I don't write reviews often, but when I do, it's because I've had an exceptional experience. I took…read moremy grandmother in for a hearing assessment because her hearing loss has been very obvious and frustrating for friends, family, and of course, herself. She was extremely reluctant to go, and would not even listen the words "hearing aid" without a fight. Understandably, the potential cost and emotional impact that hearing loss has on a person can be painful and scary. Needless to say, Dr. Curtin's approach and patient care skills were amazing. Through information, conversation, and genuine CARE and empathy, she empowered my grandmother to feel that she had a choice, and helped her truly understand how much "healthy" hearing could improve her safety and quality of life and how hard she was working when she didn't need to be. By the time she left, my grandmother rated her curiosity about hearing aids at an 8/10.... she walked in at a 0/10. We are so grateful for this progress and I know that the provider we saw would make or break how my grandmother would react to the experience. We BOTH walked out smiling, with more knowledge and a renewed sense of hope. Somethibg tells me we will be back soon to evaluate the best hearing aid for my grandma :) Thank you, Dr. Curtin!

I would like to recommend a local small family business that I use. Here is what I wrote on their…read morewebsite. It has two parts with the second part (the last sentence) being the most important. Please read the entire recommandation to see that sentence. "As a client I can honestly say that this small family firm is the very best in the area! And for those who do do not take the time to check their bios, I will give you an idea of their qualifications. Judy is an internationally known PhD audiologist (who has taught, lectured, and written at the highest levels, Kim, also a Penn PhD audiologist, served a VP for Ed. Development for the Pennsylvania Academy of Audiologists, and Fran is a former SW engineer of the highest level (and I should know because I was a SW engineer for many years) who performs the critical task of tailoring a hearing aid to the exact needs of each individual client! On top of this, they treat each client as a family member."

I came with 7 year old having ear infection fever and pain. The office was very friendly and I got…read morein in just few minutes. The doctor sent poor kid to test his hearing for 40 minutes. When I asked about the results he told-those are just numbers. He obviously doesn't respect the client. He also "diagnosed" a hole in his eardrum -which was wrong diagnosis as proven by two other doctors and also his own hearing test-which he didn't bother to explain. When he prescribed antibiotics for treatment and I asked him if I can watch if the infection clears for day or two before I start giving it, his answer was "Its America here" , emphasizing that I am not local (?) or it's a free country (?) .. Although there was no single client waiting in the office he rushed us out, saying "come back in three weeks to see if the hole healed". Well, it healed same day in other doctors' office. My advice-stay away from this doctor. The only thing he cares about is his pay check.

My birth plan for 9 months was not at all what ended up happening at the end. I planned for a…read morenatural birth with Lifecycle Womancare in Bryn Mawr, & back-up from Bryn Mawr Hospital, in the worst case scenario. Due to complications at the end, I had the option of induction, predicted to take 2-4 days at BMH, or straight C-section at CCH. Any story I have ever heard about induction led to a C, so despite feeling like I "cheated" on a natural birth, I opted for CCH & a straight C. It meant leaving Lifecycle, who I knew & adored for 9 months (+1 year prior to that), but I knew that for my mental & physical well being, & the safety of my son, I needed to choose the path I did. My Penn MFM team referred me to Chester County OB via CCH. I shook my new OB's hand & got ready for her to cut me open. The nurses in L&D were awesome. I bonded with our nurse, Nancy, who also volunteers at the rescue where we adopted one of our dogs. These are really great-hearted people. The OR team I had was huge. They were completely coordinated, super-professional, efficient, alert & at task, & all this just before midnight when in I went. They asked ahead about music, & played my favorite band from my phone while baby was born. Very meaningful touch! Having a baby here is a really smooth process. They really have it down. I was told ahead what each step of the procedures would be, so from prep, to OR, to post-op monitoring, to Maternity ward, etc. I was always abreast of what was happening/would happen next. This was really important to me, though I had to ask a few times what was going on when the anesthetics wore through me, & then the narcotics. All Maternity rooms are private, & virtually brand spanking new construction (among lots of other construction in the works at this hosp). Nice big size, high 12' ceilings, huge window (approx 8' high). Bathroom had a floor-to-ceiling window (opaque glass) in the shower, which was very cool. Room even had special mood lighting, including floor-level night lights, & dimmable lights, to help baby breastfeed (they prefer the dark as newborns). I have to say, it was really more than I expected. Constant visits from nurses taking vitals on you + baby, OB team makes rounds each day, as does a pediatrician, & a lactation consultant. Additionally, a social worker comes around to assess for postpartum depression & get you to take surveys about your mood & mental state. It is nice to be really cared for, but it was a lot when you are exhausted & trying to adapt to being a brand new parent. And seriously, by the end of our stay, every Tom, Dick, & Harry in the place had seen my boobs for walking in on me while breastfeeding. (Thankfully, Housekeeping + Food Service staffers were women.) That said, they had WONDERFUL nurses in the Maternity Ward. I was so lucky to have Shamika & Karyn for 2 days of my 4-day stay. They are compassionate & wonderful. Karyn would not stop making me laugh & it hurt like hell! Circumcision was NOT as I wanted. They just whisk baby off alone. NOOOO! I could not move but demanded hubby hold baby's hand, & he was the only parent there! VERY different at Lifecycle, where both parents are present, and religious ceremony is offered, etc. My husband is a big guy, thus our son was a big baby, thus the C-section. Unfortunately, big babies can have health issues too, & our son had to spend a day in the NICU, which was extremely frightening for me. No sleep, drugged up, can't walk w/out pain so bad I scream, & they take my baby to another ward. This is just my trauma perspective as a mom having to go through this, though, b/c I appreciate CCH being vigilant & cautious. We were allowed to visit as long as desired, but I was in so much pain & needed rest for my own recovery so bad, it was a hard day. The Maternity ward & the NICU are all securely locked, & you can't get in unless you are authorized, then buzzed in. This was scary at first, but then comforting to know that they do all they can to protect everyone. My son had a band on his leg with a security tracking device, & a barcode to match mine. Overall a great experience for a birth that did not go at all as planned. CCH brought my baby into the world: PRICELESS! Glad I chose Penn Medicine at CCH! * * * TIP * * * There is an audiology practice who tries to buy up all the business from every baby born there, but we opted for a different specialist due to ins. The audiologist billed us despite never seeing us, which was obnoxious. I realize the practice is separate from CCH, however, CCH works with these people as the only in-house option, so it is worth noting that this is not part of your hospital stay, & you always have to pay attention to every doctor touching you in the hospital. Check your ins coverage, & watch out for false bills from these jokesters! Grrrr! * * * TIP * * * An ER visit to Paoli Hospital after discharge from CCH, revealed that Paoli uses Ameda breast pumps, and CCH uses Medela, FYI.

Chester County Hospital ER was horrible, came in around 10:30am on a Monday in March and was not…read moreseen by a doctor until 6pm. Came in with chest discomfort, shortness of breath and lightheadedness and no concern from the ER staff at all. I was not taken in a room for my heart to be monitored or my blood pressure and all they did was take blood and a chest X-ray and made we wait for over 7 hours to be seen by a doctor. When seen by an ER doctor, very little concern of what problems I was having and discharged me without even any treatment. I will never come to this Hospital ER ever again or any part of this hospital and will not recommend it to anyone either. Horrible experience all together and still can't believe how they ignore someone complaining about chest discomfort and shortness of breath!!! Unbelievable!!! I get a response from the Hospital saying ; " every patient who comes through our Emergency Department will be treated and given the appropriate level of care based on their acuity" Well I disagree with your response, I did not get treated like this at all, my blood pressure was high I was lightheaded and pressure on my chest and they let me sit there for 7 hours without being monitored. I had to go to Jefferson ER 3 years ago with the same issues I came in with your ER and Jefferson place me in a room immediately, hooked me on to monitors and gave me a nitroglycerin patch right away. Chester County Hospital ER did none of these. I understand the local hospitals closing down causing some overwhelming, but to let a patient sit for 7 hours who came in with chest pressure, high blood pressure and lightheadedness is just unacceptable. I watched other people arrive who should have been taken in immediately and were left out in the ER room suffering!! I wasn't the only one complaining on this day when I arrived and it's a shame for an Hospital Emergency Room to treat patients like this who come to the ER to be cared for.

Terrible bedside manner and professionalism and total lack of interest in practicing medicineread more

If you are a professional who uses their voice (singers, voice over artists, speakers, etc), I…read morewould NOT recommend this practice. I am a professional opera singer who has been coughing a lot from recent bronchitis, I had a gig coming up, and I wanted to see if it was safe to work. Normally, in my experience, if you describe the above situation to an ENT practice, you are fast tracked for an appointment (in the past, I have been taken that same day or the day after) because the answers you need will inform you if you can do your job. After waiting weeks for an appointment, I went in very eager and excited for some answers and encountered many red flags: - During my laryngoscopy, the doctor chose my collapsed, tight nostril to insert the tool, instead of using the much wider, open nostril next to it. Due to discomfort, I had to ask him to take it out and restart the process in the other nostril. - The doctor didn't seem to know what I was talking about when I mentioned SOVT exercises ("semi occluded vocal tract exercises" -- albeit a niche subject, it's pretty elementary for someone who is a specialist and works with the voice). - After it all, when I asked him if I was OK to sing on Monday, he responded that I would need a scope to actually see the vocal cords (which is what I came in for), and I would need to wait another month to get one. - On my way out, I was given a sheet on acid reflux (which is not a problem I even came in for) and a sheet on basic vocal care, which was information like "don't yell, drink water, etc." All to say: I left without a scope -- without any answers as to if it's safe for me to start work next week, and the billing department couldn't tell me if the in-office procedure was covered by my insurance. For those who use their voice for a living, I recommend going to someone who knows the voice and will make time to get seen since it's your livelihood.