Hospitals discriminate

[deedeedah]

Arrived at the facility for a 4 hour MRI an hour early. Parking was a building next door, fourth floor and far from the elevator (no handicap spaces available). I called the hospital and asked for someone to bring me in with a wheelchair. After waiting 30 minutes with nothing I headed out on my own. It took me 30 minutes and lots of resting but I made it there They brought me back with a chair and left the chair outside the changing area. When I came out of the changing room someone was sitting in my chair ( I had seen her walking around the waiting room and she went back ahead of me)

I just wanted to vent 100% felt like crying but was so angry at the entire experience

[Kenu]

That’s just night right 🤬 Did you feel out a formal complaint in writing ✍️. Tell the radiology department and tell them 😠. Ken 🐾🐾

[deedeedah in reply to Kenu]

Disabled persons needs fall on deaf ears. The specialist doctors who ordered the tests said, “if I hadn’t seen your original MRIs showing the classic MS lesions I wouldn’t believe that you have MS” I guess I hide my invisible disease so well.

[Peruzzot in reply to deedeedah]

Sounds like you need to find new doctors who actually care about all their patients. Also I would find out who gave them their license to operate and file a complaint with them about the terrible way they treated you.

[greaterexp]

I'm so sorry this happened. It's already frustrating enough getting to places and navigating around with a wheelchair. I hope this never happens again. I'm sure you've clearly labeled your wheelchair as yours so no one "borrows" your chair again.

Could you respectfully inform the hospital about this situation so it doesn't happen again? There are never enough disabled parking spots at the very places that have many disabled people coming to them, like hospitals and clinics. They need a policy to take of everyone.

Come and vent any time.

[deedeedah in reply to greaterexp]

Agreed It was the hospital wheelchair I don’t use one but have no trouble asking for help. I just found it incredulous that an able bodied person would just have a seat

[mrsmike9 in reply to deedeedah]

Did you tell the person that you were using the chair and you needed it? Sometimes people just need a poke.

[deedeedah in reply to mrsmike9]

Hahaha The tech came back to get me when I stepped out from the changing room. At the same time this person sat in the chair and her tech just wheeled her away

[mrsmike9 in reply to deedeedah]

Sigh.....

[Hidden]

I held off getting a handicapped parking permit for longer than I should have, but I'm stubborn and didn't want that official "disabled" label. I think we do such a good job of faking normal sometimes that even our doctors don't realize how much we are struggling. Now that I actually have the parking permit that I hang on my mirror (don't want the tag b/c I feel like I'm driving around advertising I'm handicapped and maybe makes me a target for crime), I'm realizing how many people with no handicapped tag and no other permit are parking in handicapped spaces. I'll be driving around the grocery store parking lot trying to find a space and see them walking in or out, practically jogging, obviously NOT handicapped. It makes me angry. And they get by with it b/c the police have bigger fish to fry than to be patrolling stores and other public parking lots looking to catch people. I'm thinking about making up my own Rude Parker parking tickets and at least putting these on those cars when I'm having to hobble a long way into these stores. Before MS, I used to see all the handicapped parking and think, good grief, are there really that many handicapped people, but I never parked there until I was legally licensed to do so. And it's amazing how oblivious even some hospital staff can be. I feel your pain!

[deedeedah in reply to Hidden]

Don’t get angry at what appears to be an able bodied person parking in a handicap spot I’ve been yelled at for “using someone else’s placard” when I’m having a better day and ambulating well. My concern is will someone help me when I ask and how can I give myself a better quality of life

[mrsmike9 in reply to Hidden]

I have a hanging one that on bad days I use. On my better days I don't.

[Hidden in reply to mrsmike9]

Exactly. If I'm having a good enough day to not take up a handicapped space, I don't, even though I could.

[carolek572 CommunityAmbassador]

You had that experience in a hospital? The hospital and its staff should know better. I would definitely let them know of your experience. Who knows, maybe they will be more compassionate/empathetic the next time.

[rjoneslaw]

Get it all out ! Now write a nice complaint. I hope you told someone while you were there

[deedeedah in reply to rjoneslaw]

There’s no “fix”. We just have to get there early, call for a wheelchair, and wait to be rescued. This disease has made helped me “ smell the roses” and have so much empathy and patience for others

[pamgarner]

errgggghh!It does disappoint me when they take the handicapped spot,but what erks me more is whoever designs things as in ramps, curbs etc. have no idea what works and doesn't.I don't wish anyone anything bad,but it would be nice if the "designers" were handicapped for 1 day,things would change.

[deedeedah in reply to pamgarner]

Doesn’t “irk” me I come from the idea of who decides who is more handicapped? The person who “obviously” has no limbs, or the person with seizures and narcolepsy? Just tell yourself those “jump out of the car (after parking in the handicap space)and run in to the store” are far worse off than you and the irk goes away

[cljones in reply to pamgarner]

I agree. The handicap spaces are not close to the door. They put them around the corner so if you park close to the door you have to go up a big curb. If you can't go up the curb you have to walk further. It doesn't make sense.

[deedeedah in reply to cljones]

Right? So crazy that it’s TRUE!

[pamgarner]

so right !

[sashaming1]

Complain to the hospital. ADA also may have something to say about it.

[stepsforNeeC]

That's not Right! As our other community fam suggested; write a formal complaint in writing! I had to do it once, because I was too "sick with a flare" to go to my hospital, so I went to my neighborhood hospital. ER doctor was disrespectful!!! Call your insurance provider and report it also, member services should be helpful.

The Best and Blessings -

NeeC

[deedeedah in reply to stepsforNeeC]

The hospital did their best The MRI was scheduled after 7pm and the “aides” don’t work after 5pm

[stepsforNeeC in reply to deedeedah]

Okay my friend, as long as you're doing well..

Peace and Blessings

NeeC

[lbenmaor]

I am so sorry this happened. You truly are a very strong person to handle that!

Did you tell the hospital what happened?

Leslie

[deedeedah in reply to lbenmaor]

Thought I should tell the doctor first.She ordered 3 MRIs in a row and with contrast. I declined the contrast. I would have been out by 11pm and it was an hours drive to home

[lbenmaor in reply to deedeedah]

I understand.

[Kenu]

On my good day’s I don’t park in the handicapped parking and when I am bad if the spot next to it I park there. People are just not congenial anymore 🤬 Ken 🐾🐾

[bxrmom]

I think someone has to make a call to the police about a vehicle being illegally parked in a handicap spot because it's on private property. I would let someone know there is someone illegally parked so they can make a call.

Before I ever knew what MS was, I worked at Walgreens and we would sometmes get customers that would complain to the manager about someone without a disability placord on their vehicle. The manager would double check and then happily call the police. At the time it was a $500 fine to park there if you were there illegally.