Tracy J.
Yelp
If I could give Kaiser negative stars I would. Not just Modesto location but all of Kaiser. This medical system is a very great example of why there is a lot of mis information in other parts of the United States regarding California. This is not healthcare. This is a popularity contest. Kaiser thinks if we are nice then everyone will not notice we do not ACTUALLY do healthcare. Let's start with the ER. What a JOKE! Kaiser puts ER on the building but you are actually sent to an urgent care type situation and if the problems have been going on a while, FORGET any care. Oh, and don't come into the Kaiser foundation as a member with any bad health or habits because they do forget that not everyone has been a part of their brainwashing their entire life and just sometimes you are going to have to actually help a patient in order for them to thrive. HMMM- let's discuss PCP visits as well- they get canceled. So... you cannot go to ED as they are no help and you cannot seem to get in with the PCP so what do you do? Oh, but wait, you can call the nurse line. The nurse can set you up with a phone visit in a week maybe. And yes, PHONE-no video. (Assessment skills a must with no video) Last time I checked, diagnosis was outside the scope of a nurse. Speaking of nurses, let's discuss the "Journey to Magnet" in the ER. Newsflash, magnet status cannot happen without physicians. Or for that matter, without nurses- we were in the so-called ER 2 hours and saw one nurse only after an allergic anaphylactic reaction. Which brings me to my next point- radiology. Take my spouse to dr for this large protrusion seen with the naked eye. Two CT scans and an MRI later, there is absolutely no mention of this obvious defect. Please tell me why the radiologist at Kaiser do not have the same standards as other radiologist? Every single scan I have EVER had outside of this so-called health system the radiologist made note of everything he/she saw in that scan. Well not at Kaiser. You must see a surgeon for that. So, let's talk about the surgeon referral. Spouse gets a call to set up surgery. WHAT? No one has told us what this is, there has been no mention on any of the scans but you want to just schedule someone to cut it out? All of this seems very surreal. Almost third world or meat market. I noticed that there are no email addresses listed for the important folks in Kaiser anywhere on the web. I wonder is it because you think everything is fine in your system (which is usually the case) or you do not want to know otherwise? Not just members can give valuable input. The people who love them and know them the best may have some knowledge as well. Kaiser has the pre-set treatment plans and it does not matter if the MD thinks that a test is not necessary, they have to order it which puts large delays on care. For example- currently spouse has an ulnar nerve problem that has intensified to severe pain and affecting daily life. Went to DR, DR identifies that this is classic symptoms of the ulnar nerve so we need to take that route. HOWEVER- when she goes to order the necessary path, the PC tells her she must do Xray first. WHY? Last I checked nerves do not show on Xray. OK so now, she must wait for the Xray to show nothing to move to the nerve study to move to some relief. Meanwhile, you cannot get appointments for a month out and the nerve is dying more every day. So, I ask, when the nerve dies and the finger becomes useless from all the time we have spent unnecessarily, will Kaiser be supporting us when the spouse can no longer do the job that requires complete use of BOTH hands? I also ask, is ANY of the treatments that Kaiser does evidence based?
Let's continue the so-called ED care. When you get there and sign in, they send you to "ED whatever letter". Dr comes in with his agenda. No discussion, just an agenda. The agenda is basically telling the patient that what they are here for is not an emergency and they need to follow up with the PCP. (See previous statement regarding cancellations and keep that in the front of this story). Well, then we go for a CT scan where an allergic reaction occurred and guess what- there is an ACTUAL emergency department complete with nurses and techs- no further care or knowledge- but an actual ed. We have been battling the same issues over and over again since MAY. And not without a lot of pushing and advocating. I hope Kaisers Russian roulette with my spouse works in their favor. Kaiser probably should hope that also. Every patient is not made from the same mold. Every patient does not need the same things and will at times present differently than others.
It is cheaper to litigate bad care in this country than to actually give good care and prevent litigation. Food for thought. We as the patient/consumer are the only ones that can fix a bad situation. If you do not like the care, please do not settle-advocate for yourself! And unfortunately, with Kaiser, you will have to advocate very hard to