Our Mt. Airy Blue Ridge Medical Group

“I'm combining this because it's all related. I will be posting it under Novant Forsyth Medical Center as well. The last time my mother went to Blue Ridge Medical Group nothing was done to help her. She had been complaining for months that her stomach was hurting and burning. No med change, no stronger dose, no referral to a gastroenterologist. My mother stated, "She didn’t do anything." Over the next few months, she self-medicated trying to soothe her stomach. I think that contributed to her having AFib. AFib caused her to have a stroke the morning of February 27, 2025. She needed an endoscopy long before this happened. Novant Forsyth Medical Center – Winston-Salem, NC My mother was admitted February 27th 2025. They cleared the clot at Forsyth and it appeared she was going to make a full recovery. They were told shortly after she was admitted about her stomach hurting and burning. They put her on oral meds and IVs, including protonix and blood thinners. Protonix, an acid reflux med, isn’t going to cure an ulcer overnight regardless of how it’s given. Blood thinners and ulcers can be a deadly combination. This should have been treated as an emergency. A few days in, she acted confused late one day. I told the nurse and she stated, "She did that yesterday too." I believe it was the next time I visited her that I found out she had gone to the bathroom shortly before I arrived. She went two more times approximately 30 to 45 minutes apart after I arrived. The nurse stated: "I don’t know why she’s going so often.” The frequent trips and confusion are symptoms of passing blood. I’ve since wondered if any of this was relayed to any of the doctors. I visited her the morning of March 6th. The first time the monitor wasn’t flashing AFib signals. I walked over, saw the lead disconnected and laying loose in her bed. I'm assuming it was accidental. Two days later, March 8, 2025, I pulled into the parking deck. The nurse called and stated "She threw up blood and it was gushing out and they are doing compressions in the hope of putting her on a ventilator.” I knew right then that I had lost her. I made it to her room and it was full of people. I heard one guy say, "Her lungs are full of blood." I take it they don’t teach tact in nursing or medical school. I have images of blood gushing out and her lungs being full of blood stuck in my head. A doctor came out and stated, “Her brain has gone without oxygen for fifteen minutes”. Additionally, He stated, “The blood thinners were a complicating factor and if they’d gotten her pulse back then they would have taken her to surgery." Why not surgery while she still had a pulse? It’s my understanding that they should’ve gotten the AFib under control, taken her off blood thinners long enough for an endoscopy and repair her stomach. This and symptoms of passing blood are hindsight for me but it shouldn’t be for doctors, nurses, pa’s and this huge group of people listed on her final Medicare statement. Strangely, I didn’t notice anyone that appeared to be a gastroenterologist. It took ten days to receive a death certificate. The requirement is forty eight hours. Totally disrespectful to the family. The fact she threw up blood was omitted from the certificate. I had a feeling that would be left out. Even more insult to injury was that Novant sent/sold a bill to a debt collector approximately three months after the creditor notice had expired and her estate had been closed. I never saw a bill from Novant. They sent it straight to the debt collector. I informed them that it was too late and if I heard anything else from them then harassment charges would be filed. Lastly, once a person reaches a certain age then they become expendable. I read an article a few years ago, written by a doctor, who admitted that he had patients he could have saved. He was pressured into doing the basics due to financial reasons. I received a form letter style sympathy card from Forsyth. In other words, no human being signed it. Blue Ridge Medical Group didn't send anything.”

“When I call the office I can't understand the one receptionist, they never called spine Dr to set up an appointment for me so I'm debating whether to change to somewhere else. Ever since Dr Burchu left I don't feel comfortable anymore I have to call many times to talk to someone about a problem”

“I would give you 0 stars if I could I moved from VA and this is the most unprofessional rude incompetent place I've ever been I should have turned them into the medical board when they let me go 2 to 3 weeks without my blood pressure meds they changed me to and I've been taking headache pills for my migraines for years since the 80's I have to be seen even though I'm sick I've had 3 different drs They all leave I'm reporting them I suggest you do the same I have my dr in VA and a pharmacy to back me up”

“Extremely disappointing visit they wrote the wrong date on the appointment card. Do they say we will fit you in today no, instead they gave her an appointment for another week. Well hopefully Jessica's arm has not developed blood clots from being struck by the car and she ends up dying from a stroke. The receptionist had just one job to write the correct appointment date on the card.”