What can I do if my health care has been mismanaged resulting in 3 trips to the ER and an admission to the hospital?

Question

Saw PCP on April 19 of this year for abdominal pain.  Ordered ultrasound-showed nothing. Sent in an emergency referral to GI and ordered a CT scan.  I saw the GI doctor on May 9.  Before the CT scan was approved, I had to go to the ER because I was in severe pain (May 1).  They told me the CT scan showed nothing but the report indicates a kidney stone. Sent home with pain pills and directions to follow up with PCP. May 20 back to the ER-another CT scan showed 7mm kidney stone.  Sent home with pain pills.  PCP sent emergency referall to urology.  I heard nothing.  May 27, third trip to ER.  They required I do yet another CT when I already knew the problem.  Told me exactly what I already knew and put me on heavy IV pain med. Admitted me to hospital that afternoon. Nothing to eat since 10 AM on 5/27 nothing to drink since 9PM 5/27. Fast forward to 11AM on 5/28 have not yet seen a doctor.  Nurse keeps telling me urology is coming-never does. I discharged myself since they were doing nada

Tim Akpinar · Answer

In terms of your question of what you could do, one option is to try to arrange a free initial consult with a med mal law firm. They could discuss your matter in further detail, and if they felt you might have the basis for a case, they could retrieve your medical records and review with a health care professional. Good luck

James L. Arrasmith · Answer

This situation sounds very frustrating and potentially concerning from a medical care standpoint. Here are some steps you could consider taking: 
 
1. Document everything:  
   - Compile a detailed timeline of all your medical visits, treatments, and communications. 
   - Gather all medical records, test results, and discharge papers. 
   - Keep a log of all conversations with healthcare providers, including dates and names. 
 
2. File a complaint: 
   - Contact the hospital's patient advocate or customer service department. 
   - File a formal complaint with the medical facility's administration. 
   - Consider reaching out to your insurance company to report the issues. 
 
3. Seek a second opinion: 
   - Consult with another healthcare provider or specialist for an evaluation of your condition and the care you've received. 
 
4. Contact regulatory bodies: 
   - File a complaint with the California Department of Public Health. 
   - Report the issue to the Medical Board of California if you believe a doctor's conduct was negligent. 
 
5. Consider legal action: 
   - Consult with a medical malpractice attorney to discuss your case. 
   - They can help determine if there's grounds for a lawsuit based on negligence or mismanagement of care. 
 
6. Request a case manager: 
   - Ask your insurance company or healthcare provider for a case manager to help coordinate your care. 
 
7. Write to your representatives: 
   - Contact your local and state representatives about your experience, especially if you believe it reflects systemic issues in healthcare. 
 
Remember, the goal is to ensure you receive proper medical care and to prevent similar situations from happening to others. If you're still experiencing medical issues, prioritize getting the care you need.

Q: What can I do if my health care has been mismanaged resulting in 3 trips to the ER and an admission to the hospital?