Carroll Hospital Center

I’ve never used Carroll Hospital, personally (knock on wood, no need for hospital care since moving to MD 10 years ago), but I have been there a few times for friends & family, for various reasons (ER stitches, out-​patient surgery, intensive care… and the Dove Hospice center next door)…and the quality of care was good, responsive, and minimal wait time.
I have noticed some of the temporary, young, traveling nurses seem far superior in terms of skill & friendliness compared to some of the crabby older local nurses (obviously there are some exceptions, but that is my general impression).
I’ve also heard some people say some pretty negative things about this hospital, although I feel some of them just don’t want to take any responsibility for the fact their health issues were caused by THEIR bad choices/​habits; they unrealistically expect a hospital to magically/​instantly fix the damage they have done to their body over decades, so they don’t have to change their unhealthy lifestyle. In another case, the family wanted to blame the hospital for not saving their family member, but unfortunately, by the time he went to the doctor, his cancer was so far along I don’t think any hospital could have saved him (blame seems easier than facing grief, or being upset with your dying relative for ignoring initial symptoms until it was too late).

For the most part, really worthless nursing staff in the ER. Im sure some do care but overall very poor. Very clear that most are there just for paychecks they don’t have to earn. Don’t bother hitting the call button. No one will respond or come. Dr’s are very nice but grossly under staffed and since the nurses are useless, getting the Dr into your room after initial eval is rare. ER nurse care rating is .05 out of 5. Spend the extra time going out if county.

The ER wait was 4+ hours on a random Monday night. They did do a blood work-​up while I was waiting, which sped up the process once I was in the back.
It was obvious that the ER doctor was in over my head when it comes to my complex disease. I’ve had over 100 surgeries for the same thing. 300+ CT scans. 500+ hospital days. The process is the same almost every time I end up in the hospital. Despite it being clear that I know my condition well, he simply would not listen to my suggestions. I told him exactly what was done the 100+ other times this happened to me. He actually suggested that I’d be going home that night to be managed as an outpatient.
Well, once the surgeon saw me, orders ended up being the same as they’ve been at every other hospital ever. I was admitted and had surgery the next day. I was discharged three days later.
We wasted so much time because the ER doctor would not listen.
I must say that the inpatient care was phenomenal. The nursing staff is amazing and I had a comfortable stay.
I *will* be back. It is the nature of my disease. Not the best hospital I’ve been to, but far from the worst.
Just be prepared to wait…

I was put in a room, saw the doctor, and told I’d be given medication and an IV to stop an allergic reaction and extreme pain. I never saw a nurse after I was put in a room (unless I walked out to the desk), and no one came with medication… Oh wait, someone came and took my IV out, gave me my discharge papers, and THEN my medication showed up. What if my reaction had been worse? They forgot me. Seriously. Not. Cool. I didn’t even get treated. I had to go home and take Benadryl. Wow. I’ve just never. Wow.