Delays in Treatment of Hip Fracture Increase Complications

"Studies show that delaying surgery after a fracture for just 24 hours increases the chance of complications and death." Dr. Flege's first hip fracture occurred mid morning. I received a phone call from him 2000 miles away. He was lying on the floor at Marjorie P. Lee Rehabilitation Unit, unable to summon help. He had been at the facility less than 24 hours and didn't have an indication to be there in the first place! He stated that he had fractured his neck of femur. I said I would hang up and call the facility and have them find him and who would he like to see for a surgeon. I called the facility and they found him. I called the surgeon, a colleague of Dr. Flege's, who asked that Dr. Flege be transferred immediately to Christ Hospital ER, 5 miles away, and he would meet him at the door. Dr. Flege requested immediate transfer. Instead, Marjorie P. Lee insisted on holding him captive for nearly a day while they brought in a portable X-ray machine on a truck, never mind that there is a state of the art ER less than a mile away from MPL...and his chosen surgeon waiting to greet him 5 miles away. MPL further delayed transfer waiting for an official radiology report. Dr. Flege had already read the film and pointed out the fracture. By the time he arrived at the hospital, it was early evening and surgery was delayed until the next day. Were they trying to hide something? Delaying treatment of a NOF fracture for 24 hours, significantly increases the risk of complications and death. As is often the case, this injury started a downward spiral. Hip Fracture #2 in less than a year would occur at another facility, The Kenwood by Senior Star, located in Madisonville. Again, surgery was delayed. Over 24 hours from the time of presentation to the ER. According to witness reports, he may have been injured days before he was even taken to the ER. Was there an attempt to cover up a broken hip? By someone who pushed him? By The Kenwood? He had only been at the facility a short time and they had recently drugged him with medications known to increase fall risk in the elderly. He spit the pills out as they made him unsteady. The facility was aware that he was falling. Just days before this injury, I met in person with an administrator to discuss the matter and I put my concerns in writing to the clinician who effectively prescribed the drugs. After, the pills were found in the bedsheets, the nurses forced him to take them and refused to leave until they were confident the he had swallowed them. Abuse. Again, failure to obtain adequate care in a timely manner increased the risk of a poor outcome. Two different nursing homes denied him timely medical care for serious injuries. #MarjoriePLee #KenwoodBySeniorStar #elderabuse Why?