Evanston Hospital- Northshore University Health System

I delivered my first (and only) baby at Evanston North Shore, and it was a great experience from start to finish. Our labor room was lovely, and our nurses were just wonderful. I really took advantage of the free flowing juice, jello, and popsicles, and we loved being able to watch dvds during downtime before the baby came.
Once we had our little one and were moved to our regular room, it was just a great start to taking care of our baby. The nurses were all great– so helpful, and their knowledge and friendliness made me feel really confident in those first few days. The food was way, way better than I was expecting– nothing fancy, but you get a lot (lunch was plenty for my husband and I to share), and the little «celebration dinner» they give you is a silly but fun treat.
Since giving birth, I’ve also been attending the breastfeeding support group on Thursdays, which has been an incredible resource. It’s free and open to anyone (even if you didn’t deliver there), and I’ve made some great mom friends over the past few months of attending. Faith, who runs the group, is incredibly knowledgeable and has made feeding my baby much less stressful than I expected.

This review is solely about my experience with their online portal, Northshoreconnect. I’ve been locked out for months and have spoken to two people about it who have offered solutions that do not work. I have my username, etc. and just need a password reset, which the website is not sending as it states there have been too many login attempts. Fine, but when I call for support, they do not seem to have anyone on hand who understands the mechanics of this web portal. I had one suggest I clear my «browser cachet.» I assume she just doesn’t know how to pronounce «cache,» which gives me little hope I’ll ever be able to access this account again. There is seemingly no escalation pathway, and each person seems to not have any training in actual troubleshooting.
If you are going to move so many features of your services to a web portal, staff some people who have the ability/​access to do a basic password reset.

My wife has delivered both of our children at this hospital. I’ve been here as a patient a couple of time myself. We love this hospital. It’s aesthetically pleasing and the atmosphere and staff here are always top notch. It seems they only hire people with great bedside manner. They have kosher food available, a Rabbi (Chaplin) who helped my wife and me prepare for Sabbath in the hospital, and are very accommodating with regards to family and guests.
No one wants to go to the hospital, but if you have to, Evanston should be at the top of your list.

If you need emergency assistance don’t plan on going to this hospital! First off, when I was registered in I was told it would a few minutes and they would take my mother in. Two hours later, no one even acknowledged us. I asked twice to see what the hold up might be and no one asked or even got back to me.
You expect to wait when going to the emergency room, but you don’t expect negligence or attitudes especially from the nurse. The reception was more concerned about the score to the Bulls game then she was for the patients waiting in the area.
I finally got fed up and walked out without being checked out. The nurse was very rude and said she did not care that I would complain or post a complaint. She said there are people who are dying that are priority. She may be right, but as a patient you shouldn’t be told such things and be so insensitive to others conditions. No bed side manner!

I recently had the misfortune of having to have a cerclage being only 22 weeks pregnant. While the Hospital is horribly organized and understaffed most of the staff really do try their best explain procedures and preform them.
The surgeon and his team were awesome. My problem was after surgery. I came in at 1 that afternoon for procedure. In surgery by 7 and out by 8. Once I was back to a room I wasn’t given anything for pain till 4 that morning. And by that time I was in a lot of pain.
When the morning crew came in my nurse was switched to this god awful hateful RN named Victoria Anocchili aka «Vicky». This woman must really hate her job. When I asked her if it was possible to get anything for the pain at 9 that morning she told me «My pain is false» you can not have any more if you want to go home today. So eventually after much wincing and begging she brought a low dose med that did nothing. When my Doctor, Dr. Robertson came to see me, she felt it was necessary to tell him that because I had asked for something for the pain earlier and she had brought something else that didn’t work, that I just receive no medication to help manage my pain. She later seem to take great joy in repeatedly using the ultrasound machine wand to dig into my pelvis repeatedly to see how much pain she could cause forcing it into my abdomen. She did this twice for a Around 15 to 20 min each time. I’ve never been so relieved to see someone end their shift!
After that when I was finally able to leave the hospital I had developed a almost migraine like head ache, which I found out is caused from spinal fluid leaking out of my spine from the spinal tap causing severe pain. I’m still reeling from it as I type. I was given a Tylenol before I left and that was it. Later When I wanted to leave the hospital I was forced to do so with my IV still in my arm because the nursing staff decided to ignore my calls to the nurses station. I called twice for someone to please remove my IV. I guess since I was already checked out and was leaving they just said to hell with with it. I was already down at valet when one of the nice nurses saw me and rushed to get the IV out of my arm before I left. Over all, I hope I never have to come back to this Hospital seeing how this hospital does nothing for pain management and my severe sympathy to anyone who gets stuck with nurse Ratchet aka «Vicky»

If I could give them zero stars I would. On two different occasions I have came to Evanston through the ER with shortness of breath, I have many cardiac issues, including heart failure. Both times they did test (chest X-​rays, CT scan, labs) and everything came out «negative,». So just because everything came out negative they basically told me there was nothing they can do for me. Sent me home basically the same way I came in. No cardiologist team even came to see me or anything. This will be the last time I ever step foot in that crappy hospital!

Great experience in the ER. Got me in and seen within minutes of walking in the door. I got lots of attention, everything explained, out quickly. They followed up with a phone call asking me to rate the service I recieved. Very impressed…

Waited in the ER for over three and a half hours and left. Incredibly frustrating and demeaning experience. Will avoid at all costs in the future.

I came here because of poor medical treatment on multiple occasions at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Upon arrival at the emergency room, a security guard directed me to sit in a chair. I had to tell him that I was a cardiac patient, & that I was having challenges breathing. He advised the admitting nurse & all she did was get me partly registered (she didn’t get all of my insurance information). She then sent me to the waiting room (I.E. no oxygen given to me).
I waited approximately 4 HOURS before seeing medical personnel in the emergency room.
After another approximately 4 HOURS, 5 medical residents, 2 University of Chicago medical students, & one attempt to perform a CT Scan using contrast that I am allergic to & the doctors knew it: I was taken to my inpatient room.
What I was told would be my medical treatment plan by the emergency room doctors, which I agreed to, & what has been done inpatient are two different things.
I am now completing my 4^th day inpatient & my symptoms are worse in some aspects than when I initially arrived at the hospital.
I do not know when I will be discharged from the hospital. What I do know is that the level of treatment & miscommunication/​lack of communication with the patient is just as bad as it is at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
I called the CEO’s office this morning & had two meetings with managers (& remember, I’m in a hospital bed) discussing my experience & concerns about my medical care. Both managers did seen sincerely concerned about the situations & my experiences at Northshore Evanston Hospital.
At this point, the ONLY major difference between how the two hospitals & their personnel function is that Northshore is located closer to where I live.

I have been to the ER of this hospital because of a Bell’s Palsy attack in 2013. Nothing had been done, no action had been taken or no recommendations had been given. I have been told by 2 doctors and 3 different interns at the ER that «it (bi-​facial paralysis) would go away with time.» Turns out, a year later that, this is not how things work with Bell’s Palsy. I was supposed to be treated with anti-​virals and cortisone. Also, I was supposed to be directed to start exercises after some movement (approximately after a month). After 1.5 years, I still cannot move my eyebrow, upper lip, chin or nose on the paralyzed side.
In this hospital, I have been humiliated (how doctors have treated me (ie: instead of diagnosing me, they decided to get into a fight with each other about who knows literature on Bell’s Palsy better and treating me as if I am a criminal because something «unusual» has happened to me) and neglected, which actually will cause me to have a semi-​paralyzed face possibly for the rest of my life. On the top of it, they have given my account to a collection agency despite I have paid for my (useless) visit.
I am a 28 year old female with a consultancy job which is client facing. My level of emotional trauma is indescribable. From human interaction to diagnosis and treatment to billing, this hospital is incompetent and should be penalized.

I spent about 5 hours at the hospital yesterday trying to help a cardiac patient, my adopted mother, to receive proper care. She was physically in bad shape following surgery, although her pain came from a raging UT infection that started the night before, when she was admitted. The intern and resident overlooked the results of the urine analysis, although the nurse looked up the test results and gave them to us. We spent the better part of 3 hours trying to track down a «hospitalist,» a doctor who is general purpose at the hospital, to have him look at the results and get her on a simple antibiotic. For hours, we were ignored, and later, we realized that no «real doctor» was actually on duty at the hospital after 7pm. By 9pm, we had shagged down the intern (baby doc — under a resident), the only doctor we could find for miles, and he confessed that they were under the mistaken impression that she did not have an infection — they misread the results. Then, he re-​checked the analysis with a new sample and went about getting the patient on antibiotics. So in all, from pain to treatment, it took about 24 hours!

Very clean and well kept, and the staff was very friendly, helpful and welcoming. I hate hospitals but this one didn’t make me that nervous.

No one wants that phone call from their child. «I am going to be admitted to the hospital, I have Meningitis, please come I need you» .
I got that phone call.
I was on the next airplane to Chicago to make sure I was with her. 15 hours later, frazzled and freaking out I walked into her ward. The doctor was immediately informing me it was under control and she is OK.
Her words were (with a smile) «Good thing it was viral because if it had been bacterial she would be dead right now». If life were in cartoon form my jaw would have literally dropped to the floor. I understand well the point of view from doctors, I have been surrounded by them all my life, they do not see things quite like the rest of us, however you do NOT say «she» and «dead» in the same sentence to a mother who is running to her baby, sleep deprived and not for the first time in that child’s life wondering if she was going to survive.
My daughter told me that prior to my arrival, she had called for pain killers a couple of times and the buzzer was never acknowledged. Some of the nurses were caring and nice and others apathetic. Hence the reason they lost a star.
But I digress… all in all this is an excellent facility and the Doctor IS a superb Dr., she did take care of my baby quite well besides her unorthodox greeting and honestly her excellent care for my baby is all that matters.
The facility itself is top notch, very elegant and calm. Great food in the café, quite surprising when you are used to quite the opposite.

Color me amazed; one of the nicest hospitals one would visit. Being an NU student it prescribed my visits.
The good:
–Concierge service.
–Free phones that speed dialed taxis.
–Most the Docs and Nurses went to Ivies.
–An elaborate fountain in the entry hall and player piano that played Mozart and Beethoven.
–Decent C-​store that sold junk food, gifts, paperbacks and magazines.
–Great café that sold hot bar, salad bar, grill items, and faux Starbucks drinks.
–Fast turn around for consultations or tests.
The bad:
–My technician was hot and around my age. When you get an Echo or Doppler like I did in two visits– they take ultrasound images of your heart and the pertinent areas from various angles; which meant he slathered cold gell on my chest and cupped my boobs and ribs to capture the videos. We made small talk, but it was very awkward.
–In my visits most heart patients were ancient and knock, knock, knockin on heaven’s door. Many were over 75, even on oxygen tanks, and looking incredulously at the Damn Adriane getting special treatment.
The ugly:
–Gals like me in hospital gowns.
Conclusion, I had practical knowledge from personal history and having dated a cardiothoracic surgeon; but was pleased with the immediate laymans explanation of my images and diagnosis. I had a pragmatic expectations of contents revealed.. . beer cans, a Maryland license plate, half a bicycle tire, a gota, and a small wooden puppet. Goes by the name of Pinocchio. But they kindly confirmed my only physical bulge/​flaw was interior to my aorta and not immediately lethal, only annoying and painful, somewhat dangerous; just like my personality! Wild hearts can’t be broken. Good hospitals always hearted!

I’m being kind of generous here — extra star for good intentions and a genuine effort to do the best they can.
Unfortunately, my experience is mostly from the other side of the divide: being an in-​patient not a a cafeteria customer… and a main problem is the length of time it takes for the food to leave the kitchen and make it’s way to your hospital room…
That being said — the «chef» a very flamboyant, somewhat exotic, youngish lady from New Orleans paid a personal visit to all of us patients — to get our feedback and suggestions — a nice touch!
I have on occasion eaten at the cafeteria — while waiting for a Doctor Appointment or test — and I agree with Vijay — the food is varied, healthy and for the most part, better than many many restaurants.
But considering how much time I’ve spent at ENH as a patient — I;m not really in a hurry to visit the hospital when I don’t HAVE to — no matter how good the food might be!

The downstairs restaurant has a sumptuous Salad Bar, amazing grill and soup & parfait stand. Personal favorite edamame never stops serving my taste buds and rejuvenating healthy cravings.
From hot dogs, sandwiches, soups, Lasagnas to rabbit food (I mean salad ;-)), fat free yoghurt (they have regular ones too), and fruit cup.
Man, oh man, it is a treat just to walk a block east of Purple Line (Central Street) station and walk downstairs to enjoy a beautiful lunch.
Friends delicious, healthy meal, has never tasted better. Who said hospital food tastes bland and Bleee-​yahhh! This experience will disprove all your hearsays, theories you’ve read, heard or seen. Enjoy good eats.