Arthur G James Cancer Hospital and Research Institute

FANTASTIC! Can not say enough good things about this place and the people there! Very personable and you can tell they care about you when you walk in. The valet is expensive, however we left for short moments a few times and they did not make us pay double or triple for the valet parking. This is the place to go for any and all cancer treatment. A+

I went to OSU but I’ve never been inside the OSU hospital before. I went to the James because my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. The main surgeon was very thorough. The doctor had her re-​do all her tests that she already did at another hospital. The previous hospital was only going to give her a lumpectomy, but the doctor at the James saw a higher risk of the cancer returning so he recommended a mastectomy. Whether or not it was an overkill, we’re not sure, but we feel much more at ease.
On the day of the surgery all the nurses and doctors were very patient and friendly, despite that it was 6 in the morning. The doctors and nurses looked into my mom’s eyes and held her hand every time they spoke to her. Her English isn’t very good, so they spoke very slowly and clearly to her (I couldn’t be the translator because I’m a family member). They had one of those machines with a remote translated which helped a lot.
My biggest fear was my mom feeling lots of pain after leaving the hospital. To my surprised, she did not feel any pain or discomfort in the days following the procedure! It’s such a relief. I have gained much respect for the doctors at this hospital and highly recommend them.

Went in to Doan Hall for an awesome colonoscopy. That part was fine but the IV I got for the procedure kind of sucked. Check out my cool bruise photo.
The staff at the gastro department were very nice though.

My experience with the James is based on what my family went through with my late paternal grandmother’s treatment for melanoma. Mama received chemotherapy and radiation treatment from 2001 – 2006 before the disease ultimately took her life.
The James has made great advances in cancer research and treatment over the years. They do many experimental treatments in addition to the tried-​and-​true methods. I know that Mama participated in at least one experimental treatment.
Everyone knows early detection is everything. No one caught Mama’s cancer until it was too late, and she had a form of melanoma that was horribly aggressive and very difficult to treat, but the team of doctors overseeing her care did everything they could to try to cure it. They were busy, yet they took the time to talk to everyone whenever Mama went in for treatment. They were supportive.
The only thing they did that no one in the family was happy about was in regards to Mama’s medications. Prior to her diagnosis, Mama was reasonably healthy for her age. All the same, her GP did have her on a couple medications (I’m guessing for her heart and something else). Her doctors didn’t check her current prescriptions when they ordered new medications for her, and there was a pretty horrific interaction that landed Mama in the hospital and convinced us that she was going to die right then and there.
The floors where the rooms are never cease to make me uneasy and panicky, but they’re clean and well maintained. (That’s really all I can say without having an anxiety attack.) Downstairs in the lobby, though, it’s not as sterile-​feeling. There’s a gorgeous salt water aquarium and some fairly comfortable seats. Waiting while a family member is in surgery or receiving treatment is never enjoyable. It’s been proven by numerous studies that aquariums have a relaxing effect on people, and having that aquarium helps patients and their families relax and it helps lower their blood pressure.
Wi-​fi is available in the lobby. Elsewhere in the James, it’s a huge no-​no. I don’t really know what effect laptops and personal cell phones have on the medical equipment, but given that those machines are super-​sensitive, what might seem insignificant to the Average Joe could be profound where the staff and the patient are concerned. Take your cell phones and laptops to the designated cell phone use areas. Don’t use them in the patient rooms.
So, aside from the doctors not checking on Mama’s medications, the James is a fantastic hospital and an even more amazing research facility. If they can one day find an absolute cure for cancer, it will be yet another notch in their belt. Four stars.