Riverside Walter Reed Hospital

I had an encounter with the outside case management worker last night regarding my sister who is dying of stage 4 breast cancer! She was discharged on Wednesday in horrible shape and no one bothered to consult home health to make sure she would be followed up on! She was very sick, in pain and very confused! I called to speak with any one in discharge planning on Thursday, left 2 detailed messages to call me and no one returned my call. My sister was so sick and lives alone too. Her son took her back to the ER and they said she had a bladder infection and prepared to discharge her back home for which he refused! She was readmitted and sent to ICU yesterday with a high ammonia level, renal and liver failure! I requested a patient advocate who sent in the outside case worker. She arrogantly stated “oh this is the one who refused Home Health “ And I nearly lost it but kept my cool in front of my dying sister and her children! Seriously she was that blunt! So if the patient is totally out of it and did not even know what she was asked then how could this person do this? I guess it made her job easier by not having to deal with getting Home Health involved! I worked as a nurse in a hospital before I retired and I know for a fact this is not how case management is supposed to operate! The nurse in ICU heard her and apologized to us! She was so wonderful and very attentive to my sister! This complaint will hopefully protect other patients in the future and your case management team needs to regroup and treat each patient with care and respect!