I spent some time here last week and, during that week, I have five star moments, three star moments, and one star moments. I'm going to highlight the highs and the lows.
Highs:
The folks in the radiology department are great. Friendly and helpful and went out of their way to do things for me outside of their jobs paramenters (like delivering a disc to my room or all my xrays, mris, and ctscans...). Five start for radiology.
The food isn't that great, but, if you're admitted, you actually get some menu options. Getting to choose was a definitely plus. I avoided as much of the unhealthy crap as I could.
The nursing staff, as a whole, were very capable and friendly. Also, I have stuck and prodded a LOT, yet there are no bruises or even little scabs from all the needles and IVs I had in my arms over my 3 days stint. (Special thanks to Ivelyn for helping me walk a little.)
The accommodations didn't suck. No, it;s wasn't a five star hotel, but the rooms were cleans and the bathrooms were kept clean and every bad has a personal tv.
Also, one the ER staff got to me, there are a couple of folks down there that were super attention and helpful (Esp Hector and Francis).
Lows:
The ER: While there were many nice helpful people in the ER once I got attention, it took 20 minutes for my to get any attention after I was brought in my ambulance. I know, because I counted. The counting kept be focusing on something other than the pain, however, pain killers would have been much for effective than counting.
Although my attending was super nice, I only saw her twice, maybe three times and it was very clear that her goal wasn't to get me recovered, but, rather, to get me out of the hospital. Now, I realize the two aren't necessarily mutually exclusive but but I felt like the focus was in the wrong place. I didn't expect to stay in the hospital until I was completely pain free and recovered, but I was made to feel like the needs of the insurance company superseded my own needs. My roommate came to those same conclusion about my care, and felt bad for my situation.
The sent a PT therapist to work with me. I was under the impression that there was actually going to be a bit of therapy to help me move better. but all the therapist did was asses that I could get out of of bed and into the bathroom (which was literally NEXT to my bed) by myself (and I was screaming and crying the whole way) and then recommended that this meant I was self sufficient and could be sent home alone. The therapist did not actually work with me in any way to see what hurt and what didn't and left me with the impression he would come back and help after the MRI. But never came back.
Food: I gave kudos for the choices. But why are there so many processed high fact, high sugar, carby options on the menu? This might sound crazy, but... would it make some sense for a hospital to serve more HEALTHY meals?
Nurses aids: Some were okay, one stood out as being really great but she was rarely one that helped in my room, and one, in particular, treated me as if I was a burden and a chore. Actually knocked over some of my stuff and then blamed me for it. And shouted told a Janitor not to help me and that she wouldn't help me when I was screaming for help because I did not pull the pull cord for help myself (a thing I did not do because I couldn't turn to reach it). I would like to make it clear that I am a PERSON, and not just some chore. And expect to be treated as such. If I could rate her services separately it would be a scathing review, and, even now, thinking back on it, I feel worthless and less than human. Even if you look at the hospital as a business and her job as just a job.. aren't I, in that scenario, the client?
I cried three times while I was in the hospital, and all three times were because of how I was treated and not because of my pain (which was intense but I tended to bite that down as best I could, plus, tears didn't help with my muscle spasms so I had incentive to fight them).
For the record, my roommate also cried twice over her own treatment, on separate occasions, but that is her experience and not mine.
So you see, there were some shining moments with my care at Marlborough Hospital and some tarnished ones. Personally, I would recommend some sensitivity training. Is it possible I overreacted a little, I don't know, maybe, but I would argue that the staff should also know how to deal with folks who are hurt and feeling exposed and helpless, and, I don't know, maybe treat them more like fellow humans instead of troublesome chores. read more