Charles A Cannon Jr Memorial Hospital

I experienced verbal abuse from another patient while I was a patient at Cannon. She routinely called me homophobic slurs The staff to the best of my knowledge did nothing about it. One incident occurred in front of a Behavioral Health Therapist while we where outside. The person calling me names started yelling calling me a homophobic slurs, although the Behavioral Health Therapist rushed her to the door and let her go back inside, all she said to her is why are you so mad? Never once did she say anything to me about what just happened. It would have been nice if she said, I'm sorry she attacked you like that, we can't control what other patients do or say, or will take measures to keep that from happening again. The five days I spent at Cannon I was continually verbally abused by that patient. Staff clearly heard it, and never once told her to stop. If they did they never told me. One of the reasons I suffer from trauma is the verbal abuse I received as a teenager. I came to the Cannon Hospital Behavioral Unit because I wanted to die, and feeling the worst I've felt in my life. I didn't deserve to be made to feel worse because of another patient. At times I didn't even feel safe because of her. One of the patients outburst towards me was in the dining room. Once again the staff just asked her why are you so angry? Never once acting concerned about how I felt being verbally attacked. After that I felt afraid of going into the dining room if she was in there. I never retaliated to the verbal abuse from the other patient until the day I left. She called me in my opinion the worst thing you can call another human, and that is a child molester. In retaliation I called her a name in return. I regret I did that, but I was at my wits end that the staff did nothing to stop her verbal abuse towards me. I clearly asked them to protect me from her on three occasions. Plus I didn't have to go to them to complain, because they clearly heard the things she was saying about me. I feel they felt more concerned about the other patient instead of me. I especially felt that way when it came to a Behavioral Health Therapist. Who clearly had favoritism to the patient who kept attacking me. The same therapist was also supposed to give me a book when I first arrived at Cannon to help with my therapy. She did not do that and when I discussed that the day before I went home she came to my room and said here is your book. I told her that is not my book, I wasn't given one till the day before. She told me it is because I had signed my name and had written in it. I clearly told her I did not and that wasn't even my handwriting. It was as if she was trying to cover her tracks for not giving me the book in the first place. When I came to Cannon Hospital I should have only had to focus on my treatment and getting better, and not on another patient. I thought I was okay with the verbal abuse I received at Canon, but as more time goes by I'm clearly not.

Oct 3rd my husband and I were hiking in the Linville Gorge Wilderness when he was stung by yellow jackets. This brought on anaphylactic shock which was an extreme reaction. The closest hospital was Linville. Our experience was excellent. The treatment was promoted and effective Nurse Jerry and his trainee were respectful and keen to explain what was happening. Dr Williams also spent time chatting with us and helping us understand the implications of what had happened. We could not have hoped for better care. Would give 6 stars if I could.

Great Emergency Care, Very good Staff and Doctor last weekend Recommend this any Time Thank you for taking care of me Best regards Peter

This place is such a joke. They may be great for some things but be prepared to sit here for hours on end. My husband went in with trouble breathing and chest pain and they did an EKG which was normal and barley touched him after that. Just hooked him up and saw other people. Disappointed, I’ve seen them faster than Watauga. Also they don’t give patients their call bells which is a big no no. My husbands was rolled up...and he had no way to check and see what the next steps were....we will be calling someone this coming week.

I went to this emergency room for severe pain in my neck, ear, jaw, eye & back; & was seen by Heidi Aldridge. First, she had me take a urine test for "pain". That should've been a warning of what was to come. Second, she came into the room, with her arms crossed & an angry energy about herself. Asking me why I was there, that by looking at me, she seen no 'emergency'. Told me before examination (which was her using her little flashlight, looking into my ear and eye for about 45 seconds), that the emergency room was for emergencies, 'a heart attack, broken bones..' with such an angry tone of voice. As she held my medication allergy list in her hands (i am highly intolerant and allergic to all pain medications), she accused me of being there only for pain medications. I specifically told her I was there for an answer, for knowledge, for help to see what was happening to me. By this time, I was under going a severe panic attack because of her emotional abuse. She did not take any time to actually examine me, only had very harsh words & extremely bad energy to lash upon me. I left there crying, and had one of the worst panic attacks of my life, sitting in their Emergency Room parking lot for over an hour. Since then, I have been diagnosed with scoliosis, cervical kyphosis, a twisted c6 vertabre, bone spurs on c5 & c6 vertabre, severe tmj, sinusitis, & multiple pinched nerves. I contacted the Appalachian Regional District Health Customer Service about her behavior. If I had the means & resources to obtain a lawyer over her emotional abuse & patient neglect, I would. In her position, she had no right to treat me this way & it is a day I will never forget. I wish I would've video taped the experience so I could show the world how I was treated by Heidi Aldridge. I recommend to anyone, stay away from her, unless of course, your illness is not "invisible."