Wuesthoff Health Systems, Rockledge, FL

[Jusncase]

Arthur Lucas
1048 George Ave
Rockledge, FL    32955

 

321-639-6172

 

April 15, 2003

 

Now Karen Davila of Wuesthoff Health Systems has threatened me if I tell my story.  Well, it is true, so here it is.  What amazes me is the local news media won't publish this editorial or do a consumer watch on their stations. 

 

My mother, Mary Lucas, 72, was gravely ill and suffered from dementia and was in Wuesthoff hospital in Rockledge, FL, Brevard County, for about a month at the end of last year (2002).  During her stay, she had a battery of tests and was moved from one room and section to another many times.  They made a fortune off of her from Medicare and Medicaid.  During the moves, various things disappeared.  Items lost and not located in lost and found included all her clothing, her jewelry, gifts bought for her while she was ill in the hospital, and both her upper and lower dentures. I was in to visit her to sign a permission sheet for a procedure, and she had both dentures in at that time. 

 

My brother Lloyd assisted her with her discharge.  At the time, they had to get clothes and shoes out of lost and found for her to wear home to the nursing home.  At that time they claimed no responsibility for all her missing items.  They intimidated my family so much they just left without a struggle.  When I heard about this, I got furious.

 

I went to the hospital in December of 2002 and was sent to four different offices before I found a person responsible for reimbursement.  I did not want payment for anything except for the lost dentures since my mother was in a nursing home and on social security (and medicaid will not pay for dentures anymore), and so there was no way she could afford to replace them. I did tell her all her stuff was missing at discharge, but I was not worried about the rest of it. 

 

A friend of mine had the same thing happen to her husband (they lost his denture) and she suggested I take in an estimate since she was reimbursed for her dead husband's denture. He died before he could get his impressions and she still received a check from Wuesthoff.  

 

So, I brought with me a written estimate for $1000 to replace her teeth from a local denture clinic to Karen L. Davila, at 321-636-2211 ext 1509.  She made sure that a check was written to that clinic to replace the teeth, acknowledging their responsibility for the loss.  I still have that check.  My brother and I took my mother to Atlantic Denture clinic, but my mom was being difficult that day.  We could not get impressions, but left the check with them since we were going to try it again later.  Unfortunately, my mother died in February, on the 26th, being too ill to ever make it in to get her impressions. The Monday following her death, I collected the check from Atlantic Denture Clinic and I went to Karen Davilla's office and quietly told the receptionist that my mom passed away last Wednesday, and was it possible for a new check to be reissued to my father.  The receptionist went back to Karen who suddenly started screaming and yelling so unprofessionally that she would not reimburse my father.  I heard her tell her secretary to take back the check, and at that point I left the office, since that check was proof that they acknowledged the loss and their responsibility to pay for it. 
Karen still refuses to reissue a check reimbursing her estate for the teeth they lost.  She claims she does not have to reimburse for teeth they lost since my mother is now dead.  She is hinting that we are trying to rip off the hospital to those who call in protest to this action of hers.  She has threatened me with libel.  She has now implemented a policy that all patients have to sign a document stating anything that is lost is not their responsibility. Who reads all the stuff you have to sign at admission!!! And, an attorney told me that she can do this. This is legal, but not ethical or moral by any means.  My mother had dementia, and someone took advantage of this.   

 

Sure, there is no value to teeth, except to the one who lost them.  Without teeth, gums get extremely sore from trying to eat.  All meals must be mashed up. We had to do a Heimlich on her several times because she almost choked to death. Great way to live.  She lived that way for 3 months. 

 

Non- the-less, my point is this.  A hospital is full of sick people, many of them drugged and sleeping.  Some are unconscious.  For many tests, things such as teeth must be removed. 

 

My mom lost everything... the four silk flower arrangements I took to her over the month valued at $15-22 each; her clothing she came in with; a ceramic bear with a dress I paid $20 for; a $60 ceramic doll I bought her since she collected them; her shoes; a guardian angel pin I brought for her; at least 4 live flower and vase arrangements I bought from the gift shop at the hospital, and her watch and rings.  None of these items were in lost and found, and thus assumed thrown away or stolen by someone, whether employees or visitors to the other patient in her room. 

 

Thieves will have an open opportunity to steal and the hospital won't be responsible for that if Karen makes everyone sign this new form she is implementing because of my complaint.   The form includes teeth, walkers, glass eyes, prosthetics, anything missing will not be the responsibility of the hospital. 

 

Also, there are moral and ethical issues here.  She promised me that if the hospital lost her stuff, they would certainly be responsible for it.  That is why after she investigated my moms records, she issued a check.  Now she won't take responsibility.  That is a consumer issue.  If this comes out publicly, maybe we will hear from dozens or more people who this also happened to at this facility and they are getting away with it.  I gave up on getting a check for my father, her husband.  Karen made it clear she will not give in and reimburse us.  But I won't give up on warning people about this problem.

 

I just want word out that people may wish to use another facility in Brevard County if they don't want this to happen to them, too.  This new document Karen requires all admissions to sign gives thieves a free reign, and Karen a way to not take responsibility for their facilities actions.  And please, do not make the mistake we made... call the police to the hospital or nursing home if your items are missing. We just did not think of doing that. It would have made our case a lot easier.

 

I am so disgusted with Wuesthoff.  You should be too.