I should not have been admitted to the ER

[myneighbor]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Arizona

I am Disabled with Medical Part A and a VA card for some allowable services--outsource would be ONLY by permission. No Part B and no money; a social security income only.

I have a Chronic Condition of numbness in my legs , which has gotten worse over 7 years and the VA has done most routine medical exams which come back "within normal and reasonable limits", so "We let it go, OK?" No diagnosis and no help, bit they will give me pain meds, which I refuse. The symptoms have gotten worse until I am at the point where I walk unsteady and even that with a cane.

Last month at home I began having "fullness" in my chest and my legs went numb-er still. I phoned the VA nurse line and did not receive a call back--called twice and no call back. it's a min. 30 minute drive to the VA ER and in city traffic; I knew I could not work the car pedals safely. I have no family and live alone so called a person I know slightly who said she would take me "to the nearest ER", so that meant our community hospital 5 minutes away. I was scared, in distress of a possible heart attack or stroke and didn't want to lay in my condo for 10 days dead so I agreed.

Arrived at the ER and explained "am I having a heart attack?" NO, WE DON'T THINK SO. "Am I having a stroke?" NO, WE DON'T THINK SO. And left me laying there in the room. I began to settle down feeling less fear about dying alone in my room.

I told everyone who came in my room "I have only Part A and VA, but no authorization from VA, and NO money. If I am not having a heart attack I cannot be here. Do not treat my chronic condition--I am not here because my legs are numb. The VA has run all possible tests and they are "reasonable limits, and also ruled out Psych."

The person from Admissions came in and I repeated my story. She said "if we admit you the VA will authorize it; we have several VA here."

In short, I did not get up and walk out so I guess that is agreement. The person who brought me stayed in the room and will attest to all that happened as I did here.

They put me on the cardio knowing full well I was not in heart distress. I kept asking "did you get VA auth?" and no one knew, or would call down to Billing. I slept a few hours and at dawn asked again about the auth. No one knew and I said "did I have a heart attack?" NO. I said "then I am leaving because I have no money and blahblahblah."

I refused speaking with all their specialists. The psychiatrist sat down anyway and I told her "blahblah and get out. I have no money and the VA has ruled out."

I refused their tests. The morning doc came in and said "why are you here? the nurse said you want to go home, well I will discharge you." I said "good. I have no money and blahblahblah." I had to wait 4 hours for him to discharge me.

At home I called the hospital patient rep and told her I wanted to see her. I did and repeated "blahblah" to her. The Admitting Manger was at this meet too and said "A few days after your discharge your admission was downgraded to 'Observation'", so now Part A will not pay anything either. The VA will not help me either since I have Part A, another form of government insurance.

So the end result is $16,000 hospital bill (!!!!!) for a few hours; so far $1,000 physician bills to "read" tests I told them had already been done and were "medically within reason", which is what they found too when they read them; and so far $233 in Radiology.

And the medical records fraught with connotations to "all in her head". Totally incorrect diagnosis born out by 7 years of history at the VA.

So that's where it stands. I apologize for the length of the post but I wished to give as much as one might need to help me.

What is your advice? NO way can I pay this. I own a condo, which is now worth nothing; my car is 10 years old; I spend about $5,000 a year on medical care for the chronic condition, apart from the VA.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

Once you sign authorize them to treat you, you waive the right to dictate how they practice medicine. Your recourse would have been to get out of bed and sign yourself out against medical advice.

 

[lealea1005]

They put me on the cardio knowing full well I was not in heart distress.

Ruling out a heart attack does not mean you don't have other cardiac issues that didn't need to be addressed. Otherwise you would not have been on cardiac observation and/or monitor.

 

[myneighbor]

Once you sign authorize them to treat you, you waive the right to dictate how they practice medicine. Your recourse would have been to get out of bed and sign yourself out against medical advice.

I tried that and was told by more than one professional "If you leave AMA and the VA DID authorize this they will not pay for it; nor, will Medicare."

So much for trusting the medical profession,eh.
I am not going to accept this treatment.

 

[myneighbor]

Ruling out a heart attack does not mean you don't have other cardiac issues that didn't need to be addressed. Otherwise you would not have been on cardiac observation and/or monitor.

"Why are you here?" is what the day doc said, so that explanation doesn't work. I told the Patient Rep "They knew in ER I was not having heart distress and the right thing would have been to discharge me to the VA". Instead they chose to label me "psychiatric--all in her head. In denial". That I am not is borne out by my medical records at the VA.

Incidentally, having gotten no answer or help from this hospital I had the recurring symptom of distress in my chest and NO additional leg weakness so I drove to the VA. The VA said I was not having a heart attack and did not admit me--they did not do all the tests the hospital did.

Also, thank you for making these comments. They are helping me greatly to think it all out. I'm just trying to gather help her, so please don't think i am being argumentative--I'm not. I appreciate anyone and everyone's time to opine.

 

[lealea1005]

I tried that and was told by more than one professional "If you leave AMA and the VA DID authorize this they will not pay for it; nor, will Medicare."

That is true, especially for Medicare.

So much for trusting the medical profession,eh.

What does your choice to leave against medical advice have to do with trusting the medical profession?

The question, "why are your here" or "what can I do for you" is the subjective part of your presentation....in other words, it's the reason you give the Physician for seeking medical attention.

You originally presented in the ER with chest "fullness" and an increase in your chronic numbness in your legs. You felt it was emergent enough to seek treatment in the ER after not receiving answers from the VA Nurse line.

Not having your medical history, the ER treats on an episodic basis. When you suddenly changed your mind and tried to leave AMA, they were covering their behinds by having you assessed by a Phsychiatrist.

I'm wondering whether you'd be on the med/mal forum looking to sue for negligence if you were sent away after an unremarkable EKG and ended up actually having a heart attack, or worse, because you were not monitored.

 

[cbg]

"You are not having a heart attack" and "You are not in any cardiac distress" are NOT the same thing.