Virginia Mason Hospital & Seattle Medical Center

Reviews 5

LO

Lost Spore

I recently had a COPD/Bronchitis flair up that caused some severe chest pain and rendered me unable to breathe , this has happened to me in the past. I went to Virginia Mason and was kept for 3 days. I feel they did the best they could do but were unable to find out the cause of the chest pain. Staff was quite friendly and kept me informed of everything during my stay. They sent me home with a heart monitor. About 36 hours later I had to go back as the chest pain had not subsided and intensified with activity. The staff was not friendly this time at all. You see, I am currently in a shelter, when thenurse learned of this she moved me from a private room to a semi-private room off back in some corner where a security officer and Doctor were yelling at some drunk guy who was obviously a street person. I am clean cut and work. Dont use drugs or alcohol. Just had some financial issues due to illness and am rebuilding. The previous doctor saw my medical records with all the recent surgeries. The demeanor of the nurses and doctors changed abruptly, from kind and compassionate to short and with authority. No longer concerned with my symptoms they only wanted to know where I lived and where I would be going when I left. For some reason they wanted to check my teeth, I was not having tooth pain and didnt need my teeth checked, but bad teeth are a criteria for a drug seeker. Then they pushed a percocet on me, another hospital tactic to get rid of drug seekers. I WAS LIGHT HEADED, SEVERELY NAUSEOUS, DIZZY, AND HAD BAD CHEST PAIN...! I also dont tolerate opiates well and shouldnt be given them due to my severe lung disease, all of that should have been in my records and I even told them so. I was pushed out of this hospital untreated except for being treated poorly. I walked out with chest pain, shortness in breathing, vertigo/lightheaded and feeling very nauseous. My Healthcare was marginalized by staff and doctors that pre-juged me and decided I wasnt worth time and effort to properly diagnose, instead they treated me like a street walking drug addict. Cant even figure that out since I dont look like one and avoid hospitals because of how poorly they treat people anymore. I have never been treated so poorly in my life. Doctors need to remember todays technology allows patients to make documenting mistreatment quite simple. EVERYONE deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. The parameters doctors use to determine if someone is a "drug seeker" are readily available on the Internet. The problem is these guidelines are damaging to innocent people that have a serious health condition. I want to point out that less than an hour after leaving this hospital I blacked out again from syncope and continue to have chest pain. I would prefer to die than go to this hospital again.

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HA

Harrison Rutledge

I dont know how to publically nominate a Virginia Mason RISING STAR, and quite frankly, just a STAR, but yours truly, Michael Tomberg, M.D. is a class-act. Mike saw me back in 2013 for a severe, acute medical condition and what a wonderful human being you have in this true professional. Not only did he graduate from Princeton, he went onto Dartmouth Medical School and that couldnt be a better school (one could argue better than Harvard Med School). He reflects more than positively upon Virginia Mason. He actually listens to his patients and doesnt push a drug, or drugs at all (unlike many other doctors this day in age, who have made record profits and are contributing to the rise in opioid-abuse we are seeing in society). Ive re-established care with Mike, as my PCP, as he embodies the core values of Virginia Mason, where truly patients can receive comprehensive medical care. Please nominate Dr. Tomberg for Top Doctor of the year/decade/century award. Hes truly THAT good. And, Im someone who has seen over 100 doctors in my short 31 years, from PCPs, to the most specialized of the specialized. Truly what I would call, a class act. Even being his patient, I can say, without bias, even if I had just a "chance encounter" with this individual, either through the medical system, or in public, hed be someone who Id want on my team. Not only on my team, actually leading the team. As you know, primary care is not necessarily a profitable endeavor, by a long shot, especially with doctors now choosing specialties and sub-specialties over the less profitable, primary care. Virginia Mason struck absolute gold with hiring this man. And Im a better person, in more ways than just my improved health, for having him on my team, and for knowing him. Hes a doctor who cares more than any other doctor Ive run across. If 60 minutes had a top doctors segment, he should be on it. Virginia Mason is a world class facility. -Harrison

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TO

Tom Wooding

INTERNATIONAL TRAVELLERS/VISITING PATIENTS - DO NOT USE THIS HOSPITAL I was admitted to this hospital in January with food poisoning and serious complications due to a pre-exisiting medical condition. The nursing staff were friendly enough, however I was left in the waiting area on an ambulance stretcher for 20 minutes in very poor condition whilst the administrative staff checked the validity of my travel Insurance. They would not provide me with any anti-nausea medication, fluids or help whatsoever until this was confirmed. Very poor compared to experiences I have had in other countries. To top it all off, the completely incompetent administration staff then attempted to send all billing information and records to "BRITISH COLUMBIA, NEW ZEALAND". Im sorry, but are you really that stupid? Not even a google search to see if this made-up address by one of your staff members even existed? This has resulted in delays in my insurance claim that have now spanned through until June because of information not arriving by mail. All attempts to get help from the Hospitals call centre have been met with a refusal to disclose any information by phone or email. Only in person or by mail. Very very poor service.

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GI

gina trammell

My daughters surgery was scheduled for today. We were told to arrive by 9:30 am. We did. Its now 11:36 am and we just checked to see if shes been forgotten. Evidently they have 4 surgeries before her. Is there a reason patients arent given a reasonable idea of what to expect? If we have to be here at 9:30 and know that its a 5 1/2 hour wait (informed she wont get in till 3!!!!!)..... Additionally, the restrooms for the waiting families have no toilet paper or paper towels. How long does a restroom go unserviced for there to be no paper products? Im really questioning this facility for future medical needs. The clerks at the main check-in desk at the hospital have been most helpful, the clerk at the surgery center check in, rude, abrupt, not forthcoming with information......Not so helpful. We were in line and the clerk called out over everyone "name?" We gave it to her. She told us to sit. Thats it. We sat for about 20 minutes before we were able to actually check in. Not a warm or comforting environment.

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TD

TD Jeppesen

I have had other DR help me with my very large sore on my right foot --- from a study I was in @ SCCA to help those who had cancer surgery. I received the real test pill --- as apposed to the sugar imitation. SCCA DR removed me from the test program because I had developed sores on my toes & bottom of my feet. All of the sores have gone away after a few week except a very large one on the bottom of my right RIGHT FOOT that I have been fighting for about 4 years. I received a referral from a friend to Dr. Almey @ VM who over a period of time has helped me to walk again on my right foot. She is very professional & empathetic...! I HAVE RECOMMENDED HER TO OTHERS & WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO!!!!

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