University of Maryland Medical Center

Went there to visit someone, had a bit of a hard time finding the place but was treated very kindly by everyone. The visitor process was easy and they helped me find the person I came to visit. I was very happy with the care I saw given.

My husband was transferred here from our local hospital after suffering a stroke exactly 7 years ago today. He was admitted to the Neuro ICU and was treated likehe was a super star. I was also treated wonderfully. I slept in the waiting room and I remember one night a nurse came out to talk to me. She later returned with a copy of a small bible. I am not super religious but this was the best gift anyone had ever given to me. She was wonderful.

Arrived at 745 or so with chest pain, shortness of breath, feeling of fullness, history of heart disease. Triage was right away. Sky high blood pressure, alarmingly abnormal EKG, blood drawn, urine-tested, chest x-rayed. Put in a gown and a wheelchair, parked back out in the waiting room - for FIVE hours now, waiting for an ER room to open? This is how a cardiac event is treated here? They should not have an ER at this hospital. I was the first one here this morning and have yet to see anyone treated for anything. I hope I don't go into cardiac arrest. I will surely die.

I called the main number listed herefor the number for the wound care center, was hung up on twice, then given the number for the trauma center. Its very unfortunate that there are staff members at a HOSPITAL, a PLACE OF CARE, who dont care and are incompetent at their jobs.

On the one hand, many, even most of the doctors are excellent. Some are world-renowned. Maryland is excellent in certain specialties. Nurses and other health professionals are also very good.

But administrative staff usually stink. You find a competent one every so often, but this exceptional person is probably swamped doing the work of 10 of the surly, rude, incompetent folks who are the norm. As well, the bureaucracy of the place is a nightmare. Could use a thorough process re-engineering.

For inpatients, the food is horrible. I'm pretty sure someone's ne'er-do-well nephew got the contract and is laughing all the way to the bank as his company prepares inedible meals for people who are supposed to be healing.

I'd give a 4 1/2 or 5 to the doctors, a 3.5 for nursing and other health professional staff, a 0.5 for administrative staff, and a negative number for the food.