Dear Editor, I have volunteered at this hospital for 30+ years. I believe we are lucky to have this hospital in our community, but I do have some concerns.
These concerns are not hearsay, but my own observations. When going to physical therapy twice a week I have ample time to observe the front of the hospital. I do not feel that the locking of the doors in the front of the hospital is a good idea.
I called the hospital administration and was told it was a safety issue because no one could see you enter the hospital. If you enter using the back doors, as instructed, no one can see you enter there either. I questioned cameras, but got no answer.
A man dropped his wife off in front of the clinic with four children and drove off. She walked up to the clinic doors which were locked. She then walked to the physical therapy doors which were also locked. I assume she got in at the front entry. I observed an older man limping toward the clinic to also find the doors locked. He attempted the physical therapy doors and an employee opened the doors. Another patient in PT told the tech after being on a machine, he was not sure if he could get to his car because of the long way to walk to the back.
My next concern is helpfulness. While waiting at the medical desk for service, a man walked in and asked if he could get some help bringing his mother in from the car that he brought from the nursing home. Keep in mind, this was a very cold day and she was wrapped in a quilt. The employee behind the desk “huffed” and said she would have to find someone as if she was inconvenienced. I feel that we should have employees on call to assist with situations like this. It would have been more polite to simply say, “I will call someone to assist you with your mother.” Finally, 15 minutes later the woman was being helped out of the car. When patients ask for directions, someone should guide them to their location. Hospital hallways are confusing and very easy to get turned around in. Patients are here for help and I feel that we should assist them in the simplest way possible. Assisting patients can be quite simple.
Sincerely, Nancy P. Blackwell
