La Palma Intercommunity Hospital — Attraction in La Palma

On July 26, 2022 I noticed my sister had, what appeared to be, bug bites on her upper arm and I immediately brought this to the attention of her convalescent hospital staff. About a week later she developed a rash that began to spread over her entire back and the rear of her arms with spotty bruising progressively developing over her arms, chest and neck. On Tuesday, August 19, 2022 I asked the convalescent hospital to transfer my sister to UCI Medical Center or St. Judes Hospital. Both hospitals were at capacity and without my knowledge or consent, the ambulance took my sister to La Palma Intercommunity Hospital. I met two doctors on the day my sister was admitted - Dr. Anoofhiraven Hami (Attending Physician) and Dr. Marvi Iqbai (Dermatologist) who both immediately dismissed my sister’s condition as simply a heat rash caused by too much time spent in her bed and wheelchair with the bruising being caused by the transfer from her bed to wheelchair. I tried to show them both photos of the progression of the rash and bruising. They impatiently viewed a few but really didn’t care to see them. In fact, it seemed as if I was almost irritating them trying to show them these photos and provide some context. I could tell they were both rather insulted that I would question their (snap) judgment/diagnosis. I tried to explain to them that I see her seven days a week and have watched this spread across her body and worsen day by day. The Dermatologist snapped at me that “I suggests you take your sister back to your dermatologist” and that was that. The Attending Physician clearly had made his mind up and when I respectfully disagreed with his (knee jerk) diagnosis responded to me in a sharp and perturbed tone of voice that “ It doesn’t matter what you think… I’m the doctor!“ A day or two after admission, the results of the biopsy at my personal dermatologist had taken a week or so earlier arrived showing that my sister had been diagnosed with Scabies Mites (a highly-contagious, intensely itchy skin condition caused by a tiny, burrowing mite.) I happened to be in the room with my sister when Dr. Hami made his rounds that day hoping to quickly discharge my sister back to her convalescent hospital and I had to inform him (as he clearly hadn’t read my sister’s chart) that my dermatologist had diagnosed my sister with Scabies Mites. I could see that this diagnosis surprised him but of course he wouldn’t admit that he was wrong in his original diagnosis. This should be a lesson for both of these doctors not to make such quick decisions. It should be noted that Scabies Mites only explains the rash portion of my sister‘s symptoms. Her massive bruising remains undiagnosed.

Over the last 40 years in caring for my sister, I have had many many experiences in hospitals / emergency rooms, convalescent hospitals, doctor appointments, etc. interacting with a multitude of doctors and I can honestly say that I have never experienced anything remotely approaching the level of rudeness and arrogance which I encountered with these two doctors. I truly believe that La Palma Intercommunity Hospital needs to provide remediation training to both of these doctors. Their dismal bedside manner, snap diagnosis and lack of compassion is simply astounding.

On a positive note, I want to say that there are two nurses who provided outstanding oversight and compassionate care to my sister - Taylor Johnson and Dawn McGee-Routt. Additionally, I greatly appreciate a third nurse who took it upon herself (on her own time) to research what could be causing my sister’s worsening condition - Charge Nurse Syntia Alcantar. These three individuals deserve to be commended and I owe them all a debt of gratitude. Lastly, I would like to say that Joy (not sure of her last name) in Case Management was very pleasant and efficient.

Although I will make sure that none of my family and friends ever use this hospital again, I do hope that this review will help you avoid experiencing a...

I’m so disappointed with la Palma Hospital, the supervisors (Buffy de Luna and Lilian) and especially with the Doctor Rachelle J. Douglass). The Nurse, Doctor and supervises were very rude and very unprofessional. It was long horrible experience. I went to the emergency room on 10-6-2017 because my little daughter had a insect inside her ear, and the moment Dr Rachelle arrived I noticed she was in a hurry and angry. She checked her ear and told me she didn’t see anything but wax and then she left so I took the mediscope and checked my daughters ear again but she came back and shouted at me “What are you doing!” So I said (I want to make sure the insect is gone). After she started to try to take the wax out and my daughter starting screaming in pain. She stopped for a bit and then continued again only this time my daughter started crying. Right then I asked her If I can do it instead and she told me “let me do my job!” and she continued to try to clean my daughters ear. My daughter kept crying so i told her be more carful, and she told me “I know what I’m doing” and grabbed the stick continued to try to clean her ear very roughly. It got the point where it was just to painful that my daughter couldn’t take it anymore and asked her to please stop. However the Dr ignored her and instead grabbed my daughters head with her hand and put the stick inside her ear more harder. So i intervened and told her to stop touching my daughter. After that my daughter was in shock and with a lot pain so I told the Dr. to go to school again and you don’t deserve to be a Doctor. I stated that i was going to another hospital but before my daughter and i could leave the room the Dr got in front of the door and blocked us from leaving. She told me to wait and to let her try again but i refused and shouted at her “if something happens to my daughters ear it is going to be your fault.” Shortly after that i went to the front desk and asked for the full name of the Dr and supervisors. I called the supervisor and she told me she was going to call me on Monday. A few moments later my daughter started to vomit in the car, this only scared me more. I was trying to go to another hospital but my daughter told me “ please don’t take me home I’m scared, take me home please”. Still frightened and traumatized from that experience so decided to take her home instead and give her Motrin for the pain. The next day I asked her how she felt and she told me I have pain still felt a lot of pain in her ear and that she felt like she was on an airplane. I ended up calling called the other supervisor and she tell me “oh I’m sorry, I’m going to call you on Monday ok, if she still have pain take her to the hospital.” It is now 10-14-2017 and nobody has called me. My daughter no longer feels any pain but she says she still cant hear well. I want the Hospital do something about the incident that happened with my daughter and to take disciplinary action towards the supervisors for ignoring my complaint and refusing to help me resolve this problem. Especially with Dr Rachelle J Douglas for hurting my daughter and leaving her this horrible...

This place will do in a pinch, but if you can avoid it, please go to another hospital. I've been here numerous times for various emergency situations and I've been admitted more times than I would like to remember.

I'm a dialysis patient and my dialysis clinic is located right across the parking lot from La Palma Intercommunity Hospital. In the event of an emergency, the paramedics will rush me here so the ER staff can stabilize me and determine whether I need further care.

The treatment I've received has been hit or miss. I can never really tell what it's going to be like from visit to visit. There was a time when my blood pressure was out of control (200/100 +) and the attending physician was taking her sweet time getting around to me. I could've had a stroke, but she didn't seem concerned.

My brother was visiting with me and overheard that same doctor making fun of a man visiting the patient across from me. Apparently, she found it amusing that this person, who spoke English as a second language, was trying to communicate that he was worried that his relative might have suffered a brain injury. Maybe there was nothing to be concerned about, but I don't think it's right to be mocking anyone for trying to ensure the safety of someone they love.

In fact, that same doctor kicked my brother out when he tried to motivate her to take my case seriously. I will admit my brother wasn't very polite, but given the circumstances, I think most people would have lost their cool.

After having my brother removed she finally ordered the meds I needed to get my BP under control. I don't even want to imagine what could have happened had my brother not stepped in to bring my case to the doctor's attention (and I thank God for giving me a brother who has been there to advocate for me during my times of need).

The horror stories continue when I've been admitted to the hospital as well. Typically sheets and gowns are to be changed everyday, but I recall when my linens and gown weren't changed for up to three days. Furthermore, there was an instance when I requested a breathing treatment because I was feeling short of breath (I have asthma). When I contacted the receptionist at the nurses station he told me that they would send a respiratory therapist. When the RP didn't show up I tried calling the nurses station again. Long story short, the respiratory therapist never came.

I've had some great nurses and doctors here as well (and this review is by no means a reflection of them), but those few people and experiences haven't been the norm.

I try avoid this hospital if I can. I will even cut my dialysis treatments short to drive myself home or straight to another hospital. I'm sure this place isn't all bad and no hospital is perfect. However, because I have regularly experienced poor treatment here, I would highly suggest you go to another...