Dignity Health Chandler Regional Medical Center — Local services in Chandler

I'm finally able to share this after a few months of grief. Our experience at Chandler Regional Medical Center overall was okay. It could have been better than okay and bordered on "good" (though nobody wants to spend time at a hospital, and no hospital is without its shortcomings) had it not been for one major oversight on my grandmother's final day alive.

I won't get into the full details, but I will say this; two physicians, a nurse, a family member, and my grandmother all had a meeting the morning of her death to discuss what the natural progression of the day would be, as she'd made the decision not to continue her fight to live (and, my God, she'd fought so hard). It was agreed upon between the 5 of them that family would be called to the hospital to have final conversations before they'd make her "more comfortable" and then allow her body to naturally shut down.

I was the first one to arrive, joining my family member & grandmother. Quite literally as I walked into her room, the nurse (one of the three medical professionals who was present for the earlier conversation and agreement of how things would move forward that day) pushed comfort drugs into her system (I remember the two in particular she gave her, long before it was time and essentially going against her final wishes. She was also still on life support at this time as the rest of the family had not arrived). Confused, I asked my family member if her status/condition had changed or something since the conversation, trying to reason in my mind why the nurse would do that. The response was a resounding "No, her status has not changed and her condition has not worsened since the meeting." When we turned to the nurse for an explanation, she responded with "Oh, I didn't want her to start talking too much." My confusion only increased, as her speaking to us would have been the entire purpose (it should be noted that she was communicating clearly that morning, despite being on a breathing machine).

Later we were visited by the head charge nurse, who said "Well, if I had seen her struggling, I probably would have done it the same." I wanted to say right then and there "Not only is that NOT the reason your nurse gave, but it goes against what my grandmother wished to happen," but could not give my energy to the situation as holding my grandmother's hand was all that mattered at the time. (Furthermore, just days before, we'd made it clear to staff that any dosing of that type of medication was to be made known immediately prior to administration for consent. In other words, any dispensation of said drugs was to be announced and cleared beforehand).

Many of the staff at Chandler Regional Medical Center are diligent, conscientiousness, caring, mindful, intentional, considerate, and overall good at what they do. I am so grateful for the ones who cared for our loved one, heart, competence and professionalism forward.

But, at a time in which our otherwise resilient, inspiring and tenacious matriarch was nearing the end of her life, certain things stay with those left behind. For me, that is wondering what my grandmother would have said to me had she been given the chance. Instead, she gazed up at me just as I walked into her room before slipping into sleep from what she was given. Edit: I forgot to add that one of the physicians did return to her room after the incident, agreed that it was not what had been agreed upon, and said he'd have a talk with the nurse himself, which we did appreciate. In that manner at least, it was acknowledged and addressed.

It's taken me months to be able to write this, but I felt it important to share...

What an absolutely god awful place. On January 21st 2025 I came to the ER reluctantly because the urgent care could not help me. I was experiencing a huge amount of pain after pulling something in my back. I was also barely able to move or walk but I made it there in hopes of being seen. They placed me in a tent and I waited for approximately 2.5 hours to be seen by a PA who immediately diagnosed me with sciatica. They said I could stay for an x ray but it would take another 2 to 3 hours. They gave me a toradol shot, ibuprofen and some lidocaine patches and told me to wait in my room to see how I felt after. After 45 minutes I told them I didn't feel much better and they said that's all they can do. They gave me a referral for an orthopedist and neurologist and sent me on my way. At no point was any billing or service charges explained or offered. I received a bill in the mail about a month later for a staggering $2300 for that idiotic visit. My insurance had paid $1500 so now it was up to me for the remaining $800. I immediately wanted a copy of my itemized bill and they do not provide this easily. You have to send in a Hippa authorization to release records to yourself and even this was not a smooth process. The fax number they have did not work so I had to mail it in. I checked after 2 weeks and they had still not received it. I gave it another 2 weeks and still nothing. At this point I realized I will have to go into the hospital to get my records so I did. I was floored to see the amounts they charged for the basic services I got. On every level they overcharged me by 2 to 3 times the normal rate for the area. I was able to look all of this up online. I called their business dept to discuss this and they do not negotiate. They do not care at all what you have to say. I told them repeatedly I can't pay the full bill and that the bill is bogus anyway because of the ridiculous overcharging. I asked to speak to a supervisor and after 5 days I finally got ahold of one which told me they can't do anything. They advised me to file a dispute over the charges which I did. I faxed and mailed it in going into great detail about how they were charging far more than they should be according to fair health consumer cost lookup. I even attached printouts for them. A few weeks ago by and I hear nothing so I call only to be told they got the message and closed the dispute. What an absolute joke. These people are predators. I will never step foot in their hospital again. What's insane is if you're below the poverty line they will completely forgive the amount but if you're over it then there's absolutely nothing they will do for you. I hate this place, they are evil. Not only was the level of care completely inadequate but then they have the balls to charge me 3 times more than they should be charging. Go somewhere else I beg you, this place could...

Hi, I visited the Maricopa location yesterday for an appointment at 12:15. I was very ill and wanted to be tested for the flu Covid and strep throat since I am going out of town on Tuesday. I had the tests done on me with no prior information. I was told to wait 15 minutes for the results when the doctor came in, he said all three tests were negative. I said “oh wow that’s great news!”And he said well, it would be except for “the new tests that we use suck” he then went on to tell me that he was told that if a patient is presenting with certain symptoms that look like for example, the flu then go ahead and treat them for the flu. He also said that if it walks like a duck talks like a duck it’s probably a duck. So if I had known this information prior, I would not have gotten the test and saved myself $100 since I am cash paying, but I was not given this information because I would’ve A: gone somewhere else to be tested or B: like I said prior for gone the testing if they’re just gonna simply go off of symptoms like the doctor had said. Now I did not feel well and I just wanted to get home and get back into bed but the more I have had time to think about this it doesn’t feel right that I would be charged for something that someone is not confident in and they’re basically throwing out the window and going off of symptoms not the actual test. So my request is that I get my $100 back. I do not have a problem paying for things that are legit and conclusive, but the doctor made me feel like they were a waste of time and money since the change of tests was made.

So that was my first issue. My second issue is the nurse who I first came in contact with I do not know the gentleman‘s name. He commented on my long acrylic nails and then he proceeded to say how dirty they must be and he can’t imagine what’s underneath them. I explained to him (I shouldn’t have to explain this in the first place) that I wash them very well with soap, hot water and use a brush to really clean them well and then he started to protest with me. “Well, nurses can’t have them so how clean are they really??” He then said since I had my son with me anything that was under my Nails I might pass on to my son who would then go to school and pass it on to other people? He was very unprofessional and I kept my cool again because I don’t feel well and I just wanted to see a doctor not be given crap about my nails, which is not his place. He also was alluding to the fact that I was dirty and I don’t care if he doesn’t like acrylic nails or not it’s not his place to say anything about anybody’s appearance ever. I would really like to have these two issues handled promptly. We have been to the Maricopa urgent care many times me, my son and my husband have never had this quality of care issue. We have always had a great experience but yesterday was really...