Memorial Medical Center

Reviews 3

GA

Gary Bentley

I arrived at MMC (Memorial Medical Center) Family Medicine Center on the northwest corner of the MMC campus at 0911 for my scheduled new patient appointment at 0930 October 2015. I had run a little late because of construction southbound on I25, having been told to arrive 0900 so as to have time to fill out new patient paperwork. The woman at the counter window took my driver license and insurance card and handed me a clipboard with paperwork to fill out. I sat down in the waiting area, which was virtually empty, having maybe 2 or 3 patients. At approximately 0930 another woman asked me to follow her to the back. She said I could finish the paperwork later. She weighed me, then took me to an examination room and took my blood pressure, which was high at 138/93 or so. She asked the purpose of my visit and I said primarily to obtain a new bp medication prescription since I was running out, but that I also had other medications related to my spine and other orthopedic problems and needed to find a new PCP so was hoping that I might find one of their docs to be amenable to that. She left me in the exam room (taking the paperwork) at about 0945 (or earlier). I sat for a long time, trying to prop up against the wall (since cervical and lumbar spine pain prevents my sitting for long unsupported). Finally about 1010 I got up and lay down on the exam table, the neck and back pain demanding that change. All this while there had been no sound of patients being examined in the nearby exam rooms, no conversation, just an occasional cough in the distance. Finally at 1015 I I got up and walked slowly out using my cane, passing a counter where it appeared my doctor was standing talking informally with a worker behind the counter. She made eye contact with me but said nothing, remaining more or less expressionless. I said nothing but nodded in greeting (and goodbye) and walked by on my way to the door out of this area. I pressed on the door several times but couldnt get it to open. A young man came up behind me and told me to press some button to get the door to open (and asked nothing about who I was or why I was leaving, though he undoubtedly knew), finally opening it for me. I walked back to the admitting window, noting that the waiting room now was full, approximately 60 patients and/or accompanying family/etc. now filling almost all the seating in the large room, and asked for my license and medical card telling the woman not to submit any charges since I had not seen a doctor. She betrayed no surprise and in carefully measured tone asked innocently if the wait had been too long. I said yes that 30 to 40 minutes was too long to be left in silence in an exam room without any hint that the doctor was going to see me. She did say she was sorry (in bland clearly artificial tone, given the verbal context), to which I replied, equally bland, that I doubted it. I left, getting somewhat drenched by a cold rain as I had to walk about a block back around the building to the other parking lot (since they refused egress to any but staff at the other doors). I dont know what to make of this outfit, I mean there was no one there when I got there and they let the place fill up, not appearing to want to see me or anyone else (maybe they were waiting for me to leave). I would advise anyone wanting to see a doctor in a non-emergency setting find one anywhere but at Memorial, since there seems to be something wrong with their management.

ME

Merlin Jones

Pre-natal was superb! Post-natal? A living hell! There was only two families in the wing at the time we were there, but it still took hours for nurses to do their jobs. They seemed to wait for the baby to go to sleep before they would burst in and poke and prod the baby until she was awake again. I asked to store a sandwich in the fridge by the nurses station at around 2:30AM. They said they couldnt vouch that it wouldnt be stolen. I figured it would be ok for the 2 hours or so it would be in there. I was wrong.... 4:30 I went to get it, and it was gone! Same two nurses sitting at the station. I asked them if they had seen what happened to it. Of course the answer was "no". The catheter was literally yanked out of my wife by a huffy nurse after she had complained that it was still in 3 hours after they said they would remove it. She still. has pain from that years later. Wife had a C-section. We were told that the baby had to be in an approved car seat to leave. Ok, no problem. Was told that she had to be in a wheelchair to leave. Ok, again, not a problem. Then was told that she had to hold the car seat all the way to the front doors. What?!? Wife barely had any strength and was in major pain!! I said Id hold the car seat. Was told by the nurses that they would call security if I did not comply. To add insult to injury, there was construction on the first floor, so the wheelchair bumped and jostled over the torn up floor. My poor wife was almost screaming with the pain. Billing was also a joke. I guess that since I had insurance, they figured I was a cash cow. On the bill, it showed two rooms per night @ $+2K/night/room. I was like, "wait a minute! we only used one". The answer?? There was two people in the room (Wife and child). I guess they forgot to mention to me that I would be charged for two rooms. I guess that means that next time I can sleep in the next room on the bed, instead of the folding chair they gave me. So, to sum up, NEVER go to Memorial! Run, dont walk, to MountainView Regional Medical Center if you ever need any proper care. I havent been there yet, but after Memorial, Id rather go to Juarez!

CH

Christina Garton

Ok, so Im writing this from the perspective of a mom who delivered at MMC, had a baby in the NICU, and has dealt quite a bit with the lactation consultants. First of all, the nurses in the Labor and Delivery area are amazing! They listened to my concerns and as soon as they knew I was trying to go painkiller free they not only supported that choice but helped me to go through labor with as few interventions as possible--I didnt have to constantly wear an IV, they didnt have me sit in bed the whole time or hover, and they happily brought me a birthing ball. They seemed like they were rooting for me and the baby, and I cant tell you how great that felt! They also had no problems with delayed cord clamping, delayed bathing, and immediate skin-to-skin, the latter of which is their default policy. Theres no nursery, so as long as baby is healthy she or he stays in the mothers room. The rooms are about as comfy as one could hope for, and theres a fold-out bed where my husband could sleep. The delivery went very well although baby did end up having to go to the NICU for 12 days. The support we had as a family from all the nurses and the lactation consultants was mind-blowing. They worked to let me stay in the hospital as long as possible so Id be extra close to my baby. The NICU is very touch friendly, and so long as the baby is healthy enough parents can come in and touch, hold, and feed baby every three hours or so. I know not all NICUs let you have that much interaction so I am very grateful MMCs was. I also have to say the lactation consultants are wonderful. They were there in the NICU helping moms to feed their sick babies with kindness and support. They also host a free weekly Mothers Milk Club at the hospital for nursing moms where they give support, advice, and snacks. Its a really amazing free program. TL;DR: I highly recommend MMC for giving birth. The staff is amazing and the NICU experience is about the best one can hope for if youre unlucky enough to have your baby end up there. For breastfeeding moms the support postpartum is above and beyond.