Beacon Kalamazoo Hospital

I'd be surprised if anybody but a Karen had bad things to say about Kalamazoo Beacon (formerly Borgess), especially about the maternity ward. The care there is excellent, and that's what actually matters. The nurses are amazing. They really know what they're doing and don't make you feel ignored or confused. They check in often, explain what's going on, and actually listen when you have concerns. You can tell they're experienced and used to handling stressful situations without freaking out or rushing people. The doctors are just as solid. They're professional, calm, and focused on doing what's best for both the mom and the baby. Nothing feels careless or rushed. When decisions need to be made, they explain why and make sure you understand what's happening. That kind of confidence and clarity makes a huge difference. The midwives deserve a lot of credit too. They're supportive, knowledgeable, and work really well with the doctors and nurses. It doesn't feel like different teams fighting for control -- it feels like everyone is on the same page and working together. That's not something you get everywhere. Yeah, the hospital is old. It's been around for a long time, and you can tell. But that honestly doesn't matter if you care about your health and your baby's health. Fancy buildings don't save lives -- skilled people do. This place clearly has that figured out. If you want a maternity ward where the staff knows what they're doing, takes you seriously, and focuses on real outcomes instead of appearances, this is the place to go. Kalamazoo Beacon may be over 100 years old, but the level of care proves why it's still trusted.

Beacon Formerly Borgess Ascension ER After a blood draw from his right hand, my husband developed significant swelling, redness, pain, and discoloration. These symptoms were followed by numbness and tingling that traveled up his arm to his elbow, and which have persisted for several days. Transport Failure: The hospital was unable to provide transport to the nursing home until the following morning and was going to move my husband in wheelchair and I with my walker from ER room into waiting room until transport arrived Unsuitable Alternative: A suggested third-party transport option was prohibitively expensive (Approxinately $250 - $500) and would not allow the spouse to accompany the patient. Patient Vulnerability: This arrangement was unacceptable as the patient has dementia and a vascular condition, making a long wait in a wheelchair unsafe. Assistance Denied: The discharge coordinator refused a request for help transferring the patient into a private ride-share vehicle, but a technician did offer since discharge coordinator did not have the time to help I appreciated the technician getting the wheelchair and rearranging the walker to fit everything in the vehicle The technician wheeled my husband toward the LYFT, but I knew he wouldn't be able to lift his feet the twelve inches needed to get into the backseat. While helping my husband into the car, I sustained a back injury that aggravated a pre-existing degenerative spinal condition, causing a flare-up of sciatica. Safety Risk Ignored: A gait belt was denied during the transfer, compromising the safety of a fall-risk patient. Lack of Staff Support: Hospital security staff were present but did not offer assistance, in contrast to our experiences at other hospitals. Public Intervention: Kind strangers were the only ones who provided necessary assistance. The ER was a scene of disarray, with paper scattered across the floor. I had to ask staff for a wastebasket to dispose of the EKG leads my husband and I had just removed. Adding to the chaos, a part of the blood pressure cuff was left dangling on the back of his wheelchair.and was still attached when they rolled us back to the waiting room. I especially appreciated the help we received, from the former school teacher who wheeled my husband in his wheelchair (since I have a walker myself) to the kind bystanders who directed us to the emergency room.

The doctors, nurses, and other medical staff were very professional. I mostly had complaints over the overall care. Dirty room and hours would go by before you were checked on. Using the call button was a wait and see if anyone responded. Had to ask what was going on because I didn't receive any information. What happened to the care here?

Fastest hospital visit ever! Was DREADING potentially waiting in a waiting room for hours with my children. however i was very quickly seen, taken seriously about my concerns! Every nurse, doctor, and people working registration/billing were very kind and professional. Hospital was very noticeably clean! Was in and out of the hospital under 2 hours.

I'll keep this short and not so sweet. I've had multiple relatives receive "care" here and I cannot name a worse hospital when it comes to the lack of communication and mixed messages. Their teams constantly contradict themselves and you'll be hard pressed to get prompt answers to basic questions. Just getting updates about your loved one is like pulling teeth. If you can avoid this hospital, do so at all costs unless you are ok with subpar care.