St. Lucie Medical Center

Reviews 4

DO

Doug and Melanie Gorman

So sad at what the incompetence of this hospital did to my mother - we still do not know if she is going to survive. She was admitted on Fri Feb 17 for subtle pneumonia - told she was admitted due to her age - 92. Given IV Levaquin. Discharged on Sunday Feb 19- told all is clear - no fever, no infection, but they give her an oral Levaquin on her way out the door. Within an hour we are back, with a violent, but apparently common reaction to oral Levaquin - seizure, loss of vision, violent diarrhea, intense intestinal pain, nausea, vomiting. etc. Why they are not more aware of the detrimental effect of oral Levaquin, especially in the extreme elderly. Then, while there, we couldnt get anyone to call us - until we fought and fought - demanded that the doctor call, but no luck - was given conflicting information from nurses, case manager, discharge planner, etc. Mom was extremely dehydrated, but they took her off IV fluids (which I had to fight to get her on), and they refused to put her back on or even have a doctor contact us. They said they were monitoring her fluid intake and output.HOW? No catheter - they said, well since she wet when she coughed, they just counted how many times they changed the sheets. REALLY? And, as far as input - she NEVER drank any water, as she was so sick and so weak, but they would put a pitcher on her tray, mark that down and then dump it down the sink, put a new one and mark that down as input. She did not eat anything during this time, but they insisted she had to be discharged and on the discharge papers for the skilled nursing facility - wrote that she was eating regular diet, drinking fluids and walking. All were lies, so now Im fighting the skilled nursing facility to get someone to make sure she takes sips of water, give her ensure etc. Why isnt there a realization that the extreme elderly are NOT like a 30 year old. The woman I took home on Feb 19 from the hospital was walking with her walker, talking and ready to get back to her active life. Now, she is a zombie, due to this nightmare of 2+ weeks - at this point, her dehydration is obviously contributing to her state. We finally got the nurse at the nursing facility to acknowledge that she is extremely dehydrated and trying to get this resolved, but why doesnt the hospital take more care with the powerful drugs and violent reactions they cause to the extreme elderly? Plus, no communication!!

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GI

Gina Davison

may 5i do not want to give any stars!! having heart palpitations, i called for an ambulance they were rude i will make a complaint to those also. the er was ok but i needed ride home they refused to call my dr.s office to see if they had some conciege service,to get me home. they told me i should have made all those arrangements before i came in. on friday after they said i needed a catheterization which i had done, however i still dont know what the prognosis was or what is wrong with my heart just get out was the attitude and i still do not know the actual diagnosis of my heart. they gave me meds. the nurse said here take this, no explanation from a dr.. after 2 hrs they told me i could leave but dont drive, so i said how am i to get home but i should have made those arrangements b/f i came in BECAUSE they dont do that, since i was there a few days i asked for some hot water to wash up, so the nurse brought me in a quart container full so scalding hot water, put it on my tray and left the room, no basin,no towel,no wash cloth, no soap just the hot water, same gown for 2 days i had to get up out of bed to find those things,the idiots that take your blood well i am so bruised they could not find my veins i told 3 of them to get out. these are facts ! some people were nice but when i came back from the cath. they left the room i didnt have any thing from the night b/f and i needed some water, 4 nurses aides went buy but i asked could i please have a drink of water they all kept walking finally i screamed then the last one came over" what do you want", i repeated i needed some water, so she picked up a full pitcher and put it at my shoulder with the straw sticking out the top and expected me to get a drink! then i said really so she poured it in a cup and put that on my shoulder, i said really then she finally put the straw at my mouth so i could get a drink are you done ! and left dont got to this hospital, it was a horrible experience

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JO

Joseph Gracie

I went to the emergency room for a kidney stone. I’ve had kidney stones before and knew what it was. I told them at registration that it was a kidney stone. I was then seen by a doctor who took an x-ray and administered something for pain. I then was informed by the doctor and other staff that they did not have a urologist on call and I needed to be shipped to Lawnwood Hospital. I informed the doctor that my wife would take me to Lawnwood because I did not want to pay for the ambulance ride. I was told by the doctor that I would not have to pay for the ambulance ride because they could not provide me care for my kidney stone and had to send me to another hospital. A couple weeks later I received a bill for Saint Lucie County for an Ambulance ride. I went to the hospital and spoke to someone in billing. I was told by her that this was not the only complaint; the staff should not be telling patients they would not be charged for an ambulance ride. She informed me I would get a call from her supervisor to discuss the incident. A few weeks later, including another visit to the hospital. I finally spoke to a supervisor by phone. She informed me that it was not the hospitals responsibility to pay the bill and the emergency room should not have told me that I did not have to pay for the transport. I informed her that I refused to be transported and the emergency room called for the transport anyway. The supervisor did not care what I was told and refused to settle the issue. I did end up paying for the transport because I did not want my credit affected however I would never use the hospital ever again. I live less than a block away. If you go to Saint Lucie Medical Hospital be sure as to what you’re paying for and get it in writing. You have the right to refuse treatment and don’t take their word for it.

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YA

Yad Rodriguez

No one available to greet the emergency room. No priority with a patient with pre-existing heart condition with a chest pain lasting over 15 minutes. I was asked to wait on the waiting room until someone could assist while the triage guy took care of others. To top of the experience the nurse would not come when you called for assistance, over 45 minutes passed after the bottom was used and no one came. The nurse assigned to have a line open for me couldnt found a vein and after futile painful attempts she left rudely leaving all bottles and tubes on my lap and never came back. A gentleman came several minutes after and have a line on in no time and first try. I had at least 5 physicians came no one able to provide with a straight answer. None return to follow up with me. I left inconclusive since they tell you all you do not have but yet cannot diagnose the problem after all test, labs and several thousands charged to my insurance. But yet they want you to follow up with your primary doctor. Medicine is nothing like it use to be. Service here sucks, do not visit this hospital unless you are willing to disappoint yourself or you dont mind nurses telling you they are unable to answer your call request because they are extremely busy. I can say enough to describe the horrible experience here. I normally visit the Tradition Medical Center but was unable to get there since it was to far when my chest pain started. But if you can avoid it stay away.

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