Highland Hospital — Attraction in City of Rochester

Avoid!!! I have religiously been going to Strong since I was a child, however, sometimes their wait times are very long… I noticed that Highland, which is now owned by Strong, never has a wait. I went there due to extremely high heart rate readings lately and very low oxygen. I was immediately given an EKG and placed in my own room within five minutes upon arrival. However, I waited nearly an hour and a half in the room before finally clicking my nurse button to see why I hadn’t been seen my anyone… not even my vitals had been done. Catie came in and said she would be my nurse and was never informed that I was even in there, that was the beginning of the absolute worst care I have ever received in a Strong affiliated facility.

Problems began with my IV, I don’t do well and was upset when Catie was putting it in but I got through it. A little while later though I had severe pain. While walking back from the bathroom, I asked if she could please look at it and she said part of it was digging into my rm and she would fix the tape. Well she did that and there was still pain… when I took a peak I noticed that it was partially out of my arm. Now I’m no doctor but I don’t believe that is how it’s suppose to look.

Not once was I ever informed what was going on, what was next, what was being ordered or what any test results were. 1. I only found out because the nurses talked so loudly about everyone at the station, that’s how I knew an angiogram had been ordered for me and 2. I have never been to the ED and not immediately received my test results to MyChart while waiting. I received absolutely no results via online or by nurse.

Next problem is a new nurse comes in to try getting at IV into my wrist for the angiogram, because the one Catie placed in my arm could not be used. This nurse missed and starts grabbing my other wrist to try that one. Thankfully, she saw that I was clearly in pain and uncomfortable at this point in time and left the room, heading back to the nurses station, where again, they all proceeded to talk about me. Catie could clearly be heard stating that the IV she placed would hold, even though the imaging department told her it wouldn’t.

I get down to imaging, and my IV is immediately flushed, during this time it is painful and I say that I do not believe it is going to hold and that the vein will blow considering the contrast has to be pushed quickly through my arm. Thank goodness for Nicki, she agreed and for the first time, asked me where I normally get blood drawn or an IV placed, something Catie did not do. I told Nicki it was my left arm and she very quickly found a vein and asked why my nurse hadn’t, I said because she said there was a “scab” there. Nicki, like myself, seemed confused by this because she had already found a vein to use by briefly looking at my arm.

When I was taken back to my room after the angiogram, Catie didn’t return. Nobody came back to check on me, give me updates nor hook me back up with my heart monitor, which I had been wearing all day. From the time I returned to my room till when I woke up and called Catie using my remote, THREE hours had passed.

I stated that I wanted to be released (spent 12hrs there) and I wanted both IVs taken out of my arm. She said both? And saw that the imaging department had placed another and scoffed at it, again repeating that hers would have worked. It was extremely aggravating that she was ready to die on this hill that her IV would work when the professionals from the other department clearly said it wouldn’t. Furthermore, Catie’s IV left a horrific bruise on my arm while the nurse that attempted my wrist, hands down left the most painful aftermath that I’ve ever experienced. I’ve had cancer, I’ve been poked and prodded more than I care to remember and still I’ve never had a lasting pain as bad as my wrist.

I will never again go to Highland, couldn’t pay me too. The blatant lack of care, ignorance, being forgotten and Catie’s attitude have steered me clear for life.

You’re better off at Strong Memorial or Strong West...

Went to a specialist, Thomas G. Meyers, today for my hip. Because it has been excruciating for months. It catches when I extend or stand from sitting (hurts so bad I want to scream ot cry. I have tried an injection, that was short lived, tried physical therapy, that was not successful. The doctor irritated the heck out of me and made me cry! I will explain in a minute.

The doctors I originally saw said it was an impingement and referred me to a specialist because I was not getting much relief from the options they offered.

Well anyone that knows me, knows I have been struggling with severe back pain for 8 years from an injury at work. Over those years I had therapy, traction, injections, specialist telling me I am overweight for surgery. In October 2019 I had the spinal cord stimulator implanted in my lower back and in February of 2020 I had one implanted for my neck. Finally these procedures have helped me regain some mobility to tolerate more movement and keep the pain at a minimum. So pleased with the choice I made. However, I started feeling more targeted pain in my hip that was not going away, after implant therapy started, it just got worse. On its worse day I can barely walk and feel like I could clasp.

Well today my appointment was to say the least a waste of my time, I drove almost 2 hours, pre-checkin online so it was quick checking in, Within 10 minutes I was called back, thought I was going in to see the doctor but they pulled me in for x-rays, did not know x-rays were going to be needed as I just had some in May, I was not prepared for x-rays as, I should have turned my implants off prior to having them, but did not have my controller with me. Therefore implants were still on. Then I had to go back out to waiting room where I sat for an hour. Finally called back, the physicians assistant came in and started asking questions, but didn't seem to listen, then doctor came in and said "what did I miss" ,assistant said not much. Then doctor did a brief exam and said I had arthritis in my hip, and pointed it out on the x-rays, he was confused why I drove so far and if the referring doctors were good, they could have told me the same thing (his comments) . He proceeded to tell me that I could have a hip replacement however before he would touch me I needed to lose weight, the assistance looked up the target BMI the doctor mentioned and said the weight I needed to reach. I said I would love to lose weight if I could tolerate exercise, he said we don't need exercise it comes down to diet. Then he talked about calories and reaching a target calorie intake that most people indulge in fatty, salty, and sweet foods. He mentioned something about being young for hip replacement but it is possible but weight loss is clearly needed. Then said that he probably won't see me again asked if I had any questions, I asked what can I do to manage the pain as I am not looking for surgery in the first place and said not much but to tolerate it until I can't. Stood up and backed up toward the door...It was the end of their day so I felt like he was pushing me out. I walked out and as I walked down the hall I began to cry. People should not be treated the way this doctor treated me then still be able to collect payments. 😒I know I am overweight I have struggled trying to lose the weight and the majority of my problem started when I was injured and my mobility became compromised. I have gained 100lbs since my injury in 2013. Before injury I maintain my weight at a healthy BMI. I don't endulge with junk food, I really try to eat healthy, I try diets and different lifestyle options for diets, I can't walk far, can not tolerate walking in stores or amusementparks anymore so I dislike shopping, household chores are like torture as it takes me forever as I need to take many breaks, I can't stand more than 5-10 minutes. Exercise increases my symptoms. Medical treatment is so dang expensive when it shouldn't be. We need to stand up...

Edit: My original review and the added issues of no parking passes, sending healthy non patients out the emergey room exit where patients & sick people are & an obvious shortage of employees all point to a larger issue where the execs and people at the top making decisions just to make them. This hospital has some lovely people working here who are clearly being forced to do the job of multiple people. It's not good for anyone. Clearly someone at the top either doesn't know what they are doing or they do know and simply don't care.

Wife and I were expecting to have our baby on 1/16/24. The whole time our OB and the hospital communicated that we would both be allowed to be there and our 4 year old son would be able to be there with us so we could all be together during the first few days of my daughters life. However when my wife's water broke on 1/2/24 and we got there the hospital changed their rules the day before. There was no communication beforehand that they had planned on changing their rules or that it had happened. This rule change made it so kids 12 and under aren't allowed in the maternity ward. So he wasn't even allowed to see his mother or meet his baby sister. This also meant that I had to leave because otherwise who would take care of my son at the house and put him to sleep? This change makes it difficult for a younger developing child to process their mother being taken away and their new baby sibling. Not only that but it forces me to decide between being at the hospital with my wife and newborn or taking care of my four year old which feels extremely cruel. The hospital execs state that they are concerned for the health of the pregnant mothers and newborn babies and yet they allow nurses to roam the hallways maskless and coughing. When the mother rings the help bell she is stuck waiting for an hour plus multiple times because "they are busy." The hypocrisy is irritating. Our daughter is born only once and now my wife is alone at the hospital with our daughter while recovering from labor/surgery. This should be one of the happiest times of our lives, instead some people with money and suits made a decision that will impact our memory of this moment forever and possibly have lasting effects on our son.

I would like to note that regardless of this change the delivery team was phenomenal. Everyone was attentive and was on top of their game while working with my wife to deliver our child. If this review was just for their performance and bedside manner I would have given a 5 star rating. However this is a review catered towards a deplorable decision made by the people who spend no time working with the drs, nurses, and staff on the floor everyday. When speaking with a few people they noted how the new rule was problematic and you could tell they weren't happy brining it up by their tone and body language. I truly hope that whoever had a hand in creating these rules will come do some work on the ground with their team and be the ones to deliver the news to...