Hospitals not issuing a refund for medication that cant be given to Epilepsy Patients

[momof3boys]

After being told 17 days ago we would be getting a refund check for the medication that ER dr decided to give me, Levaquin, thats not suppose to be given to people with Epilepsy, we still dont have a check from the stupid hospital!

My Story of what happened:

On January 25, 2011, I was taken to the ER and told I had pneumonia. The dr that saw me, said he would have to give me something strong to help treat it. Beside me, was my medication bottles which I take for Epilepsy. He looked at them, asked how much I take daily, and then walked out to get a prescription for me. I signed the discharge papers, and we got the medication filled that night before returning home.

That next morning, after taking one pill, I saw on a commercial that if you take Lavequin, people who have Epilepsy are not to take it because it can cause seizures.

So, to be on the safe side, we call our pharmacist, and our Primary care dr, and both couldnt believe that the dr in the ER would prescribe me this. They said I shouldnt be taking that at all due to the amount of medication I take.

so, my Dr prescribed me another medication, and we called the ER and spoke to a gal who takes care of things like this. Told her about the dr prescribing this, and she said if we provide the original reciept of the medication and copies of the discharge papers (we took copies for us too), she would get a check in the amount of the medication we paid to us. We mailed out the papers January 28, 2011, called February 4th to make sure they got them. she said yes, she already processed a check and it should arrive to us within that week, and to call by February 14th if we hadnt recieved it yet. So, we waited and no check came. Today, we call and she said that it looked like they put a stop to the check being issued. something to do with papers, etc. She said she would try to get it to go through, and hopefully we will have it by the end of this week. Everytime we talk to her, she keeps saying another week....

It's been 17 days since we mailed out the papers, 10 days since she said she processed the check.... I dont know exacly how long it takes for things like this to go through.... Im just so tired of hearing those words. Hopsitals have no problem taking people's money, but they sure do have issues with giving it out!

I seriously am never returning to that hospital again!

 

[Endless]

Mom,

Write to the hospital's quality department. Most hospitals respond to a patient's quality concerns with a root cause analysis, and a speedy fix. It will also kick off a peer review with other doctors. It's important that they know there was a medication error. If that doesn't work (but it SHOULD), write to the head of the hospital, and name names and dates.

That should have NEVER happened, and that doc needs a peer review to make sure it never happens again.

 

[epileric]

I know where I live it is illegal for pharmacies or hospitals to take back meds that have been distributed, more for safety reasons.

I would also make sure that it wasn't the person who told you that they would refund your money who made a mistake.

 

[momof3boys]

Mom,

Write to the hospital's quality department. Most hospitals respond to a patient's quality concerns with a root cause analysis, and a speedy fix. It will also kick off a peer review with other doctors. It's important that they know there was a medication error. If that doesn't work (but it SHOULD), write to the head of the hospital, and name names and dates.

That should have NEVER happened, and that doc needs a peer review to make sure it never happens again.

I logged onto the hospital's website, and clicked on the "Contact Us" button.

This was the website link that had the emailing address that I sent a email to.

http://www.saintelizabethonline.com/?page_id=92&pp=92

I dont know who it will go to, but I wrote the following to them:

To whom it concerns: Not Receiving refund Check, and Dr giving wrong Medication to Patient


I am writing in regards to the ER visit that I, Kristin XXXXXXX came to Saint Elizabeth on January 25, 2011.
I was taken by ambulance there and seen by physician Terry Rounsborg. He did tests and confirmed that I had pneumonia.
When I was transported to the hospital, my medications which I take for Epilepsy was taken with me. The physician himself picked up the bottles to read
the dosage I took and what kind of medications I take for my epilepsy. He prescribed me Levaquin, 750mg tablets, taken once a day for 7 days.
We got the prescription filled, and I took one pill that night after returning home. I find out the next morning that this medication should not be taken for people who have Epilepsy, as it will cause more seizures to come about. We called our pharmacist, and our primary care physician. Both of them agreed, that due to the amount of medication I take, Keppra XR, 3000mgs a day, and Carbatrol ER 1200mgs a day, I should not be taking that, and was prescribed a different medication.

We called January 26, 2011 and spoke with Pam Randall. She said if we can provide a copy of the original receipt to the medication that we got filled, along with the discharge papers, we would get a refund of $25, for what we paid for the medication.

The papers were sent on January, 28, 2011. We called on February 4, 2011 to make sure they had received them. She informed us that we should be getting the check by Friday, February 11, 2011. We never received any check. We called February 14, 2011 and was told by Pam that the check was put to a stop.
We would like our refund of $25 for the medication that should have not been prescribed to me. I trusted Dr. Roundsborg and thought for sure he would give me a medication that would be safe for me. I do not feel comfortable going back to Saint Elizabeth now. I could only imagine what would have taken place if I would have continued to take the medication and be at home with my small children, and have a seizure occur, which could result in me or them getting hurt.

Its been 17 days since the papers that Pam requested has been sent to you. I would like to receive my $25 refund in the check that she said we would get. We keep getting the run around and saying she doesn't know what is going on, and to wait another week. I'm tired of waiting. I would like my check as soon as possible.

Thank you,

Kristin
(My personal information, such as my address, phone number, etc was included)

 

[momof3boys]

I know where I live it is illegal for pharmacies or hospitals to take back meds that have been distributed, more for safety reasons.

I would also make sure that it wasn't the person who told you that they would refund your money who made a mistake.

Well from what we were told today, we spoke to her and she said she was having her assistant check on getting the check issued. But as far as that goes, thats all she could tell us. Thats when she asked if we would like a credit to our account. We said no, because I filled out papers for financial assistance, and if I get it, then I wont have to pay for the 20% of what our insurance didnt cover, meaning we dont have to pay, so why put a credit of $25 on our account? She said on the 26th of January, she would send us a refund check. Now if she is working there and telling patients something that is not true, then thats not my fault. I will let the person above her, or any person who is president, or vice president of the hospital know this. Its wrong for people to work there to tell their patients things that are not true.

We'll be calling back tomorrow to get an update.

 

[momof3boys]

I woke up this morning to a email from a customer service manager at the hospital...

Kristin,

Your refund has been processed as of yesterday. The refund check will be sent to you after they are printed next Wednesday and you should receive the check approximately 2/25/11.

I do apologize for the inconvenience this has caused for you.

Can you believe they only print out checks on certain weeks? I was told I would have already recieved my check my now, but now from this guy, he is telling me it was processed on Monday, the 14th, but wont be able to get printed til the 23rd? 9 days to print? That does not make sense to me. For that big of a hospital in this town, I highly doubt that they only print checks during certain weeks?! But, I wrote back and told this dude I would be contacting a higher authority and also due to how this was all handled, and how I was treated in the ER, apart of me is thinking about contacting our local newspaper. If it can happen to me, it can happen to awhole lot of people. The last thing I would want is for that dr or other drs to give out medication to other patients, and it be the wrong medication that can harm or even kill them.

If they say I will get my check by the 25th of Feb, that means it would have taken them a month to get my check out, What a great hospital they are! NOT!

Can you tell Im just alittle frustrated today?

 

[momof3boys]

I told my mom about the situation, she knew the basics of it.... but since she has been busy over the past week with Valentine's day, (she's a florist) I called her today to update her on what the email had said. She made it sound like I seriously shouldnt make a big deal about it.

What Im mostly upset about is that they cant see that what their dr did was wrong! I dont feel comfortable at all walking back into that hospital knowing they have drs who dont know what they are giving to their patients. Thinking about what could have taken place if I hadnt of saw that commercial.... me having seizures, my husband going back to work, and leaving me with the three kids at home. I wouldnt want no one to get hurt. But it just goes through my mind that this hospital is just going to brush it off like nothing ever happened. It makes my stomach turn. But to my mom, she said I just have to suck it up and get over it. Then when I mentioned to her that I would never go back to that hospital, her only concern was, "well what if the other dr doesnt provide financial assistance?"......

UM HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


What would you rather have......

a daughter thats alive and was given a medication that wont harm or kill her.

OR


a daughter thats dead or harmed because a dr gave her a medication that is not suppose to go to people with Epilepsy?


She is so focused on the payments, that she could care less about my well being! Its like she would rather not have to deal with the payments and get financial assistance and risk having something bad happen to me, by going back to that hospital, rather than risk going to another hospital here that doesnt have financial assistance and be stuck with payments!

Personally, Id rather pay the money, and still have a daughter that lives, than have no daughter and no payments.



Gosh I wish she would just see where Im coming from! I know probably half of my frustration is PMS.... but still it makes me mad!


Sorry for the Long Vent.....

 

[epileric]

Something similar happened to me when I was given an antibiotic that interacted with my tegretol.

I was extremely upset since it'd been the first time in that clinic so there was nothing in my file yet except that I was on tegretol.

Aside from never going to that chain of clinics again, I tried to notify the people in charge of the clinic who never returned my calls. Once I calmed down I wrote a letter to the college of physicians & surgeons explaining the concerns & my experience with the doctor. Realize that once they get a written & signed complaint it stays in the doctors file.

I would highly suggest you try that route. Always go up the ladder to the governing bodies.

Best of luck to you.

 

[momof3boys]

Something similar happened to me when I was given an antibiotic that interacted with my tegretol.

I was extremely upset since it'd been the first time in that clinic so there was nothing in my file yet except that I was on tegretol.

Aside from never going to that chain of clinics again, I tried to notify the people in charge of the clinic who never returned my calls. Once I calmed down I wrote a letter to the college of physicians & surgeons explaining the concerns & my experience with the doctor. Realize that once they get a written & signed complaint it stays in the doctors file.

I would highly suggest you try that route. Always go up the ladder to the governing bodies.

Best of luck to you.

Im trying to find a person, email address, or address I can write a letter to. It has a website with alot of phone numbers and the email address I wrote to yesterday. My email I sent yesterday got forwarded to a customer service manager. So I know If I write back to that email address, it will more than likely go to them again. But today, i did write that person back at their email that they responded me to with, and told them I will be looking into this matter with a higher authority. I also said that due to this happening, I dont feel comfortable walking back into their hospital with the feeling that something like that could happen again.

I went to Google and typed in their hospital name, and put corporate offices in, and nothing came up. Im just trying to figure out where I go next.

 

[epileric]

I would suggest the American College of Physicians http://www.acponline.org/

I would also check to see if there is a college of physicians for your state.

 

[Endless]

Mom,

I agree - it is frustrating when you don't even know that the hospital did anything to change things. The hospital would never admit to you that their doctor made a mistake. Neither would the doctor. It would be admitting liability.

In most states "Never events" are counted and reported to the state, and to the American Hospital Association, who summarizes and publishes the stats for each hospital. But a doc prescribing the wrong med isn't considered a "never event." The hospital making a mistake in administering the drug that the doctor prescribed IS considered a never event. To know what happened you need a copy of your chart.

http://patients.about.com/od/atthehospital/a/mederrorlist.htm

I want to encourage you again to send your letter to the quality department, and cc the CEO of the hospital. Then perhaps there will be a peer review of the doctor's actions.

If you REALLY want it to be addressed, you can also send the letter to the state health department. Individual doctors can be subject to discipline by the state medical board.

http://www.orthougm.com/vw.php?p=Nebraska Medical Board&d=http://www.liposuction.com/docs/howtopick/StateMedicalBoards.pdf&s=151.14

http://www.orthougm.com/vw.php?p=Nebraska Medical Board&d=http://www.citizen.org/documents/medicalboardtable.pdf&s=44.15

You can also complain to your health insurance company. http://www.insure.com/articles/healthinsurance/never-events.html


A big "HOORAY FOR YOU!" Making sure this doesn't happen to some other person is a very positive way to let off steam and get rid of the anger. It's therapy, and helping others all rolled into one.

:clap:

.

 

[momof3boys]

I would suggest the American College of Physicians http://www.acponline.org/

I would also check to see if there is a college of physicians for your state.

thanks, I will look into them and see what I can find that will help me out.

I did get through to a director. I left a voice mail, and within 2 minutes after hanging up, she called me back. I told her from start to finish what happened, and she said it did not sound good at all. She took my name, the date I was in the ER, and she will be looking into it. When she heard the dosages of medications I was on, and being put on Levaquin, she said she would have to address this to their head pharmacist. Which from Pam, they already have been addressed to. But she said it sounds like the physician doesnt have a very good knowledge of seizures and that medication going together. I just told her after hearing from our pharmacist to get off of it right away, thats exacly what we did, followed by a call to our drs office and was put on a new medication. Since then we've been getting a run around with them regarding the refund that Pam said we would get.

So, she said she would look into it, and write to me in a letter to explain what she had found.

Apart of me thinks its going to be more bull crap again, but Im hoping something good comes out it too. All I can do is cross my fingers and pray.

 

[Nakamova]

I'm glad you got a response. Your persistence is [hopefully] ensuring that this will never happen to anyone else at the hospital.

 

[momof3boys]

I hope it doesnt happen to anyone else either!

 

[epileric]

Something that occured to me

For a complaint to the College of Physicians & Surgeons to be valid in Canada it has to be mailed by snail mail because it needs a signature to be valid.

Ask & find out if that rule applies to the doctors regulatory bodies in the US as well.