just leave a message with my phone number and ask you to call me back. I bit my tongue, answered her and then went on to explain the lows, that we haven't changed anything about our routine, other than for the past 2 weeks we've been giving her shots before she eats instead of afterwards. I'm waiting to hear the pearls of wisdom about what might be causing her lows, ANY questions at all....instead, she tells me that I need to fax in her logs and write LOWS on the top so they will make them a priority. NO helpful hints, so suggestions, NADA. Exactly why do they call them educators, advice nurses or professionals? I can wing this with the best of them without the nursing degree and the high paying job. I cannot say it any nicer, I am SO unhappy with the lack of care and concern that is presented whenever I do actually call for help with a high or a low. They really should call it a "helpless" center.

I continue to compare our situation here to the care we received when we lived in Sacramento. Our endocrinologists (the 3 in the practice) were fantastic and always greeted us warmly. Whenever we called with a question or a concern we didn't have to wait 2 HOURS for a call back, the longest ever was 20 minutes. Our endo called us twice the first night we took Ms. J home from the hospital, even though he'd just seen her at her first appointment that afternoon. We had 2 calls the first week from the educator and one of the nutritionists emailed us a shopping list. I realize that Dallas is bigger than Sacramento, but the way this system here is set up is a joke and a complete disservice to the patients.

Children's does not account for anything out of the ordinary they will fit you -the square peg -into their round hole....my girls deserve better than this. As their mom & dad we deserve better than this.

I'm wiping my tears of frustration off my hot angry cheeks now and going home.

4 comments:

Joanne said...

Ugh I am so sorry. I know this story only too well. I wish we could find a smaller practice where they actually KNOW my child and treat me with a little respect.

I hope you figure out the lows quickly and that you don't have to wait for their "help". Sorry to hear you're dealing with this.

Wendy said...

I HEAR YOU!!! OMGsh I HEAR YOU!!!! Addy had a terrible issue with lows after her illness a few weeks back. I called and it took half a day to hear back with absolutely nothing helpful to offer!!!!!! It takes ALOT for me to call and I'm always reminded just how self managed this disease is. I NEVER call...and I DO have a nursing degree!!!!!!!

Meri said...

(((HUGS))) I can't imagine. I KNOW how important good nurses are. They make all the difference in the world. I'm so sorry. I can't believe she didn't give you any advice. I am just gobsmacked about the whole thing.

I hope the call you back with some amazing tips to help you out. Or better yet, I hope you wake in the night with an epiphany that will solve the lows!

(((HUGS)))...again...because you deserve a load of them!

Tracy said...

I totally hear you on this one! I am not always a fan of the CDE's at our office either! I don't even bother anymore! I figure I will make my own adjustments and hope for the best.

Sorry you had to deal with that! :(