So I had to go to Huntsville Hospital yesterday (Madison: law, move)

[writerwife]

And not so comforting to know that it was announced on the news this week that the 3rd highest cause of death is medical error. And... anyone who has worked in a hospital or other healthcare facility KNOWS that there is more than is reported so in reality.. it's probably #2.

[Laseter]

I had to go to HH last weekend for a broken clavicle. They scheduled surgery for the next day. I had excellent treatment. I had to wait in Madison Hospital ER for about 4 hours before getting sent to HH.

[ashpelham]

Originally Posted by Chronically anonymous

When I went to hh AFTER my doctor sent me there and called to tell them I needed asap fluids, I waited 12 hours. I'm diabetic, and my sugar was very high. I would've been able to just do it at home except my fluids at the time were KCl, not NS. Also, my sugar can drop very quickly after the bolus. You can't bring a blanket or pillow because of lice/bed bugs. They will tell you it's a fire hazard though. ALSO, even though I'm on 24hr tpn, came with my port accessed, they still said it was "hospital policy" to deaccess. Uh, no it's not. Not in IR, on the floor, peds er..... She said that "it's iv alopement and you can't leave with a line. If anything happens it's on my license" That is true, the hospital would make her the scape goat. BUT my response was, "if I get an infection because you opened the dressing when it didn't need to be open and making me get reaccessed the second I get home, would THAT go on your license?" Erg. Would you pull a picc? Or a Hickman? No. So don't deaccess my port. My white count is low enough as is, I don't need to be opening a sterile dressing when it's unnecessary. Plus, the line is in my chest. The needle just connects it. Even with home health calling them they wouldn't let it go. I loved the peds er, but will never go to the adult side again.

Also just a psa: coming by ambo or saying chest/breathing difficulties doesn't necessarily get you through triage. Last time I was in er there was a girl who came by ambulance but they took her to the waiting room. And hh checks your ekg (though not echo) in the waiting room. A lady was mad as hell the last time I was there because she told them she had chest pain (she really just wanted back faster). And once you get there if you change symptoms they get irritated big time.

Crestwood is incompetent. As the doctor said to me, "we do heart attacks and broken bones. We don't do boo boos." I ended up having pneumonia and was admitted to Huntsville hospital. I have no spleen and am on immunosuppressants that had to be stopped from my transplant years ago. I HATE HEALTHCARE.

And supposedly, this is the best healthcare in the world.

Seems doubtful.

[rock90]

Originally Posted by ashpelham

And supposedly, this is the best healthcare in the world.

Seems doubtful.

It's definitely not the best, but it is the most expensive:

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, 2014 Update: How the U.S. Health Care System Compares Internationally - The Commonwealth Fund

[RClark35]

The wait times at Huntsville Hospital are absolutely ridiculous. 8-12hrs to wait to be seen.

[Mississippi Alabama Line]

Old thread, but one of my kids was born at HH, I always thought it was very good, compared to some other places I've been.

[GreenGround]

Maybe try the other hospital. Crestwood Medical Center. It's a smaller hospital, but quite adequate.

[csutton79]

The only issue I have with HH is their billing department. They keep screwing up my insurance and contact info anytime I have to have lab work done. I call them to give them the correct info so a claim can be filed and so they have a way to contact me if something goes wrong but they still manage to screw it up every time.. They pass the bill to collections where they have no issues finding a way to contact me and it's usually over a stupid amount like $20.

[dwhisent]

Madison Hospital is another choice, we walked in once last year on a Saturday afternoon, and were taken back within a few minutes.

[TC2coolmom]

[quote=ineedareed;24324272]for my wife. Holy cow, what a dump! My wife was taken in an ambulance (she's fine btw) and I showed up afterwards. I've never seen a metal detector in a hospital before! And cops were everywhere! This one place near the gift shop had double doors marked "emergency exit only" through which the patients and staff went to smoke... how trashy.

No real point to this post, just sharing some observations. [/Q


I know what you mean, yrs ago I was there in the waiting room and a man drove up into the parking area in front of the doors and shot and killed his girlfriend while she was still in the car and then ran from the hospital. I do not know if he was ever caught. I do believe that is when it became a search and seizure place. it is a wonderful place when it comes to the doctors and nurses for major illnesses. I've had several operations and stays there and it's a top hospital in the state. If you want a really sweet and quiet and pleasant stay and treatment that you will never forget come to Madison. I never go to Huntsville unless they transfer me for treatment that they can't handle.