Cleveland Clinic Emergency Room — Attraction in Cleveland

I would like to share my experience as a cautionary tale for others. After enduring several months of unresolved medical issues that local hospitals were unable to diagnose, my family and I decided to seek care at the Cleveland Clinic, as my condition had deteriorated to the point where even standing for short periods was challenging.

Upon our arrival, I was greeted by a compassionate nursing staff and a physician assistant who reassured us that traveling to Cleveland Clinic was a wise decision and that they would work to identify my medical issues. After a long 12-hour drive, I was settled into the ER, where I briefly nodded off before being attended to by Dr. James Sauto Jr., MD.

Unfortunately, my interaction with Dr. Sauto was disheartening. He began our conversation with the question, "What are you doing here?" and proceeded to question both my mother and me for about ten minutes regarding our decision to seek care at the clinic. He mentioned that he sees several patients like me daily, suggesting that such cases should be handled by local hospitals. When I attempted to explain the misdiagnoses I had received from my local healthcare providers, and wanting to seek the best care possible which is what the clinic is know for, he shifted the focus to whether I had specialist visits that day scheduled which he knew was not the case and continued to belittle my concerns. That the Cleveland clinic was not there for everyone to travel to for medical attention. That was a pipe dream and unfortunately he was the person who was going to show me reality.

The situation escalated to the point where my mother became visibly upset, and Dr. Sauto responded insensitively, dismissing her tears by stating it was simply due to exhaustion and suggested she get some sleep. He concluded the encounter by remarking that he was sorry to be the one to "ruin fairy tales.".

Not only was he disrespectful but he made sure that neighbors heard his message as he spoke arrogantly and loudly leaning back in his chair with his legs crossed. He was absolutely a bully leaving my mother and myself questioning what we did to deserve such terrible traumatic treatement when we are desperately seeking medical help. Attacking someone in their weakest moment.

This experience left us feeling disrespected and discouraged at a time when we were seeking help. I hope that sharing my story can help others make informed decisions about their healthcare journeys. It was repeated many times during my stay at the clinic that travelers are more or less not wanted. They will do the minimum to ensure your stable and ship you back out. So if you have hope to go to the clinic to get answers you couldn't find elsewhere Dr Sauto has a different vision for...

Went with my husband for his sudden severe migraine with concerning new symptoms. Waited 3 hours and then left after witnessing how they handled a man passing out in the waiting room bathroom. While the care team arrived quickly, 2 out of 3 nurses demanded repeatedly that he be searched for his ID and insurance prior to receiving any care or being placed on the stretcher. Only one nurse was actually tending to him and said “the priority is getting him off the floor, we can find his ID later.” They did eventually get him on the gurney and admit him, albeit while actively searching him for means to document and charge him. Talk about a literal cash-grab. Gross. I hope their level of care is as good as strong as their policy enforcement, for his sake.

If you’re reading this, I bet you are unwell and are quickly trying to find a decent hospital in this region. Somehow, there isn’t one — and I’m visiting from a rural area out west where healthcare is sparse and standards are extremely low.

Your best bet at the time of writing this (December 2024) is Metro up in Lyndhurst. Their website has a list of accepted insurances. They have the fewest bad reviews and are sitting at 3.4 stars total, and I had an ok experience with them a month ago. I might also consider broadening the search to hospitals within a 60 minute drive since you’ll be waiting at least that long anyway. Good luck,...

This review is for the ER check in woman. What a miserable nasty rude disposition this woman has. Did she forget people are sick. Tells my mom to do registration online. It says her information isn't correct.. when it is. I ask the woman and she treated me worse than a McDonald's employee and said they would.. WELL THEY ALREADY DID AND MY MOM WAS GETTING HER BLOOD WORK DONE. so now we sit here with no idea what's going because you hired a disgruntled employee who doesn't want to work.. that's amazing. It's really bad when I'm not an employee and I have to say your employee to speak nicely there is no reason to speak to me poorly...