Asks for Proper Protocol in Emergency

To The Editor:
An elderly relative had a fall in the garden trying to water the flowers. No one was there and a neigh-bor saw her lying on the ground. Thankfully, they called 911. The police officer arrived followed by the ambulance crew. According to the ambulance crew and police officer, all faculties were present and able to have the officer get the personal belongings including medications and lock the door.
Arriving at Cape Regional Medical Center, they were able to give the meds, etc. While going for a CAT scan of her head, she became unresponsive and was medivaced to AtlantiCare Trauma Unit where she was diagnosed with severe hematoma on the left side of the brain. Surgery was possible but recovery was doubtful and life would be greatly impaired. She was taken off life support, put in hospice and suc-cumbed six days after the fall.
This sounds very normal and unfortunate. How-ever, readers should be aware of the following:
What protocol is followed by facilities in emergen-cies like this? I was listed as next of kin, locally, but no one called my residence. Approximately, five hours later, I received a phone call from a member of the clergy who was with her in the trauma unit. Then a call followed from a relative living in North Carolina.
This relative received excellent medical care at both facilities, and the North Wildwood Ambulance Corp was professional and helpful to the family. The police officer had put the keys in the bag with the medications and locked the back door only. On the way to the hospital we stopped by the home to make sure it was locked and called the police for assis-tance. The front door was wide open as well as the car. The officer proceeded to finish locking the premises and car.
We then proceeded to the trauma unit and after talking to staff members, took the patient off life support and picked up the belongings. We asked about the keys and no-one had them. Then we went to Cape Regional Medical Center to pick up her be-longings, and again, no keys.
To date, it has cost the family over $800 in lock-smith fees. “Where oh where, have the keys gone?”
Calling both facilities, the patient advocate at Cape Regional and Hospice Supervisor at AtlantiCare were understanding and compassionate. They both were passing the dilemma onto other staff and we were to receive information. To date, no information has been forwarded to us by either facility.
We are still in mourning, trying to solve mysteries and the usual with the passing of a loved one. We would like to be aware of protocol that should be followed and how to prevent this from happening to another member of the family.
Thank you, Cape Regional Medical Center, Atlan-tiCare Trauma and Hospice, North Wildwood Ambu-lance and police for the excellent care of our relative.
ROSALIE STACKHOUSE
Villas