Cookeville Regional Medical Center — Local services in Cookeville

Took my husband to ER. He was having pain in his chest. Also white out and almost passing out. They started out trying to find out what was going on by doing many test. They wouldn't do a MRI on his head but because he had leads from a bone stem taken out. Said if they could get a MRI. If they of then they could see if he had a stroke. Both Vanderbilt and VA have no problems on doing MRIs on him. So disappointed in Cookeville. Waited in the ER 22 1/2 hrs to be put in and room. Was going to give him a IV. Wait to start that when he was in a room. Could of started in ER. Also was to start a med, but didn't til morning. They wanted to make sure there were no problems with it. Didn't give til the morning. Told me they would keeping him 24 hrs to watch it. We'll, Just after 11am they were discharging him. Got mad because I wasn't right there and was going to put him in a lounge. I live over a hr away and didn't have much sleep after spend all night in the most uncomfortable chairs and him in a uncomfortable bed. Got upset because he wouldn't leave this room. Told them i had to bring him clothes for i had taken his other home to wash. He told them he wasnt going to sit in a lounge in a gown. They said they needed the room. How is this seeing what it could do. Picked him up and went to get the med at Walgreens. Pharmacies said they had a percreiption for a powder he didn't have. Said it was over $300. I told him is was to be a pill. He said he would call. Went to get some groceries and didn't get any text that it was ready. So went back and he tries calling hospital and no one picked up in there pharmacy. Said to go back to hospital to see if we could get it straightened out. Wait and the lady in the ER wasn't sure what to do and ask the other person. Finally told me to call the hospital and give his name and room he was in. Got hung up white waiting on someone and had to call back. Had to talk to the head nurse. She said looks like someone got the wrong info. Took number she gave me back to the Pharmacies. He call and got there pharmacy. I heard his told the person that he was 99.9 % sure the perception wasn't right. They said some back to him and I heard his tell the what a inconvenience. Finally after spending 4 hrs we got his med and went home. I will take my husband to another hospital next time. Very dissatisfied. Still don't know what going on with...

Everyone was super nice and helpful and apologetic that i came in on Saturday around 2pm and by Sunday morning 8am they still had me from in the hall for hours and finally making it to the pending dept for sitting in a chair the rest of the night. Then finally around 945am Sunday they had a room upstairs ready. I was in a TON of pain because of my chronic issues with my back 4 surgeries, neck am having surgery on it soon.. and having to sit that long was very hard then you add large kidney stones to the equation and yep very painful. Anyway, i knew when i saw Buffy Key was taking over in her position, i knew things were going to be much better than before and i was right! They apparently got rid of all the horrible hateful drs and nurses in the ER and replaced them with caring and very polite understanding drs and nurses! Once i got up on the 6th floor, that was also a great experience. If you could call it that. Meaning the nurses and drs that came to see me, bring me things, do procedures, etc. Were all so nice and helpful and well human for a change. When i got in the ambulance Saturday they asked me which hospital i knew i was going to regret but i said crmc. I say that because for the last several times I've been to crmc has been the worst experience ever! But I'm so glad i was pleasantly surprised at how professional yet human every one was. It's nice to have the 2 of those things together. Very nicely done crmc. The only reason i gave a 4 was because being put in the hall, then in a chair for hours sharing a small space with someone you don't know and they're hearing all your info as the nurses call it all out while they're asking your name dob, etc. I wasn't comfortable knowing this guy next to me could have been writing all my info for all i knew. That and the long waits are the reason for the 4. It's s huge hospital there should be more space to put people than in the hall and in chairs. If we have to wait so long and being sick there should be beds at least to be comfortable until they can see you. That was very hard waiting and i almost went home i was hurting so bad but I'm glad i didn't considering my condition and that i needed...

Unfortunately, I cannot give a glowing review. My experience was disappointing and disheartening. On 5/8/25 I met with Maggie Hensley NP in gastroenterology to get scheduled for what I thought and was told would be a preventative colonoscopy. She entered the room with an air of arrogance, opened her tablet and immediately asked about acid reflux. I explained it was no longer an issue since I stopped drinking milk products. She condescendingly stated “ Really?? You just stopped drinking milk and it went away?” Um, ya. I haven’t had an issue since. She proceeded to ask me the standard questions, no blood, no nausea or vomiting, no cramping, no unexplained weight loss. Have your bowel movements changed? I answered honestly yes, in the last three months. I explained how, but added I highly suspected it was due to a different brand of supplements I stared taking about that time and food sensitivity. I added that my last colonoscopy was clear with no problems or polyps. I then clarified with Hensley that she was coding the procedure preventative (which would be covered 100 percent by my insurance). She stated that she was not, she was coding it diagnostic and that I shouldn’t have told her my bowel movements had changed. When I pointed out why I felt they had and that I had no supporting symptoms to warrant a diagnostic procedure she shrugged, stated I could talk to billing to set up a payment plan. When I again pointed out that a diagnostic coding would cost me my deductible plus additional costs out of pocket ($3000 +) when I should be receiving the procedure paid for by insurance (as part of the Affordable Care Act), she again repeated that it was on me, I shouldn’t have said my bowel movements had changed.

That was my first and it will be my last interaction with Cookeville Medical. When repeating my experience in the community, more than one person has been disgusted and asked “What doctor does that?” I can now honestly answer that question. It was made very clear to me that the almighty dollar is far more important than patient care at...