Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center

Reviews 3

PA

Pat Wilson

I had surgery at this hospital in December 2012. Normally I would have had surgery at a top ten hospital near where I live, but I ended up at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center because I wanted robotic surgery that was not available locally. Coming from a community with a top notch spotless hospital with all private rooms and excellent care, I was hoping for the best here. I was not disappointed. My doctor had assured me I would be impressed, and I was. The place gleams. The receptionist at the front entrance knew who I was and where I was going. She saw I was having a little trouble with a stiff ankle and got a wheelchair, then accompanied my husband and I to the surgery suite. Every person I encountered was knowledgable, friendly, helpful, and put me at ease. The pre-op people could not have been nicer, and knew their stuff. OR folks get an A+. Recovery room nurse stayed at my side the entire time I was awake in her area. I recall another surgery at a well known DC hospital where I awoke in tremendous pain and could not get the attention of the recovery room nurse. Not here! It was one on one and I was never left in pain. The floor I was wheeled to was pleasant, airy, gleaming, and had large windows looking out onto pansy beds in full bloom. The room was spotless as was the bathroom. My private room had a single bed/sofa for my husband, and was quiet. The nurses, should they be needed, are called on your bedside phone. No loud intercoms, no "Dr. so and so extension 279" in your ear all day and night. I heard an intercom once per day. Quietest hospital I have ever been in, and I have been in way too many. On top of all of this, there are no regular meals, you order room service from a great menu that includes roast beef au jus and lemon meringue pie. Room service runs from early in the morning until maybe 6:30 pm. You just call a number and talk to a real person and the food is delivered within the hour. The nurses were so kind, and were in and out so often, I hardly ever had to call anyone. I never waited for pain medicine, or for anything else. My husband reported that his bed was comfortable, and he kept his pillow and blanket that the nurses had provided on a shelf. He would have been allowed to eat in the room from room service, also, but he likes to walk, so he explored the hospital and grazed at will. Another plus, for those from Northern VA, this hospital is outside the beltway and easily accessible from I-66. Normally if I review a place there are a few neutral or even negative remarks, no place is perfect and I give an honest review, good bad or ugly. That said, I will say honestly, this hospital surpassed 4 stars in every aspect. Even the parking is convenient. Would this retired nurse go to this hospital again? You bet I would. And another thing, the nurses who took care of me, in addition to being nice and really caring, were smart. Really really smart. Nothing else matters if the nurses are not smart. So from someone who would know what to look for, this hospital and their staff get the green light. If youre a patient here one time, you wont want to go anywhere else next time.

CO

Corey Hankins

Worst experience I have ever had in a hospital. After searching for someone for nearly 20 minutes I help. I found a janitor that was new to the hospital and he assisted me in finding the location I was looking for. I was waiting at the front desk as I didnt just want to walk through the Halls wondering where my wife was. Because there was no one in the guest check-in or the receptionist desk or the ER desk. I had to wander around the hospital. When arriving at the recovery desk I saw a nurse walk right in front of me, look at me and didnt say a word. This happen several times before I stop her. I was so appalled that she clearly ignored me staying there the entire time. I didnt want to interrupt her as she seemed as if she was the only one working. Long story short she pointed around the corner and said my wife was in that particular room. After this experience I said to myself well it wont get any worse, however, it did. Early that morning my wife woke up to excruciating pain. We hit the Panic Button as well as the bathroom button to try to get someone attention. Unfortunately, no one came. I went to the front desk and no one was there. Therefore, my wife and I had to figure out how to disconnect the cables she was hooked up to as well as the IV in order for her to go use the restroom. It was about 27 minutes until someone arrived to our room for help. By that time my wife had already use the bathroom. The individual that was assisting us looked tired and overworked. Very nice individual however this experience should never happen to anyone especially someone coming out of emergency surgery. I have never in my life written a review, however this experience is by far the poorest Ive ever experienced in my life hands down. Now to be fair it was in the middle of the night. I know the staff is limited but for someone to wait nearly 30 minutes for assistance after using the call button is unacceptable.

SH

Shelby Stoner

Went there yesterday at 12am. Came in with horrible headache, couldnt walk straight, sever backpain, serious stomach problems, black diarrhea, problem keeping food and water down and vomiting dark green liquid. I told them what had been going on, how I had had these symptoms for nearly 3 weeks and how the vomiting just started today. After they took their time getting to me, I had a rectal exam and as I was putting my clothes back on one of the nurses without knocking opened the door for the while ER to see me without my pants or underwear on. They then proceeded to take my blood, they stuck me 6 times, with 2 different nurses before they actually got blood and one of the nurses actually used me as a table for her trash. They diagnosed me with dehydration and didnt do a damn thing for any of my other symptoms. Took them 3 hours for them to actually get my IV and nausea medicine to me and when I finally convinced them that I needed pain medicine for my back, head and stomach they repeatedly pounded into me that I was not to sell the medicine that they gave me, I can understand saying it once as a precaution but they were treating me like some kind of a drug dealer. When my IV was done they unhooked me and sent me away, still with backpain, a headache, a throbbing stomach and still DEHYDRATED which they were supposed to be treating me for. I was unable to walk without the help of my mother, nearly fell over multiple times on my way out and they said that I was fine. Here I am today with all the symptoms all over again and no way to get to a hospital until 7pm because I cannot drive myself in this condition. The only good think I can say is that some of the nurses were very sweet and kind, though obviously not the best of the best when it comes to actual medical practice. P.S There were roaches you might want to take care of.