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Hi folks,

Tiring of the national politics and looking for something local, I finally came across some interesting posts: Mott's & FNM's.

They bring up an interesting local topic that we have all probably had some sort of experience with: area hospitals.

Which do you prefer - and why? Which would you recommend to someone else? What have your experiences been? We want the good, the bad, and the ugly...and everything in-between.
"Ignorance is excusable when it is borne like a cross, but when it is wielded like an axe, and with moral indignation, then it becomes something else indeed. " ~Flannery O'Connor
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Originally posted by e:
Hi folks,

Tiring of the national politics and looking for something local, I finally came across some interesting posts: Mott's & FNM's.

They bring up an interesting local topic that we have all probably had some sort of experience with: area hospitals.

Which do you prefer - and why? Which would you recommend to someone else? What have your experiences been? We want the good, the bad, and the ugly...and everything in-between.


I don't have any personal experience as I haven't had to spend time in either (thank God).
I had another granddaughter born in January at Helen Keller. My daughter lives in Center Star. When I asked her why she chose Helen Keller over ECM, she said she liked the nurses better and thought she would get better care at Helen Keller. Though I don't know anything specific, I do think Helen Keller has a better reputation.
I have been to both ECM and HK over the years for myself and family. If you need treatment for serious trauma you will be sent to Memphis, Nashville or B'ham regardless of which one you go to. H.K.'s cosmetic appearance looks better to me. ECM's radiology department is better because they have and are getting newer equipment i.e. PET scanner, CT, and MRI. ECM I think could manage a larger patient load than H.K. I think they are both mainly comparable.

Most people are going to complain about one or the other anyway you look at it.

Is there anything specific you are needing to know about? It would make it easier to answer if I knew what you were searching for.
I have been a patient at both, one time each.

First time at H.K. I had infusion of the lungs and pneumonia and had to stay almost 2 weeks in there. Their nurses were all very friendly and the treatment over all was really good. Food was terrible, but all hospital food is, I think.. lol

First time in ECM, was when I had my emergency C-section done, and was sent directly to ECM from my doctor's appointment. It wasn't a choice, but a have to kind of thing. The staff there wasn't as assertive after my c-section. They complained about changing my sheets or bringing me my medical necessities a couple of times. I was in there also for nearly two weeks, because of my complications and also my son had to stay. He was born premature, and was under an oxygen tent for the first week and 1/2 of his life.

The medical care I was given, doctor and surgery wise, was good, but other than that I barely saw the nurses unless I buzzed them a few times. If I ever have another baby, I think I'll insist on H.K. next time due to just the nurses attitudes at ECM in the post delivery floor.

I can't speak for the ones that are on other floors though, because I am sure they may be better for more serious health problems. I'm not sure. Smiler

~Manda~
I have been to all 3 major hospitals here.. And I rate them:

1. ECM
2. Shoals
3. Keller

That is just the way I like them, ECM has so many more inhouse care and testing than any hospital around.

Also, Manda... when you were in ECM delivering my beautiful grandson, they were in the process of renovation... first room was really small but after baby was born they moved you into one where your hubby could actually SLEEP comfortably, instead of in that little bitty char in the first room, lol. Big Grin
A year ago this April, my son was admitted to ECM for a terrible injury to his leg (chainsaw accident). He had 2 males nurses in the ER and they were wonderful. They kept him calm, and tried their best to answer all our questions and they were truly helpful to us. He went straight to surgery and had to stay for about 3 days. I can't remember what floor he was on, but the nurses were awful!! They would not bring him his medicine when he was supposed to get it. You could call them and they would say they were on their way and he would never see them then either. He could not get out of bed and If it had not been for someone staying with him, he would have been up a creek. He had never been in the hospital before and he could not believe the treatment he received.
Hospitals, in general are understaffed with R.N.s. On a floor at ECM there is most likely only ONE R.N. the rest are LPNs and aids. Only a R.N. can give out pain meds. I know from my late wife's time that it took forever and a day for her to get her meds and she was in the later stage of cancer.
If your in pain the hospital is the last place you want to be if you have meds at home. I could go on and on about the lack of staff, and how different hospitals treat their R.N.s.

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