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I will be submitting a formal complaint with the Joint Commission
I was at the MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center Emergency Room for most of the day 5am-11pm 8/30/2026 with my partner.. Because his condition was stable, I eventually left to get some rest. I deeply regret it. I should have cramped up on the small chair in his room or even slept on the floor, because what happened overnight would have never occurred if I had been there to advocate for him. My partner was transferred to a new ER room at 1:00 AM, and absolutely no one bothered to establish patient care. He was left completely without a call button, and it was not until 7:00 AM, a full six hours later, that someone finally came in to introduce themselves. He was suffering from a debilitating headache, extreme dizziness, and was strictly ordered not to get out of bed on his own. Unable to physically advocate for himself, he was forced to hold his bladder for hours in the dark, only managing to use the restroom once by flagging down a random passing nurse. That is no way to treat a vulnerable human being. When I called Patient Relations to report this severe safety hazard, the representative had the audacity to excuse the negligence by stating the emergency room is "impacted." Do not excuse bad behavior. Apologize and strive to do better. Well, duh, it is an emergency room; being busy is the baseline. Your response should not be to shrug and say your staff is struggling. Your response should be to staff more people and provide the necessary resources, at least remorseful not sassy. Patients come here in their most vulnerable times, and this hospital should be equipped to handle it. I am back here on Monday, and the place looks like a circus; plenty of weekday staff. It is wild that management refuses to staff enough nurses to ensure basic patient safety. I am absolutely heartbroken thinking of the night my partner had to endure alone and scared. I will be staying by my partners side for the remainder of his stay to ensure basic care, like using the restroom is provided. I will be submitting a formal complaint with the Joint Commission and the California Department of Public health. I urge you all to do the same to see real action.
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