Glade Valley Center Walkersville, Maryland 21793
On June 24 I had a total knee replacement at Montgomery General Hospital, and on Friday the 27th I came to your facility for rehabilitation. I came there specifically because Glade Valley had such a stellar reputation in the community. Well, little did I know that a company called GENESIS had taken it over, along with many other previously excellent facilities.
I arrived on a Friday and left on Weds. Just a few of the problems which I experienced and observed:
~ there was no raised toilet in my room - I was instead given a seat which I had to place on each time I needed to use the bathroom - the seat did not fit, as it rocked side to side and I had to hold onto the side bar on the wall in order not to topple off. Now mind you, this was closely after TKR and still using a walker.
~ the bathroom floor was filthy …. grayness all around the edges where it had been cleaned with too much water and just sat.
~ no towels unless I asked
~ the mattress was about 4" thick and plastic and the pillow was a small plastic one. Also, I am 5'7" and the bed was to short for me … not comfortable after a TKR. They added a bracket and moved the footboard down, leaving about a 6" gap between the end of the mattress and the footboard.
~ My room mate and I had a "visitor '' …. a centipede approx. 1-1/2" long scurried across our floor one evening … nice. We always wondered at night where he was sleeping!
~ The food was virtually inedible, and I am not a picky eater. My daughter and her husband came to visit and each time brought me a meal. My last breakfast consisted of 1- 5" pancake, 1 slice about 2" in diameter of I suppose sausage although it was gray, and the "fruit garnish" was 2 slices of canned mandarin orange.
~ At the time my doctor had me on 2 percoset every 4 hours, but unless I asked for it, I didn't get it. At times, they would bring 1, which not even a week out of surgery certainly didn't work. If I took 2 at 10 PM and was supposed to be awakened at 2 for 2 more and I didn't wake up …… oh well, they just let me sleep … then I woke up at 6 in excruciating pain.
~ One of my close friends who is a pastor and visited frequently there was horrified at what has happened to a formerly excellent facility. A friend of mine was so upset she called my doctor that Sat. night, and somehow got him. He called your facility and I do not know who he spoke to, but needless to say, he was NOT happy. Genesis facilities are being taken off their list of recommended places.
The staff works their fingers to the bone … I am surprised any of them stay except for the poor economy.
This is just the beginning for me. After I am recovered, healed and back to normal, I plan to become a huge letter writer to many, many, people about this horrible situation. I believe GENESIS to be one of those big groups who is only interested in the bottom line, not in the welfare of their patients. Probably part of our "new" upcoming healthcare system.
Needless to say, should I need rehab. again, I will not be at your facility, and I am telling everyone I know (P.T., O.T., Nurse) of my experience. I'm sure you'll hear from me again, much to your chagrin.
Barbara Ellen Brooke