Atrium Medical Center

My husband recently had a procedure at your facility. We were told after the procedure that we would be seen by the surgeon where he would apprise us of how things went, any problems, etc.
We waited through the night and never spoke with the surgeon. The next day, we waited until 2 o’clock when another doctor gave us a rather lame explanation for the missing surgeon: “He forgot” I gave this hospital 1 star because of an awesome post op nurse who was extremely efficient and kind.
I can only hope that the surgeon forgets to send us the bill!
My husband will switch doctors rather than have to come back to this hospital.

On the positive side the hospital is visually appealing before you even enter the building, as the over sized revolving door is decorated with enclosures filled with beautiful artificial flowers, etc.

On the negative side, I observed/experienced three very significant problems:

1. Apparently, communication between physicians is poor. When my friend was struggling after surgery, her surgeon called in a specialist to consult. The consultant discontinued a pain-relieving medication without telling the patient, the patient’s spouse, or the surgeon! As a result, the patient experienced such significant and unrelenting pain that the surgeon recommended another surgery. However, the spouse eventually caught the error and it was corrected—resulting in pain reduction, increased appetite and mobility, and thus she was discharged without any more surgeries or procedures.

2. Nurses consistently came and went from the patient rooms without asking the patient to recite her/his name and DOB. (Which, I believe is a violation of law and best practices.) In fact, when asked the best nurse I saw readily admitted that (a) the practice in required, (b) the practice is not only verification that they are treating the correct patient, but helps determine her/his orientation, yet (c) she only did it once at the beginning of each shift.

3. Nurses were consistently late bringing meds—especially on the night shift!

4. When an aide came in and asked if she could remove the linens stacked on the couch, the following discussion ensued:

Me: No thank you. Her husband will be staying overnight--

Aide (interrupting): I know, he does that every night.

Me: Yes, I'm aware. But he'll need a pillow for tonight.

Aide (looking around the room): Where did his go?

Me: I gave it to the patient, she wanted it between her legs.

Aide: I'll try to find him one, but we have a "Pillow Thief."

Me: Really? Well, try hard because if you don't find him a pillow you'll have another one as I'll go from floor to floor looking for a pillow for him!

For these reasons, I’d always seek planned care elsewhere—hopefully at a larger facility with a higher-level of care and professionalism.

And oh yes, also for a pillow.

Very caring staff. Thank you for the wonderful service. While I need to follow up w my physician, I am pleased that we got some answers today.

The surgical center staff were great, my nurse Jenn, was amazing, I highly recommend if you have surgery, have it there.

My Sis had surgery here recently. AAA+ staff. These people are excellent at what they do.