Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Northwestern Medicine Catherine Gratz Griffin Lake Forest Hospital

Called ahead about bringing in a CD of an echo from an outside hospital to load into the system for comparison and was told they would give it to the department to look at. Explained we were far from the hospital and didn't want to drive if they wouldn't do the comparison, told they would. Drove 40 min to the hospital and cardiology acted like the idea was crazy and refused to take the CD.

The quality of the doctors is outstanding but the follow-up is terrible. You cannot contact anyone by phone and they tell you to ask your questions through the MyChart app but they never add your provider to your care team on the app so you have no way of contacting them with questions. So they leave you in the dark for after care. And you have no one to contact to have them added to your care team so that you can ask a question. The process from a patient standpoint is inept at best.

It is impossible to reach anyone at NW. Appts are over 3mo out and receptionists are awful. It took 2 weeks to return a call regarding an appt to reschedule. Clearly NW if not interested in actually seeing pts.

I'm so upset with this hospital. They truly have gone downhill- they have the money and time to upgrade facilities with gardens but not enough to keep drs on staff or alert patients that drs are retiring or plain quitting. Everyone on the phone systems has major attitude- I don't know about you but I'll dish right back- not to mention that due to the lack of drs appointments are months out so plan your emergencies around that or an overfilled under staffed ER. What good drs they have are overwhelmed and tired-leading to short visits and no results. NM needs to turn themselves around before they become just another ex-giant and hurt the people they swore to care for along the way.

Made an appointment because I was having issues. No appointments til July, however the woman who made the appointment said that she would pass info on and I would be seen within 7 days because they have different appointments. 3 weeks and 3 messages went by and No call back. Called back 7 days ago and the woman said she would put a message in for the to contact me in 24 hours. No call back. I called back and explained and Dr. Wyatts nurse called me back. What can I do for you? I explained everything and what was going on. She replied...well I don't see a referral or anything here so we can't see you til your appt in July. I again explained my GI wanted me to see him and she replied, we have no openings so you'll have to wait. I will find another Cardiologist with a nurse tha8t isn't so nasty and that will treat people qith respect!