USC-County Hospital in a World of Hurt
Trust me, “Computer Failure Jams County-USC” (April 22) is just the tip of the iceberg.
Unfortunately, last Wednesday night I had half of a finger cut off in an industrial accident at a manufacturing plant in downtown Los Angeles. As the ambulance left my job, we were heading for White Memorial in East L.A. when, halfway there, the ambulance driver decided that County-USC had a better trauma system. Being just a guy from the suburbs who just happens to work downtown, I was not prepared for what I saw when I walked into the emergency room, and entirely not prepared for what I went through in the next 11 hours.
I sat virtually unattended with half of a finger in my pocket for 11 hours. The staff members I came in contact with were absolutely belligerent. I was told that every physician’s assistant had called in sick that night, and they were having computer problems. Any time I tried to ask about how much longer it would be, I was rudely answered. Finally, at 6 a.m., I called my boss and told him to get me out of there. As I was walking out, I was assured that a team of specialists was on its way, to which I answered, “You haven’t even washed my finger in 11 hours; I’m out of here.”
Fortunately for me, insurance covered the surgery I eventually had at one of the best hand specialists in L.A. County. The sad thing is for the people who have no other choice. But to put up with that indignity in the greatest nation on Earth is absolutely unacceptable. Maybe President Bush should fix our health-care system before he installs a new one in Iraq.
Alex Rische
Fullerton
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It’s about time you did a story on this problem. I wrote to The Times over two years ago on this same subject when my boyfriend had a grapefruit-sized cancerous tumor on his head and was refused help at County. He sat in the ER for three days. They paraded students in and out to look at him and his MRIs during this time, without his consent. After the three days an oncologist told him that County wouldn’t help him, even with a referral from Olive View-UCLA Medical Center.
We knew that County could not legally turn him away and wrote to The Times and many other news agencies. No one bothered to even respond with a “thanks, but no thanks” letter. Go figure. Now, when it’s convenient, the story comes out as if it’s a huge surprise that has been hidden from the public’s eye.
Alicia McDonagh
North Hollywood