If your child vomited at the Dr's office...UPDATE - Pg 6, #87

[DisneyLovingMama]

what kind of help would you expect from the staff there?

I took DS to the doctor's last night, and as we were waiting, he threw up in the waiting room...twice. First, he just got me. But, when I put him down, he threw up all over the floor and DD.

I called for help to the receptionist and she just stood there. Finally, I asked for some paper towels and a nurse handed me a bunch and told me to make sure I get it all up, while pointing to the floor. So, for the next 15 minutes, I did my best to clean up myself, DS, DD and the office floor and chair. The nurses literally just stood there. When I asked for some wet paper towels, they seemed really annoyed.

After everyone was cleaned up, I asked one of the nurses if they could watch the kids because I had extra clothes in the trunk of my car. They refused. I wrapped DS in a blanket (I had already stripped him down) and ran and got the clothes.

To top it off, while I was cleaning up the mess, we got called into the examining room. Since we "missed" our appointment, we had to wait another 45 minutes!

I'm not saying I shouldn't have had to clean up after my son, but I guess I would have expected an offer of help or a little compassion from the nurses and staff at the doctor's office. As you can tell, I'm still annoyed.

 

[jenks0718]

I would have been beyond angry. How dare they just stand there and look at you! They didnt have to get down on their hands and knees and scrub, but gosh get you some wet paper towels or a bucket with a sponge or something! Offer to walk out to the car for you to get the clothes if they didnt want to watch the kids. I cant believe they did that.

 

[Disneyrsh]

Wow, I'd be furious. I'd write the doc a letter. We did this with our pediatrician once when he recommended an allergist who turned out to be all about punching the clock and selling us on her pay per month website. He was really glad I had appraised him of her tactics, and he now doesn't recommend her anymore.

A lot of times the docs are very insulated from their staff or their colleagues and get no feedback from the parents. Our doc has his own email!

I'd send a friendly letter asking him what sort of help should be expected in your situation.

 

[lyeag]

I would have let the doctor know first and then, if his reaction wasn't at the very least apologetic for his staff, I would be looking for another dr.

 

[pearlieq]

Absolutely unacceptable! Heck, my VET is nicer when an "oops" happens in the office. She should have gloved up and helped you clean up, and then shown you to an exam room if at all possible.

I would definitley encourage you to speak to the doctor in charge of the practice. If he/she is unsympathetic, time for a new MD!!!

 

[icebrat001]

Maybe the nurse should have helped. I imagine that a CNA be expected to help, I wouldn't have expected it from a RN. It's not the receptionist job to clean it up, however, the receptionist could've given you items to clean the mess.

They probably didn't watch your child because it's a liability for them, what if something happened, they would be held responsible, I can imagine the insurance woes.

I think if they were aware that you went to the car to get a change of clothing that they shouldn't have "skipped" your appointment. That was rather mean.

While I am not excusing their actions, maybe they had a bad day.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Ewww!

At Disney World--I had to clean it up (kind of b/c of an immediate need) but a cleaning crew was promptly called in. As a courtesy I got it up at one location and in another location a mgr said he would have it taken care of.

In a doctors office I would not expect to be completely ignored except to told HOW to clean it up. They better get someone off of their fanny santizing pronto.

I cannot believe they had so little disregard for you and other patients like that.

And missing your appointment---that is so stupid!!! You wouldn't have missed it had you not been responsible for hazard duty.


Did you complain to the doctor?

 

[DisneyLovingMama]

Just as an addendum - The doc that was there last night isn't the kids' regular pede. It's a huge, multi-office practice and all the doctors rotate the evening/night shifts.

I was too gross, upset, angry, tired, etc to say anything to a doctor I didn't know last night.

 

[icebrat001]

Offer to walk out to the car for you to get the clothes if they didnt want to watch the kids. I cant believe they did that.

If it's a small doctors office with only one receptionist (as was my doctor when I was a child) how would the lady be able to do her job and run to the car and get the clothing? And if it were a larger office with lots of staff, the probably means a large parking lot, how would the lady find the car, or what if she took other personal belongs from the car and kept it for herself? Are they even allowed to go to a patients car to retrieve things? Maybe they have certian guidelines to follow.

ETA: It's a large office. Maybe they have special people to deal with situations like what happened and they were gone for the day?


Sorry this happened to you.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

That is horrible. I have had more help from strangers in a store!

Our Ped office would have helped. I have seen them with others. They also will let you wait outside or in your car if your child does not feel up to coming inside. We have done this when my kids have been nauseous from strep. They will walk OUT to your car and get you for the appt. They are the best.

Sorry you had a rough day. Hope your little one feels better.

 

[Kae]

I would be looking for a new Practice to go to. I have found that at Dr is as caring as his staff. And yes that is my opinion. Your son was not the first child to get sick at their office. I am sorry that on top of your son being sick you had to go thru all that.

Kae

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If it's a small doctors office with only one receptionist (as was my doctor when I was a child) how would the lady be able to do her job and run to the car and get the clothing? And if it were a larger office with lots of staff, the probably means a large parking lot, how would the lady find the car, or what if she took other personal belongs from the car and kept it for herself? Are they even allowed to go to a patients car to retrieve things? Maybe they have certian guidelines to follow.

I don't know--if it was a small office--then skipping the appointment was very uncalled for.

If a large office--plenty of staff to assist in some way. Heck--accompany her to the car while she held her child to at least assist with retrieval.


It's all about being afraid to be sued.

My dentist office--the assistants help watch my girls all the time.

Now while my doctors office isn't set up for the situation we are talking about (watching while going to the car)..I have no doubt it would have been handled 100% better.

My children have been better treated at the Ob/gyn than the OP was at her pediatrician's office.

I do tend to go to docs/dentists/etc for bedside manner though.

 

[momof2inPA]

I would have put some paper towels on it and stepped over to get to the appointment. Honestly, this has got to happen all the time at the pediatricians. They should have that school sawdust that sops it all up.

 

[DisneyLovingMama]

My car was right outside the office door. Directly outside. Last night there were two receptionists, 3 nurses (or nursing assistants) and 1 doctor in the office.

I was going to make the vet comment too, but didn't want to relate my DS to my dog. But, my vet always cleans up after my dog's oopses.

Like I said, I really just expected more help or compassion - not being treated like a pariah. Even when we got into the examining room, the nurse didn't want to come all the way in the room and seemed totally grossed out. Guess I figured at a pede's office, they would be used to it.

Little guy's still pretty sick today. Poor guy.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

icebrat....question since you are going to med school

Can you agree that vomit is a biohazard and shouldn't be left to a patient's family member to clean up properly.

I'm sure if it were a bunch of blood--they would have had some one gloved up and immediately taking care of it. Or would they not?

 

[CEDmom]

Wow, I would have been upset by the treatment you got. DD did throw-up once at the doctor's office once and they were so nice. We have a very good relationship with the staff and doctors so that really makes a difference. I'd be inclined to let the doctor know and if you weren't satisfied I'd shop for another doctor. We take DD to a family practioner rather than a Ped because we feel we get much better treatment there. It's not as crazy and she's only 1 of a few children who go to him so they love her to death.

 

[Tine731]

Change doctors. Period. I would have been fuming.

 

[icebrat001]

icebrat....question since you are going to med school

Can you agree that vomit is a biohazard and shouldn't be left to a patient's family member to clean up properly.

I'm sure if it were a bunch of blood--they would have had some one gloved up and immediately taking care of it. Or would they not?

Vomit is a biohazard, I agree with you on that. I think they regard blood as a more serious matter than vomit.

I think that the nurses should have cleaned it up, but again, I expect more cleaning to be done by a CNA as opposed to a RN or NP.

Not all doctors or offices have good bed side manner, they are teaching it more and more in med school.

I don't know what type of floor we are talking about at this particular office. However, either way, even after the parent cleaned up the mess, I would still put up those wet floor signs and had people stay away from the area until it was sterilized.

 

[annie1995]

If it's a small doctors office with only one receptionist (as was my doctor when I was a child) how would the lady be able to do her job and run to the car and get the clothing? And if it were a larger office with lots of staff, the probably means a large parking lot, how would the lady find the car, or what if she took other personal belongs from the car and kept it for herself? Are they even allowed to go to a patients car to retrieve things? Maybe they have certian guidelines to follow.

ETA: It's a large office. Maybe they have special people to deal with situations like what happened and they were gone for the day?


Sorry this happened to you.

Regardless of the office staff having certain guidelines to follow, you should have never had to wait an additional 45 minutes because they said you missed your appt. You clearly had a sick child, and that was uncalled for.

 

[MagicalMom]

Maybe the nurse should have helped. I imagine that a CNA be expected to help, I wouldn't have expected it from a RN.

Not to start an arguement, but this comment would have had every nurse in my hospital in an uproar. We often do primary care & have no problem doing the dirty work, it's a large part of our jobs. We became nurses because of our compassion & couldn't imagine leaving a patient in a "mess" & not helping. Actually I've even had Doctors help out with lifting or bathing a patient. What one is willing to do really depends more on your character than your degree.

Sorry, just had to get that out.