Kaiser has negligently dropped the ball in treating Liz’ injury.

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 12.8.2023

I cannot believe how Kaiser has dropped the ball in treating Liz’ ankle injury.

Liz will not be seen by a Kaiser specialist in treating injuries until later today, December 8. Ten days after she was injured.

Liz injured her ankle in Frankfurt, Germany on November 28. She was examined by a doctor in Frankfurt. He told her to see her doctor immediately upon her return to San Francisco. While still in Germany Liz contacted Kaiser immediately.

Following a painful 17 hour journey from Frankfurt to San Francisco we arrived home late Sunday.

Liz saw her general practitioner late Monday afternoon. X-rays were taken. The prognosis is that Liz has a fractured ankle. Since then Kaiser has done nothing except talk.

Kaiser has turned what should be a basic treatment, if that can be said about a fractured ankle, into what could become a full blown crisis. This should have been treated three days ago. Instead, Kaiser negligently dawdles. Liz, an athletic runner and cyclist for over 50 years, is forced to suffer unnecessary painful and unconscionable suffering.

The worst part of this failure to provide immediate service is the fact the Kaiser practitioner assigned to handle Liz injury has done nothing. Not even a phone call to discuss with Liz the extent of her injury and recommend treatment.

When I phoned Thursday afternoon I was told this Doctor, who was to have called Liz on Wednesday, was not in the office.

We called the Kaiser injury clinic. We called the office of Liz’s general practitioner. Thursday night we both got on the phone with Kaiser and filed a formal complaint.

We don’t know what else to do. Liz’s knee is swelling up and she is suffering ongoing pain and discomfit. This is an unconscionable medical professional failure.