Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis

HIPAA Violations, Post-​op Infection, and Forgotten Stitches, oh my!
I am reviewing an experience I witnessed that occurred about a month ago when my partner went in for a thyroidectomy. We got there the required 3 hours early, and things were going slowly but fine. I went with her to prep, and while the intern was trying (took three times) to put my partner’s IV in, the anesthesiologist began machine gun questioning her. She was visibly struggling trying to coherently answer his questions while in pain from the IV attempts.
She did well, and the surgery went better than expected. We got to the room and the first nurse was excellent — efficient and kind. Sadly, my partner was unable to sleep because of some new bed technology that moves the patient every 60 seconds or so to prevent bed sores. I’m, sorry, she was in there less than 24 hours and was able to get up and move around (no chance for bed sores) and the movement from the bed kept her awake — I think sleep would have been the best thing for her and they couldn’t turn it off. I slept on the couch (I’m a light sleeper) and the noise of the bed moving even kept me up. It’s hard to understand how they couldn’t turn it off. You can decline medications all you want, but you are forced to be moved all over by a bed? The second nurse didn’t come in regularly (every 4 hours) to give pain meds. My partner just woke up for the pain and had to call and ask for them (minor complaint). We finally were ready to be discharged and the last nurse handed us the discharge papers… with another patient’s name, address, and other personal information on it by accident… We told her, she looked horrified, but the correct name was on the next paper and we left to fill her prescription. We picked it up and when we got home Walgreen’s called horrified they’d given her the wrong medication because it was the other woman’s name (that was on the discharge papers) on her prescription… #shakeshead
My partner had mentioned her mouth was rather scratched up but didn’t make a big deal of it because in a past surgery the doctor had clipped her tongue with the intubation tube and she couldn’t feel the tip of it for 3 weeks. I digress, about a week and a half later her scratches hurt so bad that her teeth hurt. She went to the dentist where she discovered they had actually scratched all the skin off a part in the inside of her mouth that was down to the bone and was the size of a quarter. The dentist was furious and said he wished the anesthesiologist had to deal with it. It had become infected and she had to go on antibiotics and have repeated visits to the dentist and oral surgeon and hasn’t been able to eat solid food for over a week at this point. The dentist said it would heal but might take several months.
Finally, yes, this seems rather a comedy of errors… her incision began to get irritated so she went to the surgeon’s office. The nurse looked stunned because the stitches, which should have been taken out a few days after her surgery, were still there (3+ weeks later), so they were removed.
This has been a month of inconvenience, pain, and missed work. While many of those we dealt with were very kind and doing their best, it just seems to me like these problems were all very avoidable. My partner should not have been given another woman’s personal information, there shouldn’t have been a chance that she would receive someone else’s medication, her mouth should have been checked for intubation scratching (we spoke to another anesthesiologist who says these things can happen unless you take precaution and put padding), her stitches should have been promptly taken out — she should not still be in pain, drinking her meals. While I am glad that the main surgery went well, it’s been a longer road than necessary to recovery.

I am saddened and horrified by the treatment my handicapped, elderly father received from a PCA at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis, TN. This is an elderly man who is usually wheelchair bound (when he’s not sick and relegated to a hospital bed) and is unable to care for himself. He asked for a urinal in the middle of the night last night and his PCA **REFUSED** saying he should just urinate on himself because she didn’t want to «do no double work.» That is not Patient Care, it is Elder Abuse. That woman should be ashamed of herself and Baptist Hospital should be ashamed for having her in your employ. I am in awe of those involved in Healthcare, however, if you want to dehumanize and flat out refuse to help the sick, GET ANOTHER JOB!

I was really dissapointed during my last stay here. I spend a lot of time in the hospital. I have a brain disorder that requires surgery and has some complications. So I’ve been to hospitals in different states. My mom has worked for Baptist for 20 years. I had my daughter at Baptist women’s in 2011 and she stayed in the NICU for some time and it was an amazing emotional experience for me so I hate to leave this post.
The night and pretty much all weekend nurses were awful.
The people in the ER have a hard time listening to you. They do not want to actually believe a patient could possibly know how their body reacts to certain meds. The nurse disappeared for long stretches of times…
I was admitted through the ER so they put an IV in my arm. Once admitted to the floor on day 2 my nurse (Ally) kept having issues pushing meds through my IV line. She decided she needed to start a new IV. I have great veins. She stuck me twice and couldn’t do it. Called her friend in, stuck me twice and she couldn’t do it. She then told me she would get the charge nurse in. So I’m laying there nauseous and in pain waiting. Two hours pass by and no one comes. My boyfriend walks out and finds my nurse and asks if she’s going to get the charge nurse? Her reply, «Oh yea!» Maddening. A new nurse (Pearlie) comes in, looks at the tubing on my old IV and says, «oh it just needs changing out.» Changes it and I have a working IV. I was stabbed 4 times for no reason and suffered for hours for no reason. I also was never followed up by neurosurgery after getting my MRI to check the settings on my shunt. Also, Ally left a syringe of meds just sitting around in my room. She changed shifts and everything. I pointed it out to the new nurse and she ended up disposing of it. Smh. I left feeling worse than when I came but was so ready to get out of there I didn’t even complain.
It was a miserable experience.

I have spent extensive time several times now at baptist memorial hospital they have saved my life twice now but there is a problem there now the patient to nurse level at night are about ¹⁵⁄₁ I would have my 16 year old stay with me a night because the pca almost every night were rude argumentative and non caring this last time I was there for 35 days over the summer and one of those weeks I was in icu. the icu staff is fantastic in the cardiologist wing at night or day time. the third floor cardiovascular monitoring wing is over worked and I was told by several nurses at night «Tyler» the worst of them said several times he wanted to quit. I have been away now for almost a month now so my anger is less now but this last stay compared to my stay in 2009 the hospital standard has slipped dramatically. if asked would I go back? I had rather die in the comfort of my home than the misery of the hospital but then again most people would say the same about any hospital

Hey, a hospital is a hospital. Staff is nice, but I know them in a different way as I bring them people. This time I was the one being seen and not just dropping them off. Maybe that is why they took care of me so well.

I went in because I had a cough that was killing me. My ribs hurt so bad I could not lay nor sit. My blood pressure was 220 over 122 I had a huge head ake and more. But I was taken to the back to be seen by Dr. Abbas Mirza MD he was kind excellent bedside manner. He listen to me & fixed me up and had me on my way. He told me I had Bronchitis which was nice to hear because I thought I was going to die. The pain was truly wicked. The hospital was clean. Everyone was friendly & kind. Even after my X rays as I walked the halls I saw nurses & doctors who asked how are u feeling? They ended the conversation with I hope you feel better! Have a nice evening.

having read the two negative reviews, i have to say that both times i have been to baptist hospital my experience was the complete opposite. i went in there a few weeks ago to have a stress test and echo and found every one of the staff members involved in that day’s activities to be concerned, friendly and helpful. the tests were run with great efficiency and i was out of there long before i thought i would be.
yesterday, as the result of those tests, i was back for a cardiac cath. because of my earlier experience i felt almost no stress; i am quite a worrier so that was pretty amazing. again, i have to say that every single person from check in to check out was wonderful to me. great care, great senses of humor, great efficiency. because they had to put in a stent, i had to stay the night. on 2S, i believe, and i found my care there to be excellent.
i would not hesitate to go back to baptist memorial hospital in memphis, although i hope i do not need to do so any time soon!

My Mother is currently a patient at Baptist Memorial Hospital Memphis on Walnut Grove Road. She was admitted for an infection 20 days ago. On day # 2, she was left unattended in the bathroom by a negligent 20 year old PCA. She was left alone for over 30 mins. When she attempted to call for assistance, no one responded so she attempted to get up on her own and fell on the floor breaking her leg. She was labeled a fall risk but left alone. Why? Because a majority of the staff simply DO NOT CARE. It is a job nothing more. I have personally witnessed many issues/​problems/​unprofessional attitudes/​poor service and unethical conduct during our current admission. Take a look at
and see the poor ratings for yourself. Or better yet, ask former patients. NEVER leave a family member alone at this hospital. You will most likely regret it. Patient rooms are in VERY POOR CONDITION and appear to have never been updated with old, worn out beds, linens, furniture, etc. To make a good first impression, Baptist has remodeled the Lobby/​Main entrance and Cafeteria but conditions in the rooms are unacceptable. Patient care is often sub-​par at best and has very much declined in recent years. Patient to staff/​RN ratios are approx 12 – 15 patients per RN and sometimes more depending on the floor. There are some great, caring RN s at Baptist and we received excellent care while in ICU. But many, many employees including RNs, RN Assistants, Charge RN, Supervisors, Hospitalists, Corporate Staff, are rude, defensive, argumentative, and totally unprofessional towards patients and patient family members. Not something you want to deal with during a time of illness. One PRO is the food. After my latest experience at Baptist Memphis, I will NEVER return for any reason/​circumstance and DO NOT recommend this hospital to any one seeking professional, high-​quality medical care.

I went there because I was having pain on my left side of my body. I sat there 30 minutes and had not been called on. that is the worst ER I have been too.

Baptist Memorial on Walnut Grove is a major hospital in the Memphis area. It is centrally located in the east area of the city. It offers the following featured services
Ambulatory Centre
Cancer
PET Scanner
da Vinci Robotic Surgery Device
Endovascular Laser Venous System (ELVS)
Uterine Fibroid Embolization
Heart Institute
Neurology
Orthopedics
Outpatient
Pediatrics
Radiology
Rehabilitation
Weight Loss Surgery
Emergency Services:
All emergency services available except trauma
Pediatric emergency department with 24-​hour, in-​house pediatrician coverage
Fast track area for non-​emergency care
It is a large campus, so be sure to follow the signs when you enter to get to the right area. The main hospital is on the right if you enter from Walnut Grove. Doctor office buildings are on the left. They offer valet parking for the main hospital for $ 3.00. This is a nice service if you are here to visit someone. We were today and I used the service. It was great because it allowed me to get out of the car with three children and I did not have to worry about the parking garage. My mom also uses it because she does not feel safe in the parking garage alone and with the valet parking she does not have to park there.
There is a Starbucks in the main hospital and a gift shop. Overall, it is a nice campus and the hospital has been renovated. Be sure to follow the signs so you don’t get lost.