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There are so many hospitals in the area so I was hoping that some of you can tell me which hospital (and ER) out of Duke Raleigh, Wakemed Main and UNC Rex would be the best for heart related issues.
I saw some of the great recommendations especially for surgery (Duke - Dr Harrison) but I don't even know what kind of issue I have yet. I believe I might be having a secondary issue from currently having shingles and it seems like probably Afib.
Doctor prefers anything heart related to go to ER (which I want to avoid) so I'm going to try to go to urgent care first and then if need be will do whatever they feel is best (but just want to know where I would want to go).
I've gone to Wakemed North before and they just want to have you sit there for awhile and then take their ambulance to Wakemed Main. Then want to admit you right away and you just sit in a hospital bed waiting for their cardiologist.
Have to say my BIL's cousin had a massive heart attack, his wife kept him alive till ambulance got there with CPR, and they went to Apex WakeMed (they live a mile away from there) and they got him stabilized for a flight to the big WakeMed. He was there for a month but his wife credits them all with saving his life.
My dad had a widowmaker heart attack and my mom had him taken to Duke. I actually think Harrison was his cardiologist. My mom actually saved his life by giving him an aspirin and calling 911 (he wanted to take a nap).
I'm not a big fan of Duke after the way they treated my mom when she broke her leg last fall, so I wouldn't be going there for anything if I could help it right now.
My two cents I would not go to urgent care with a heart issue - they are not equipped and all they're gonna do is call 911. Every urgent care I've been to has a sign saying that. I was even AT urgent care once when they called an ambulance for someone who came in. I'd be proactive and go to the hospital of your choice esp since your doc is advising that.
If you are having cardiac concerns most urgent cares will screen you prior to making the appointment. They are equipped to do an EKG and cardiac enzymes but that might be it. I have loved one who was having increasing palpitations, they called Duke Urgent care and talked to the triage nurse. Based on the questions they were deemed appropriate for urgent care. They ruled out anything emergent and diagnosed PVCs. While in urgent care they were called by Duke Cardiology to schedule a follow up appointment a couple of days later. If the triage nurse feels you need the ER, I would tell them that upon arrival at the ER. Usually cardiac cases are priority. Feel better.
Like twingles said, I really wouldn't go to Urgent Care for heart related issues. They won't really be able to do anything for you outside of just sending you to the hospital.
From a person that has had heart issues his entire life due to genetic reasons, I can't recommend Duke enough for their fabulous team of doctors and surgeons in the heart field. Dr. Harrison is wonderful and helped save my life when things got especially complicated. Dr. Bashore helped put my mind at ease when I was admitted for some weird beat issues at the ER last year and got me the meds I needed to ride a wave until surgery. Dr. Hughes was my cardiac surgeon and performed open-heart surgery on me and for the first time in my life I was given a diagnosis that I can live a normal life (within reason).
I'm forever thankful to the team there and will always recommend their care.
From a clinic point of view, I go to the clinics in Durham for visits. They recently opened a new building off Page Road and Arringdon by 540/40 which is good for some appointments too for cardiology.
Have to say my BIL's cousin had a massive heart attack, his wife kept him alive till ambulance got there with CPR, and they went to Apex WakeMed (they live a mile away from there) and they got him stabilized for a flight to the big WakeMed. He was there for a month but his wife credits them all with saving his life.
My dad had a widowmaker heart attack and my mom had him taken to Duke. I actually think Harrison was his cardiologist. My mom actually saved his life by giving him an aspirin and calling 911 (he wanted to take a nap).
I'm not a big fan of Duke after the way they treated my mom when she broke her leg last fall, so I wouldn't be going there for anything if I could help it right now.
My two cents I would not go to urgent care with a heart issue - they are not equipped and all they're gonna do is call 911. Every urgent care I've been to has a sign saying that. I was even AT urgent care once when they called an ambulance for someone who came in. I'd be proactive and go to the hospital of your choice esp since your doc is advising that.
I know this is off topic but if the OP goes into a hospital it might be related. Did you call patient relations about your experience, Duke takes that stuff very seriously. I have contacted them on 2 occasions and they were helpful at resolving issues. I realize your Mom is not there now but it could be one of those instances where you are making sure no one else has the same experience, even if you never go there again. Sadly, no matter how good the facility, everyone needs someone advocating for them.
I know this is off topic but if the OP goes into a hospital it might be related. Did you call patient relations about your experience, Duke takes that stuff very seriously. I have contacted them on 2 occasions and they were helpful at resolving issues. I realize your Mom is not there now but it could be one of those instances where you are making sure no one else has the same experience, even if you never go there again. Sadly, no matter how good the facility, everyone needs someone advocating for them.
My mom (who is 87) fell and broke her femur (and also dislodged a previous existing hip replacement). This was on a Saturday morning. We were told surgery will maybe be this afternoon, if not definitely tomorrow. Tomorrow comes no surgery. It's definitely going to be Monday! Monday comes, she meets the surgeon, oops we don't have the right part. Tuesday comes and no we can't do it. BUMPED. I get my dad and go up there. Mind you while all this is going on, they allow two people into her room and they have to be the same two people the whole time .... so we have to haul my 88 year old cancer and heart attack survivor father with us each time. My sister was there the first day so she was the other person. We took full advantage of the fact that every one said we look like twins and everyone has to wear a face mask, and I took her license and checked in as her. We used the same coat too LOL (BTW she's 7 years older than me so I was less than happy about this LOL).
Tuesday I told them I want to speak with the patient advocate and we are filing a complaint. Patient advocate comes to the room with a nurse and a resident and says "are you sure you want to file a complaint? Because it would be against these people" (cue sad innocent faces). I explained that my nephew is an orthopedic surgeon at GWU in DC and while delays do occur, according to him - A DOCTOR - we have grounds for a malpractice suit and I don't care about the sad faces, if the surgery doesn't happen within the next 24 hours we are filing a complaint with the hospital and the health department. At this point my mom (a nurse, so she knows exactly what she's up against) has a bed sore the size of Kansas on her arse and can't move on her own because they put a pain block on her from the hip down. My parents also aren't what you might call "crusty old people". THeir house is so clean you can still faintly smell the sheetrock from when it was built 11 years ago, they shower every day, if you wear something for 10 minutes it goes in the wash etc. My mom cleans the stove till you can see your reflection. She's laying there for 5 days now without any cleaning, and not happy. They assure me surgery is scheduled for Wed morning.
GUESS WHAT. Wednesday morning my dad calls and tells me they cancelled the surgery. I called the patient advocate and left a message on her voice mail and told her I'll be in my mom's room by 8:30 and to have the paperwork ready because I'm filing that complaint. Patient advocate meets me there at 9:30 in a complete sweat and panic and told me she got the OR advocate and they went to the OR and the surgery is happening at 12:30. They then came to get my mom and I said you better hope when she gets back here it's after surgery because we will all be here if not and they can forget their rules about the number of people allowed up. Mom finally has the surgery that day.
I wasn't happy but she's my mom. But my nephew telling us that what happened is UNHEARD of was pretty eye opening. Unfortunately he knows a lot of people up and down the east coast but doesn't know anyone at Duke (ironically he almost took a job at Duke when he finished his residency, that would have been nice).
Aside from all this, neither of her hip surgeries were done at Duke and it a big inconvenience to go there. Wish we'd gone to Rex where her surgeries had been done on her hips prior. Live and learn. My sister and I got together and decided next time something happens (because my dad's BP was about 200/180 during this whole thing) no is going to Duke.
My mom went on to rehab and is walking on her own again. Can't over come those stubborn New England genes!
My mom (who is 87) fell and broke her femur (and also dislodged a previous existing hip replacement). This was on a Saturday morning. We were told surgery will maybe be this afternoon, if not definitely tomorrow. Tomorrow comes no surgery. It's definitely going to be Monday! Monday comes, she meets the surgeon, oops we don't have the right part. Tuesday comes and no we can't do it. BUMPED. I get my dad and go up there. Mind you while all this is going on, they allow two people into her room and they have to be the same two people the whole time .... so we have to haul my 88 year old cancer and heart attack survivor father with us each time. My sister was there the first day so she was the other person. We took full advantage of the fact that every one said we look like twins and everyone has to wear a face mask, and I took her license and checked in as her. We used the same coat too LOL (BTW she's 7 years older than me so I was less than happy about this LOL).
Tuesday I told them I want to speak with the patient advocate and we are filing a complaint. Patient advocate comes to the room with a nurse and a resident and says "are you sure you want to file a complaint? Because it would be against these people" (cue sad innocent faces). I explained that my nephew is an orthopedic surgeon at GWU in DC and while delays do occur, according to him - A DOCTOR - we have grounds for a malpractice suit and I don't care about the sad faces, if the surgery doesn't happen within the next 24 hours we are filing a complaint with the hospital and the health department. At this point my mom (a nurse, so she knows exactly what she's up against) has a bed sore the size of Kansas on her arse and can't move on her own because they put a pain block on her from the hip down. My parents also aren't what you might call "crusty old people". THeir house is so clean you can still faintly smell the sheetrock from when it was built 11 years ago, they shower every day, if you wear something for 10 minutes it goes in the wash etc. My mom cleans the stove till you can see your reflection. She's laying there for 5 days now without any cleaning, and not happy. They assure me surgery is scheduled for Wed morning.
GUESS WHAT. Wednesday morning my dad calls and tells me they cancelled the surgery. I called the patient advocate and left a message on her voice mail and told her I'll be in my mom's room by 8:30 and to have the paperwork ready because I'm filing that complaint. Patient advocate meets me there at 9:30 in a complete sweat and panic and told me she got the OR advocate and they went to the OR and the surgery is happening at 12:30. They then came to get my mom and I said you better hope when she gets back here it's after surgery because we will all be here if not and they can forget their rules about the number of people allowed up. Mom finally has the surgery that day.
I wasn't happy but she's my mom. But my nephew telling us that what happened is UNHEARD of was pretty eye opening. Unfortunately he knows a lot of people up and down the east coast but doesn't know anyone at Duke (ironically he almost took a job at Duke when he finished his residency, that would have been nice).
Aside from all this, neither of her hip surgeries were done at Duke and it a big inconvenience to go there. Wish we'd gone to Rex where her surgeries had been done on her hips prior. Live and learn. My sister and I got together and decided next time something happens (because my dad's BP was about 200/180 during this whole thing) no is going to Duke.
My mom went on to rehab and is walking on her own again. Can't over come those stubborn New England genes!
I am so sorry your mom had to suffer. What an unnecessary debacle! I retired from Duke (NP) and I’m ashamed at her lack of quality care.
Reminds me of a story….to give this sad situation a bit of levity.
A few years back, I ran into a former neighbor, a physician who completed his residency and fellowship at Duke. After exchanging pleasantries, I asked him if he was on staff at Duke now that his fellowship was finished. He laughed, then replied…..”No, I’m not. Let me tell you something. There are 3 things that are overrated in the south. Southern cooking, southern hospitality and Duke”.
There are 3 things that are overrated in the south. Southern cooking, southern hospitality and Duke”.
LOL
Look I'm happy they're here. They have their niche like all "name" hospitals. But it was so funny how I was thinking "if something happens to dad (because he kept saying "this is gonna give me another heart attack"....and he looked like it too) We are not going to Duke....and my sister called me early one morning and she goes "we need to talk....if something happens to dad we are not going to Duke" and I said "already thought of it and agree 100%".
Now that the dust has settled we've also told our parents if something happens and you choose to go there, you've used up all your chits with us.
Honestly what bothered me the most is I'm fairly comfy in a medical setting. Mom was a nurse and I've been in hospitals and doctor offices my whole life because of that. I was in and out of the hospital 3 times when I was pregnant with twins. I know how hard you need to go to advocate for yourself. People who don't know it are in for a bad ride and that bugs me.
My nephew's fiance just had a (minor) medical procedure and nearly bled out when they got home....they told her "you probably popped a stitch" - nephew drove her back to the doctor and he said when the doctor saw her she nearly fainted. If she HAD bled out her family would have a nice settlement but they'd rather have HER. People need to be taken more seriously when something is amiss. When I was pregnant one of the things I appreciated most about my doctor was that he said "if you think something is wrong trust your instincts and call". Doctors never say that and it's wrong.
Per US News and World Report, 2022 edition of Best Hospitals:
Duke University Hospital in Durham is listed as 39th in the nation for Cardiology and Heart Surgery. No other NC hospital made the top 50 in this specialty.
This indicates to me that the best of the best practice there and/or have privileges there.
Every family should have a copy of this magazine.
Last edited by gemstone1; 03-22-2022 at 05:55 AM..
Reminds me of a story….to give this sad situation a bit of levity.
A few years back, I ran into a former neighbor, a physician who completed his residency and fellowship at Duke. After exchanging pleasantries, I asked him if he was on staff at Duke now that his fellowship was finished. He laughed, then replied…..”No, I’m not. Let me tell you something. There are 3 things that are overrated in the south. Southern cooking, southern hospitality and Duke”.
Did he graduate at the bottom of his class? Sorry, he is wrong on all three things.
My primary cardiologist is with Rex (though I started with him when he was at Carolina Cardiology). For surgery, I was referred to Duke. I don't think you can go wrong at either.
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