Gloria and Rae Corrado by way of WTAE
You’d assume her personal daughter would acknowledge her.
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A startling incident in Pennsylvania has underscored the significance of affected person identification protocols at hospitals, as Rae Corrado says she skilled a case of hospital affected person mix-up at UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh. Anticipating to seek out her mom, Gloria Corrado, in her assigned hospital mattress, Rae was as an alternative met with a stranger sporting her mom’s identification wristband.
“I don’t care what it says. It’s not my mother”
In accordance with Pittsburgh information outlet WTAE, Rae had been awaiting her 72-year-old mom’s switch from UPMC Presbyterian to UPMC Mercy for rehabilitation following a stroke. Upon arrival at Mercy, Rae was directed to her mom’s room, solely to seek out an unfamiliar lady occupying the mattress.
Regardless of the wristband indicating the affected person’s identify as Gloria Corrado, Rae was adamant that the girl was not her mom. The workers initially insisted on the identification’s accuracy, resulting in a tense trade. “I stated, ‘I don’t care what it says. It’s not my mother,” Rae informed the workers.
The seek for Gloria
Confused and alarmed, Rae contacted workers at UPMC Presbyterian, who confirmed that her mom was nonetheless there, awaiting switch. Gloria had been left in a hallway, strapped to a stretcher, unable to maneuver for hours.
Gloria described the expertise as harrowing, stating, “I used to be velcroed to a stretcher. I couldn’t transfer. I might hardly transfer my toes, not to mention my physique, for hours. And I stored considering, ‘This will’t be authorized,’” she stated.
Gloria lastly arrived at UPMC Mercy round 11 p.m., the place she was reunited together with her daughter. The emotional toll of the ordeal was evident.
Hospital response and Ongoing Investigation
UPMC has acknowledged the incident and acknowledged that an investigation is underway to find out the way it occurred. A consultant talked about {that a} new nurse was concerned, suggesting that inexperience might have performed a job.
Rae has expressed her dissatisfaction with the hospital’s response and is contemplating authorized motion. She emphasised the necessity for accountability, not just for her mom’s ordeal but in addition for the unidentified lady who was mistakenly positioned in Gloria’s mattress.
This incident highlights the potential risks of hospital affected person mix-ups, particularly involving aged sufferers who could also be susceptible as a consequence of situations like dementia. Correct affected person identification is essential to make sure security and belief in healthcare settings.
Medical consultants notice that whereas such errors are uncommon, they will have critical penalties. Hospitals are urged to overview and reinforce their affected person identification protocols to stop related incidents.