My mother, almost 92 years old, was taken from her assisted living facility to the ER at LRMC last Saturday because she was experiencing extreme, acute pain in her right side and was short of breath (she has COPD). The ER physician believed it to be gastrointestinal in nature, so she was administered IV medications for GI symptoms. This did not relieve the pain at all. When my sister questioned one of the nurses about getting her something else, the nurse shouted at her. When I went in and asked another nurse about something for my mother's pain, she told me that the doctor didn't order anything for it and that she would be going to a room soon and another doctor would get her something. My mother suffered a long time with no relief.

She was admitted and assigned an internist. My sister, who lives in Leesburg, visited daily. The nurses were unable to give out any information about my mother's condition, but left notes on the chart for the doctor to call her. He didn't. My sister finally was able to reach him. He seemed unfamiliar with who our mother was. When asked about the cause of her pain, he said it was arthritis. My sister questioned the diagnosis of arthritis since the area of pain was soft tissue and no bone, but he became rude and hostile. Two doctors and two diagnoses - we still don't know if either is accurate. Our plan is to take her to a competent physician when she is discharged. Thankfully, her pain has improved, although has not totally disappeared.

Yesterday, my mother received a new roommate with a rather large, extended family. Last night, there were six people visiting, playing cards at the sink, watching TV with the volume blasting. amd talking loudly. This was very stressful to my almost 92 year old mother who was unable to sleep. My sister asked the nurse if she could do something to help with the situation and was told that the visitors would be leaving soon. After another 45 minutes, they began leaving. My mother was in tears.

On two occasions, my sister found my mother up and in the bathroom alone, although we had specifically told the staff that she was unsteady on her feet and could not walk without her walker. My sister even asked the nursing assistant to "please" not let her walk unassisted. We are very lucky that she did not fall.

I will say that most of the nurses on the floor were wonderful, but overall, I would not recommend this hospital to anyone. And, trust me, I know what health care should be. I was a nurse.