An Atlanta man who said he came down with a fever complains he never got to see a doctor at Grady Hospital. Kevin Baxter says he waited more than 12 hours before he eventually climbed off of a hospital gurney and walked out the emergency room door.
"I was hot. I was nauseous," said Baxter. "After they did their initial procedure, they told me to have a seat and I would be seen. I sat in the emergency room from approximately 10:30 [a.m.] until 7 that evening and I was getting sicker. At 7 o'clock, I was told, when I went into the back that I would be seen shortly. And it never happened. "
Baxter said his blood pressure and temperature were checked and blood was drawn after he reported flu-like symptoms.
He said that he gave up around midnight, got off the gurney and walked out of the hospital.
"The last train was going to stop shortly after midnight. I didn't want to miss the last train and end up having to be at Grady all night," Baxter said.
A Grady Memorial Hospital spokesperson acknowledged that the emergency room has become increasingly overcrowded with visits in 2012 up over 2011 by 17 percent.
"If this is the norm at Grady, well this is a problem. If it was an abnormality, OK, that happens, but we need to address. And I want to make it clear, it's not that I don't want to pay," Baxter said.
Baxter said he is negotiating with Grady over the $479.50 bill he received.
Grady authorities told FOX 5's Morse Diggs that they believe Baxter waited around 7 or 8 hours. They believe he may have dozed off and missed being called earlier in the evening.
Hospital officials said they are reviewing ways to overhaul the emergency room system due to long wait times.
Friday, May 24 2013 11:06 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:06:52 GMT
If you're hitting the road this weekend, you wont be alone. Plenty of drivers are expected to make use of the long Memorial Day weekend, both in and out of town.
If you're hitting the road this weekend, you wont be alone. Plenty of drivers are expected to make use of the long Memorial Day weekend, both in and out of town.
Friday, May 24 2013 11:00 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:00:01 GMT
An Army Reserve sergeant surprised his daughter by returning from an overseas deployment and presenting her with her diploma at high school graduation.
An Army Reserve sergeant surprised his daughter by returning from an overseas deployment and presenting her with her diploma at high school graduation.
Friday, May 24 2013 10:32 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:32:57 GMT
Authorities say more than a dozen people were injured in an accident involving a hotel shuttle bus near Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Friday morning.
Authorities say more than a dozen people were injured in an accident involving a hotel shuttle bus near Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Friday morning.
Friday, May 24 2013 10:28 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:28:55 GMT
In-depth reporting by the Druid Hills High School student newspaper on DeKalb's accreditation controversy landed the head of SACS as the school's commencement speaker on Friday.
In-depth reporting by the Druid Hills High School student newspaper on DeKalb's accreditation controversy landed the head of SACS as the school's commencement speaker on Friday.
Friday, May 24 2013 5:50 PM EDT2013-05-24 21:50:02 GMT
Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the summer boating season. Authorities are reminding folks that there are some new laws on Georgia's waterways.
Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the summer boating season. Authorities are reminding folks that there are some new laws on Georgia's waterways.
