Seattle Veteran Told to Call 9-11 From VA Emergency Room Parking Lot?

Seattle VA hospital strands veteran outside ER 
Seattle Times
By Lewis Kamb
Seattle Times staff reporter
Originally published May 12, 2015

The Seattle Veterans Affairs hospital has apologized for telling a veteran to call 911 after he drove up outside the emergency room with a broken foot but couldn’t walk in.

“After a complete review regarding this Veteran’s visit to the VA Puget Sound Seattle campus emergency room, we have determined we did not do the right thing to ensure the Veteran had assistance into the emergency room,” the statement said.

When Donald Siefken drove up to the Seattle VA hospital emergency room earlier this year with a broken foot, all he asked for was a little help getting inside.

Instead, a hospital employee who answered Siefken’s cellphone call told him to call 911 himself, then hung up on him, Siefken said.

Frustrated to tears, the 64-year-old retired truck driver and Army vet from Kennewick placed the emergency call while parked just feet away from the ER entrance.

“They won’t come out and get me, do you believe that?” Siefken asked an emergency dispatcher, his voice wavering.

“They told me to call 911 and hung up on me.” read more here