I had the opportunity to observe how well the transition is going between Ellis Hospital and the former St. Clare’s. On July 4, I had to take a family member to the former St. Clare’s. It wasn’t a life-threatening problem, but since neither one of us is a doctor, we decided to go get her problem checked out. Since reading in the Gazette’s opinion page about all the problems the Ellis Emergency Room was having, I called the McClellan Street Campus (St. Clare’s) to see if they were seeing patients. They answered that they certainly were. We went there; it seemed so strange, the parking lot was empty, The main entrance was dark and there were no lights in the main part of the hospital building. We were seen as soon as we hit the door of the Emergency Room. I was thrilled, thinking we will be in and out of here in no time. Four hours later, we finally left. It seems that St. Clare’s is basically a triage unit for Ellis. Blood work, cardiograms, etc. all have to be sent over to Ellis to be read and then back to St. Clare’s. At one time I saw nine staff members hanging out at the nurse’s station doing nothing. They were trying to appear busy, but it seemed to me they had few duties. The staff was very nice, friendly and very attentive, but it was a “wait until Ellis gets back to us.” It’s a big waste of talent and money letting a beautiful hospital sit empty. Schenectady really needs both hospitals functioning at full capacity. I don’t believe that Ellis Hospital can serve the people of this community all by itself. Our elected officials really did a number on the availability of our health care. St. Clare’s has always been known for quality care and compassion. How is any money being saved, if you have to be hospitalized? You must go by ambulance from St. Clare’s to Ellis to be admitted. Looks like a duplication of service to me. I’m very glad that our problem was not serious, or we would probably still be waiting . MARTY SHANTY Charlton
While reading the above article, it just brings to my minds forefront, the experience my father in law had in the emergency room, which I posted here last week. After 12 hours in the ER and now as an in-house patient, I agree with the statement Marty Shanty made:
Quoted Text
Our elected officials really did a number on the availability of our health care.
My father in law will be coming home soon with the support of Hospice. He has terminal lung and adrenal cancer, a stomach aneurysm and kidney failure.
It is uncalled for to have anyone this sick, to have to wait in an ER for 12 hours. And there are many other people that are experiencing the same. It is unbelievable to me that this kind of "lack of care" can be happening, when there is another fully equipped hospital just a few miles away, sitting practically vacant.
While I was visiting my father in law the other day, his nurse explained that when they get their assignment in the morning, they can not leave when their shift ends until all assignments are completed. This entire hospital merger seems unbelievable and bazar to me. It makes absolutely no sense to me.
In response to Marty Shanty’s July 14 letter, “St. Clare’s ER may be open, but service limited,” regarding the Ellis at McClellan Campus (St. Clare’s), I would like to clear up a small misconception about our Emergency Room. The ER doesn’t send blood work to Ellis Hospital. We have a fully-functioning lab, 24/7, at the McClellan Campus. We are a fully-functioning ER with doctors that read your results (blood work) there. I don’t know how one can complain about waiting four hours when the other choice can be twice as long. NANCY DUESLER Schenectady The writer is a phlebotomist at the McClellan Campus.
this is a shame that the local politicians put all their enegy and spunk into saving bellevue and the county home, but not a speck towards saving Saint Clairs which is all about the abortions since the doctors didnt want to be bothered with the pro life hospital but wanted to be able to give the abortions over there at bellvue. now we all suffer
I really don't know the answer to this merger. All I know is that it was mandated by the state, so it didn't leave much wiggle room for discussion. But I do know that health care is being compromised. It may be a waste of time and will be falling on deaf ears, but we should all be calling in our comlaints to Ellis.
I really don't know the answer to this merger. All I know is that it was mandated by the state, so it didn't leave much wiggle room for discussion. But I do know that health care is being compromised. It may be a waste of time and will be falling on deaf ears, but we should all be calling in our comlaints to Ellis.
When my father in law was in the hospital, we noticed that his legs were retaining quite a bit of water. We didn't say anything the first day or two, assuming the nurses or doctors would also see the water retention and treat it accordingly.
After the third day, we brought it to the attention of the doctor who said it was the first time he had seen this and he would order a diuretic to take care of the problem. After the doctor left the room, a nurse came in and we asked if she had noticed his legs filled with fluid. She said, "We just do what the doctors tell us to do".
I recently read the letter about Ellis Hospital Emergency Room services. I am here to tell you the nightmare only starts there! My husband was admitted at approximately 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 24, after coming in by ambulance about 9:30 p.m. Monday night. A wide range of tests were administered and the refrain from the nurse on the cardiac floor was “nothing yet.” By Thursday morning, having seen no one remotely resembling an M.D., I called the office of his primary care physician, where office staff suggested that the nurses were the doctors’ gobetween. Thanks to one nurse on the cardiac floor, when I insisted that we needed to speak to a doctor, a doctor covering for our primary was paged and he responded about 10 a.m. (this would now be about 30 hours after admission)! He informed us that tests had shown no problems neurologically and he referred us to a cardiologist. The cardiologist arrived about 3 p.m. on Thursday and ordered a stress test to either confirm or rule out heat involvement. He said he was going out of town for the weekend, but his associate would supervise the test. Friday morning, the test administered, again there was no doctor in sight (it was later discovered that this cardiologist was also off for the weekend). Eventually the doctor covering for our primary care physician made an appearance, telling us that the test showed abnormalities. During the last afternoon on Friday, my nerves were completely shot and I demanded to speak to the cardiologist. A cardiologist on the floor agreed to talk to us. While he was examining and questioning my husband, it was discovered that a medication had been prescribed by the substitute primary physician which was contraindicated with the medications my husband was presently taking. He immediately cancelled that medication! He indicated that the stress test results must lead to a heart catheterization, but it was the weekend! Unless an emergency came in necessitating bringing in the on-call team, the test could not be done until Monday, and my husband would be an “add on” for Monday’s schedule. He was forced to spend all weekend on the cardiac floor, as no doctor would agree to discharge. Monday {June 30] finally arrived; my husband was primed and I was an emotional wreck. We were informed that the test would be done at about 1:30 p.m. or 2 p.m. Checking several times throughout the day we were informed an emergency had thrown the schedule off. The heart catheterization team finally came for my husband at 10:20 p.m. Finally a competent professional spoke with us about the procedure he would be performing (his tenth of the day!) He had nurses assist me and come to get me immediately following the procedure. He gave us assurances that things were fine and he felt my husband was good to go. These are just the highlights of a truly horrendous seven days at Ellis. If there’s a next time, I will ask the EMTs if he is OK to travel to Albany Med! LINDA HAYNER Scotia
I think it was the insurance companies and the general healthcare system back in the 80's that promoted preventative care.....very bad thing to do the thinking for the masses.....they were all raking in alot of $$ with this misnomer and now we are reaping what we have sown......here's the thing, medicine is a bandaide......I dont know any other way to say it......personal responsibility is personal responsibility......is anything preventable, IMHO very little is when someone else is making your choices for you........I work in a nursing home and have yet to meet Mr/Mrs 200year old.......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
I just heard, 2nd hand, that there's a likelyhood that St. Clare's will re-open as a limited services hospital - not just a triage/er center.
Anyone heard any scuttlebutt about this?
I haven't heard anything but I sure hope it is true!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
What has happened to hospital care in Schenectady County is deplorable. Mandated by our state Legislature to consolidate the services provided by our three hospitals — Ellis, St. Clare’s and Bellevue — Ellis Hospital’s management and board of trustees leaped before they looked. This is what happens when the political and business community make hasty decisions for health care, an area about which they know little and apparently care less. What should have been a well-thought-out and staged three- to five-year plan was a six-month “cob job” that has resulted in a hospital bursting at the seams, 10-hour Emergency Room waits, and delayed surgery with overnight stays in the recovery room due to lack of available beds. The “McClellan Campus” is grossly underused, and Bellevue — the original target hospital to be closed — is still up and running, providing services in an antiquated facility. As a 30-year registered nurse at Ellis, I apologize on behalf of my nurse-colleagues to our community for my hospital’s role in letting them down. This is not the quality care you have been accustomed to receiving from us. Ellis management reported to the media that our consolidation of services transitioned “smoothly” and “without a glitch.” To that I reply, you can ignore the pink elephant sitting at the table, but the elephant is still there. CATHERINE LUCAS Glenville
I can certainly contest to everything that Catherine Lucas said in her letter. And I just love the heading, "Three good hospitals turn into one bad one". That is unfortunately so sad but true.
Ellis emergency room was overwhelmed, but worked well
Tuesday morning, July 15, my phone rang at 4:30 a.m. My aunt complained of severe stomach pain and I immediately picked her up and brought her into Ellis Emergency Department. We arrived at 5 a.m. Having read letters complaining about the service at Ellis, I decided to document our experience. My aunt was placed in an examining room before 5:15 a.m. and was seen by a doctor by 5:30 a.m.. An EKG was done, blood was drawn for testing and an IV drip installed at 5:30 a.m. At. 6:15 a.m. a morphine drip was added for pain. At 7:50 a.m. a CT scan was done, and at 8:20 a.m. X-rays were taken of the affected area. Upon returning to the ER at 8:30 a.m., we found that the exam room was taken by a new arrival. We did not know that patient’s problem, but found out that he had died shortly after arrival. After a short stay in the ER hall, my aunt was returned to the exam room. At 10 a.m. the ER doctor returned with a diagnosis of perforated ulcer and said that surgery was scheduled to take place within two hours. At 10:15 a.m. a different pain medicine was introduced because the morphine was not working. At 11 a.m. an antibiotic was administered in preparation for surgery. At 11:20 a.m., Nexium was administered and preparations were continued. An ER nurse practitioner finished preliminary work and my aunt was transported to the surgical floor at 12 noon. Consent forms were signed, the anesthesiologist explained his procedure and the surgeon explained what was to be done. At 12:15 p.m. she was taken to the operating room. Shortly after 2 p.m. the surgeon came directly to the waiting room to explain that my aunt was in recovery and that the operation had gone well. By 4 p.m. she was in a room on 5A. I must add that I observed that the ER was overwhelmed with patients during the whole time of our stay. Every room and all hallways were occupied. Through all this, the staff was efficient, comforting and very professional. From arrival, to testing, to diagnosis and then surgery and recovery, a total of less than 12 hours. We are grateful for the fine service that Ellis is working to provide. GAIL KARL Niskayuna
Ellis ER waits have blood pressure rising First published: Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Riggi told the Schenectady City Council about the care -- or lack of it -- at Ellis Hospital's emergency room.
The community activist, a fixture at council meetings for 17 years, recently had midnight emergency surgery. His operation was fine, but he's livid over waiting nearly four hours before seeing an ER doctor.
"If you're in dire need of ER services, you're in big trouble," Riggi said. "Everyone should be aware the situation is wait, wait, wait, I don't care how sick you are."
There have been other published complaints about the ER situation since Ellis became the lone full-service Schenectady hospital. "State closure of St. Clare's Hospital really gave Schenectady the shaft," Riggi said.
Councilman Joe Allen said he had also heard complaints about the Ellis ER since St. Clare's demise.
"From the start I knew shutting St. Clare's was a disaster," Allen said. "We let the Berger Commission step all over us. It's a shame and disgrace that we just rolled over."
Interestingly, Troy and Schenectady populations are almost identical yet Troy has two full-service hospitals and Schenectady just one. Albany, with about one-third more population than Schenectady, has three hospitals.
Glens Falls, Amsterdam and Gloversville, each with much less than half Schenectady's census, each have one hospital just like Schenectady.
You don't have to be Dr. Dean Edell to figure out something's wrong with this picture.
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