Candice Calhoun, MHS

Went into the emergency room at Danbury Hospital with jaundice after having tested positive the day prior for mono and presented with high liver enzyme numbers. Luckily, I brought in my lab results that showed that I did, in fact, have mono. Upon showing her the results, she stated, 'well the hospital does a different test for mono...' and mentioned that people with mono typically have different symptoms than I do (such as a sore throat) and that I'd know it if I had it (mono).' She then proceeded to tell me that because of my atypical symptoms, this led her to believe that there was something wrong with my liver. Icing on the cake, she told me that when we see a patient with liver enzyme numbers like I had, this is typically the time where we'd screen for things like cancer. Put this thought of there being something wrong with my liver and even worse, the possibility of me having cancer, before a single test/screening for anything was done. Absolutely poor bedside manner.

I saw here at the Danbury ER. First off, she was muttering through her mask. I went in for knee pain that was excruciating. She sent me on my way with a brace and pain meds. When I showed my disappointment that nothing could be done, she said “I feel like there’s more to the story that you’re telling me”. I told her I had no idea what she was talking about. I felt like she thought I was trying to get pain meds. I have no idea what was going on. I could not walk on it. I had to ask the nurse afterwards if I could get crutches.

Throw bedside manner out the window. Mid conversation, she takes a phone call and never comes back. 40 minutes later I’m dismissed by the nurse. Can’t judge knowledge or skill because I never had the chance to ask questions.