Apr 22, 2008

What is Wrong With this Picture????

Take a good look at this picture. What is wrong with this picture??? There is Gina looking all calm and holding Jackson tenderly so that he won’t get nervous and feisty when the Physician’s Assistant starts the procedure. He needs the 6 stitches removed from his forehead. (He calls it his threehead – of course, because he is 3) After jumping on the bed and breaking his head, we had him stitched up at the local hospital ER. Obviously returning to the ER was overkill so we pulled into the local Urgent Care Facility while running errands one evening.
Gina was in charge of helping Jackson get through the event uneventfully. I was in charge of documenting the event and did a great job of getting pictures like this one.

And I was in charge of baby Avery. So, we were just a little bit distracted and didn’t think we had to be in charge of making sure the PA followed correct medical procedures.
What is wrong with picture???? Did you notice? No gloves!!!! The PA is not wearing gloves!!!! I didn’t notice because I was distracted by his very shaky hands holding very sharp scissors near my precious grandson’s head. He was finished with the procedure before Gina and I realized that we never saw him wash his hands, he applied the antibiotic cream with his bare finger and he touched the bandage pad with his thumb.
After we calmed down, we assured ourselves that Jackson is going to be OK.
But we were mad at ourselves for not being more vigilant and aware of what was going on. We have every right to be watchful, to ask questions, to walk out or to talk to a superior. I sent a letter to the Dr./Owner of the facility documenting the vagrant oversights of the PA. Do you think I will hear back from him? Should I call him? Should I make a complaint to the Texas Board of Medical Examiners? Should I ask to get the payment returned? What do you think?
Now, if you live in my town and you are headed to an Urgent Care give me a call and I will let you know which one to avoid.

2 comments:

Cami said...

Wow, if my previous boss heard about this he would die! (He's a microbiologist and frequently does handwashing studies.) Anyway, I would definitely put in a formal complaint; they're filed even if you never hear back. You should be able to do that online. I would also expect that you would hear back after sending a letter to them. I'm sure Jackson will be fine, but that PA is not being safe!

Gina said...

Ew! It just gives me the heebie jeebies thinking about it again.