Your opinion on birthing centers at Banner Estrella (on Thomas Rd/101) and West Valley (McDowell Rd) hospitals (fingerprints)

[foma]

What's your opinion about either of those hospitals? I'm trying to decide between the two. I went on a birthing tour at the West Valley and wasn't all that impressed. The nurses were nice enough I guess but I just didn't "feel it" there. Plus, I have heard a lot of people having bad experiences there so maybe I was biased. We're going on a birthing tour @ Banner in a couple of weeks so I'll be looking forward to checking out their facilities then.

Has anybody ever gone to either hospitals to labor and delivery? If so, please share your experience with me. If you have very strong opinions about a place - "I love it" or "I hate it" - an explanation would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Ritchie_az]

Couldn't comment on the "birthing" aspect, but Banner Estrella seems like the nicer hospital. I don't think either would be bad, though....

[foma]

Yeah, I'm looking forward to checking out Banner's facility. I've just heard so many people say negative things about West Valley. Not specifically about their birthing center but just service in general.

[Finger Laker]

Although we don't have experience with either, we have friends who have delivered at both with favorable experiences

West Valley doesn't have the strongest reputation, but things do chance over time ......... the estrella facilities are pretty nice though

Honestly though, I'd be more concerned about the doctor than the hospital

[foma]

Thanks Finger Laker. THankfully, I like my doctor. THe only thing is he couldn't guarantee that he'd be my doctor during delivery since i won't be scheduling it. He's given me the option though to meet his other two partners that may be the one delivering.

I know this is a rather shallow comment but when I went on the birthing tour at WV, they still had tube television and a VCR! That coupled with negative first-hand experiences I've heard, I guess left a bad taste. If I end up there though, I will stay positive. WV is a pretty new facility so I was just really surprised how outdated their amenity was. Like I said, I know that should be a MINOR detail.

Other thing was, they won't allow us to video tape the birth. Like they will literally disallow you rom taping anything. They said it was due to liability reasons. Can that enforce that?!

[Finger Laker]

That's surprising .... we delivered at arrowhead in 2009 (which is part of the same network) and they didn't have any such concerns - their main thing with video was to not go around the bend so to speak ..... I could see some concern over creating a video record with how litigious we have become though

At arrowhead they were split between flat screens & tube TVs .... no DVD players or a lot of the other perks .... said they had issues with them walking away

It is important to feel comfortable in the surroundings and have a good staff on hand

Everyone is different and has different experiences, so you'll need to see what pops for you

Congrats BTW!

[Zippyman]

Originally Posted by foma

Other thing was, they won't allow us to video tape the birth. Like they will literally disallow you rom taping anything. They said it was due to liability reasons. Can that enforce that?!

They're probably worried about accidental taping of other patients/family - It's a huge deal for healthcare providers with serious fines for violating patient privacy. (google "HIPAA" to find out more)

I did my OB clinicals for nursing school @ Banner Good Sam a couple of weeks ago - they seemed to have good focus on the patients & I wouldn't be afraid to have a family member there.

Don't pick a hospital based on TV's - that's scary. If you want my criterion, I'd watch the staff exit patient rooms - If they aren't drying their hands every time they leave the room, keep looking. Good nurses don't have fingerprints - because they wash/sanitize their hands hundreds of times a day.