Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Needham

Terrible hospital, especially when compared to the care I've received at other hospitals such as Newton Wellesley. I waited for almost 2 and a half hours before being seen by a nurse or a doctor. The room I was placed in was directly across from the psych ward, so I had to sit and listen to the staff restrain people all day while I was extremely sick and suffering. I believe the room they had me in was actually one of the psych ward rooms. I do not think it's right to mix sick patients with patients who are a danger to themselves or others. When I asked why I was basically in the psych ward, I was told by a staff member that it is because the hospital is too small. On top of this, my original doctor's bedside manner was virtually nonexistent. I was nearly forced to stay at the hospital against my own will. Another doctor came in afterwards to tell me that it's not a prison and that I was well enough to go home. He was excellent compared to her. The one good thing I have to say about this hospital is that my experience with one of the nurses was positive. She was attentive and kind. She was truly the only person there who showed any sign of caring that I was in such discomfort and distress. I don't think this experience would have been so negative had I not been placed in a psych ward when I came in for a viral sickness. I could legitimately hear the staff making fun of a patient who they had restrained earlier. This hospital needs to do a better job of organizing themselves and placing patients in the appropriate rooms as well as giving basic respect to their patients.

*urology department* Absolutely disgusting. PLEASE AVOID. Overflowing trashes, dirty gloves on the floors, urine samples left laying around. Patient information out in the open for people to see. Broken biohazard bins opened with contaminants sprayed on the walls behind them. They do not give fresh pads to new patients, they do not clean down the offices in between uses. Please do not go here it is absolutely horrendous.

I visited the ER in July. Intake and the doctor were generally pleasant and reviewed my urgent care paperwork and told me that it looked correct and that I should head home and rest more. I was feeling worse because of my bodies initial reaction to the antibiotics I was given a day earlier. I was then billed several thousand dollars with a "moderately severe" code. The level of care I received did not match. My experience in the ER was fine, but the hospital billing department has been supremely unhelpful with any questions I have asked and I had to open a dispute with my insurer. Their support folks seem to be focused on just explaining what a payment plan is. I will be sharing this experience with the appropriate state authority. My advice is to only come here if it's really extreme. Otherwise, try to head to Urgent Care.

I went for an MRI in July and my experience was wonderful. Ann at the desk was terrific - when they were running late (it ended up as all of 10 minutes), she kept checking in with others and then me, rather just letting me sit there and wonder, as I've experienced at other health providers. Katrina was incredibly clear as to what I could expect. She and her assistant were so attentive that I almost felt like I was in a hotel rather than an MRI machine.

I called an ambulance for myself on Saturday night (10/18) for an acid reflux attack. I was so scared because my last few experiences at a hospital (different hospitals) were horrible. But everyone from the EMT who sat with me in the back of the ambulance (I think his name was Nick, but I was in tears, so I'm not 100% on that), to the tech who set me up in the room (William) to the doctor who saw me (Dave) to my nurse (Emma) were completely, completely lovely to me. They were so kind and patient and empathetic to me and every person there helped me calm down and relax when I was close to a panic. I'd like to thank Emma individually for her help. She's a wonderful woman about my age (which helped me as well) who took things slow with me until I stopped crying and acclimated. She brought me some apple juice along with my first round of meds because I told her how badly I wanted some juice, and was always ready with another fresh emesis bag. She's a credit to her profession. I was so upset and frightened when I got there, but I never lost hope that the folks there were going to make me feel entirely better, and they did! My faith has always been in people. I like people and I like talking to them. My faith in people was rewarded in spades by the staff who tended to me at BI Needham. You folks have my gratitude. Thank you. - Annie