Piedmont Augusta — Local services in Augusta

This is by far the WORST ER I have ever been to. The wait time and bed side manners that the ER nurses/Drs have is terrible. I know that everyone (including the Drs and staff) has bad and good days. But this is the 3rd bad experience that I have had with this particular dept. The Hospital itself is not bad, but the ER dept. is terrible. With that said, let me explain what happened... My Dad was diagnosed less than 2 weeks ago with stage 3 lung cancer. He was admitted to DH a week prior to his cancer diagnosis, due to having extreme low sodium. DH did every test that you can possibly think of to try to rule out what was causing him to have hyponatremia. After having a chest x ray, they concluded that he had a tumor in his lungs which turned out to be stage 3 small cell carcinoma, which was causing the low sodium. After some what stabilizing his sodium levels, they d/c him and he was told to follow up with his Oncologist to discuss further treatment for his cancer and that they would keep an eye out on his sodium level as well. His Oncologist ended up admitting him to UH 2 days after being d/c from DH because his sodium levels had dropped again. He was at UH for about 5 days and was d/c on 8/4/19. Around 9 pm that same day, his body temp. dropped from 98.1 to 93.6. But within 30 minutes, it went back to the normal temp. rang. In disbelief of the number I just saw, I went to the store and bought a new thermometer to make sure it was an accurate reading. We waited about an hour and took it again and it said that his temp. was 94, so it had dropped again. After using 2 different thermometers multiple times and it reading almost the same temp, I called the Oncologist on call, who instructed us to go back UH. After waiting for what felt like forever for him to be brought back, I explained to the nurse what was going on when he was finally in a room. When the Dr came in (Dr. Matthew Rudy), he spoke with my Dad for less than 5 min and ordered him to have an EKG, Chest X Ray and UA. I was confused as to why he ordered those test since he already had all three of those done less than 2 weeks ago. Not to mention, the Hospital did a UA the morning before he was discharged which was the same day he was seen at the ER. When I politely asked the Dr, he said "I'm ordering this because he has lung cancer. It could have gotten worse." I said "Yes sir I understand that, but DH just did the same scans less than two weeks ago and he is being treated for his cancer. Y'all have those records because he was just here this morning. The cancer is not the concern that brought him back in, it was his low temp. He replied in a VERY stern voice, " You brought him in my ER because you thought this was urgent enough to bring him in on a Sunday night instead of waiting a few hours to have his Primary evaluate him. Therefore, since I am his Dr, I can order any test/scan I want to." I replied back and said, " I did not bring him in by choice. We were instructed to." He then rolled his eyes at me and gave me a rude look and walked out. He couldn't give me a legit reason as to why he wanted to order the same scans/test that he already had done because he knew that I was aware of what he was doing. It's disgusting that some "Drs," such as Dr. Rudy have more focus on the money aspect of an ER visit, than to actually treat the patient for what is needing to be treated. After 10 hrs and only seeing the Dr twice, we left there with no answer. NONE. The only thing he did was re-diagnose my Dad with what we already knew. This is the 2nd bad experience that I have had with this particular Dr. I went to the ER a few months back for possible pneumonia and was coughing up blood. Even then, I felt overlooked and felt like he was ordering unnecessary scans/test but I assumed he was just having a bad day, but I was wrong. He is by far the worst Dr I have ever seen and I refuse to let myself or anyone I care about be treated at this ER. I am very disappointed wit the ER Dept. at this Hospital, especially with UH being the "highest rated Hospital in...

I’ll give it to you straight. We didn’t have to wait in the waiting room which was a plus, but I think it was just the time of day we went. (last time (2 years ago) was an 8 hour wait before being seen). The staff were super friendly, and I would like to highlight the most friendly nurses Angie and Tiffany on the 7th floor. Thank you both for being so genuinely caring and friendly. However, I feel I was rushed out of the hospital after being admitted. I’m glad they admitted me and helped me some, but I feel I was released way too early and was rushed out the door when I didn’t feel ready or well enough yet. Doctors should normalize listening to patients and their needs. I was admitted for c diff and was unable to eat or drink, dehydrated, etc. I was very slowly improving, but I wanted to at least be able to start eating solid food before I was released. They didn't even keep track of how I was doing with eating or drinking. The only time I drank while I was there was to take pills. That’s it! They released me after only one night in the hospital. Last time I had c diff (2 years ago), they kept me an entire week until I told them I felt ready to leave.. so I feel they have gone downhill since my last stay. My doctor was Dr. Sharma this time, and last time was Dr. Sookdieopersod. I wish she would have been my doctor again this time, she went above and beyond for me last time. I’m unable to recover as well at home due to lack of food options, being unable to cook right now, and am expected to try to take care of my kids upon my return, I really really needed to get my strength back before they released me. Also, that same morning my sugar dropped to almost critical level. They pumped me full of sugar and STILL chose to release me. When I got home, I quickly realized I could hardly walk without falling and was severely off balance. Even the discharge person said they were surprised I was being released that soon considering my sugar drop. I get they need beds for others, but patients should NOT be rushed out and dumped off like a bag of garbage especially when they are not ready to leave and are in need of further care to ensure successful recovery. That was rude. Don’t even get me started on the rooms. The first room we were put in didn’t have lights in the bathroom or the shower, the bed controls didn’t work on the inside so I couldn’t even adjust my bed, the plug ins on that side of the room didn’t work, and the hand sanitizer dispenser did not work. I was moved to another room, and that room didn’t even have a shower but also the hand soap dispenser didn’t work. With the infection I had, it’s EXTREMELY important to be able to wash my hands with soap after using the bathroom. I also desperately needed a shower. I was then moved to a third room, and they put me in the smallest room I had ever seen in a hospital with nurse commenting “I’ve never been in this room before” and they couldn’t even hardly get my bed to fit in there. My IV stand kept getting stuck behind stuff when I’d try to go to the bathroom, and I’d have to fight to try to get it out (which is so lovely when you don’t feel well). That’s how small that room was. But at least everything worked except the light controls from the bed (of course). And at least they did give me the meds I needed and gave me fluids. I was better than where I started, but by no means where I should have been upon discharge. Debating on trying Doctors if there is a next time, as they have much better reviews. I am a little disappointed in Piedmont this time around. Two years ago, my stay was excellent and would have been a 4 or 5 star review. This time I was debating between 2 or 3, but I chose 3 because they did help me, and so do appreciate that despite all the...

Rather this hospital was named University or Piedmont the Hospital Service Treatment overall H O R R I B L E ! I HIGHLY encourage to take your FAMILY to another hospital for NON-EMERGENCY and EMERGENCY. My relative was taken to this hospital for Heart Issues and Pain. From Thursday til Present NOONE has been able to give us a DIRECT answer as to what is going on or what is being performed. During this stay we have endured my relative BLOOD PRESSURE cuff OFF of their ARMS for a LONG PERIOD OF TIME. The cuff been off for so long that it was inflated with air. I went to the nurses station that stays EMPTY to see exactly HOW my relative is being monitored for the continuous HIGH blood pressure if the CUFF is NOT on the arm with ASSUMPTION I ASSUMED that maybe new technology provided them a way to keep track but the NURSE that wasn't assigned but was nice to help stated that I was correct that if the cuff was not on then there was no reading of the blood pressure please note the assigned nurse STILL did not make themselves present. We have been told by MULTIPLE people various DIAGNOSIS and none seemed to be deemed TRUE or could not be verified accurate from any other on coming shift nurse or doctor. I was told by my relative they suffered from a mild heart attack that morning again there wasn't any called placed to neither party listed as emergency contact or on hippa (I.E ME!). During my visit with my relative as I go to look for a nurse to ask a question regarding their common area downstairs I proceed to the nurse station that was EMPTY with LIGHTS OUT and no NURSE available. which prompt my curiosity of questions "How is my relative being cared for ? How are the staff in known of something going wrong with any one on the floor if no one is available?" I was assisted by wonderful PCA who contact the assigned nurse to the room. NURSE THERESA white frail older woman came walking I ASKED her name and proceeded to ask if I could speak with her she told be that she was busy and will get to me when she get to me. I asked the PCA to contact someone above her to assist and that I was NOT FOND of her attitude and id not want her care for my relative. THERESA interjected and stated she would contact the nurse and security .( didnt understand why) when no confrontation was given just a simple request to have a few questions to be answered. NURSE VICKY black older woman who stated she was over THERESA attempted to assist but she was VERY nonchalant she has a habit of TALKING AT your and not TOO YOU. I asked for the assigned nurse information and hospital contact to file complaint it was a repeated rebuttal from NURSE VICKY and continuous remarks made she stood and stared as of no one was talking . She came back with a number and old hospital name security and several nurses. With NO needed help and no aggression security and nurses felt the need to follow me and make continued remarks childish, unprofessional and need proper security training. I understand the world we live in and we are still recovering from years of covid but that does not EXCUSE the nonchalant , negligence and lack of morals your job would stand for . WE bring our families for PROPER care not MISTREATMENT from STAFF OR TEMPORARY SECURITY! if you dont want the 12 hour shift stay at HOME and let someone who care for their job do the PROPER WORK ! IF you love your family members please take them to DOCTORS even AU ! DONT LET YOUR INSURANCE PAY THESE PEOPLE if you know your treatment and care was horrible and wrong . i hope this review helps the next person that deciding where to take there family for care i hope not PIEDMONT , UNIVERSITY whatever they want to...