I had carpal tunnel surgery at the Hospital for Joint Diseases here in Manhattan. It was first class all the way, totally. On the other hand, the Brooklyn Hospital Center is a real doghouse. I had major surgery there about 12 years ago. While my surgeon was fantastic, the hospital was a place I would not bring my cat. An orderly wheeled me from 6 1/2 hours of surgery into an elevator, where he bumped me into the wall, causing excruciating pain. Then he wheeled me into my room and did not help me into the bed. Then a woman came into the room and started screaming I was in HER bed! Then the orderly did not help me back on to the gurney to put me into the other bed, nor did he help me get into my proper bed. Nasty Caribbean nurses. Medical waste left on the floor of my room. Food waste left in unemptied waste baskets in my room. I slept with a vomit stained (I could not tolerate Percoset) blanket for 3 days. The nurses complained I rang their bell too much, even though it was mostly for my new roommate, who had no legs and could not reach the bell. Then they did not want to release me, even to a friend doctor's care. When I wrote the state board of health, I did not even receive the courtesy of a reply.
I had two surgeries at Joint Diseases. Completely agree with you.
I had surgery in a hospital near Boston that I won’t name (but there was a TV show about it) on March 15, 2001. Beware the Ides of March. The staff never answered the bell, and were bored and uncommunicative when they did happen by (by accident? Lost?) from time to time. I was in the room alone, because the previous occupant had left early.
I also left early, which finally got their attention. A hospital administrator came by and coldly interrogated me about why I was leaving. I refused to tell her anything except that they seemed to be understaffed. She was livid.
Hospitals in Boston have excellent reputations.
Sounds like the VA. . .
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2685965/posts?page=11#11
Long story but shows just how incompetent, uncaring, unprofessional and downright cruel VA hospitals, especially the Long Beach VA hospital, can be.