This is a very difficult review to write but essential for new clients. I have been admitted to Banner Desert Medical Center several times and through their ER twice. I cannot complain about any visit except the last one and it is serious enough I thought it deserved airing.
My wife took a spill while ice skating and thought she broke her wrist. I took her to the ER at Banner where we had a 3+ hour wait to get into xray. Once the xray confirmed the break, a simple fracture, it took another 2 hours to get a splint applied and paperwork completed. That care was fine but the discharge instructions, both written and verbal, were incorrect and may have serious consequences.
My wife was told, in my presence, she was to wait 2 weeks and then see an orthopedic surgeon of her choice for a follow up. The written instruction specified one week. BOTH ARE INCORRECT. According to two orthopedic surgeons consulted after the fact a broken bone should be examined immediately and properly set. Both surgeons specified a maximum of 48 hours for this to occur. Because the fracture wasn't perfectly set at the ER and my wife obeyed their instructions she may now require surgery to properly place the bone.
EDIT: Additional Follow Up Information
Due to the incorrect setting of my wife's fracture she was required to get follow up surgery which involved re-breaking the bone and setting with a metal plate to ensure proper healing. Two months of rehab to regain proper wrist movement was also required.
For the hospital not to have an orthopedic surgeon on call for this very common type of injury is unusual.
For the ER staff not to be able to properly set a simple fracture is inexcusable and smacks of medical malpractice.
Likewise, improper discharge instructions which, in this case, were critical to proper care is also inexcusable.