North Alabama Medical Center — Local services in Florence

This is a very involved story but I’m going to make it short. My wife was admitted to NAMC with a UTI that wasn’t responding to antibiotics at home. She also wasn't eating and constantly vomiting. She was in and out of NAMC four times in the past two months. On her third visit, she was discharged to a nursing and rehab facility. My concern was her eating, the fact she had lost a lot of weight and was extremely weak. I called NAMC and asked if she was eating normally. I was told she was and that a nurse actually watched her eat an entire meal. That was a lie. My wife told me that all she ate was a few spoonfuls of applesauce. There was no way she was going to recover unless she could eat.

Yesterday, I go to see her and she is in a bed with a variable pressure air mattress used to relieve pressure on wounds. She has two that need treatment. That particular mattress uses a constantly running air compressor to inflate the mattress. The first thing she tells me is she can’t stand the noise. She does have very sensitive hearing and this thing running constantly would not allow her to rest. While this is the best treatment, what good is it if it keeps the patient awake. The alternative is to turn her from side to side every few hours, not as good as the mattress but no noise either and she could sleep.

I spoke to one of the nurses and told her she couldn’t sleep with the noise. I was assured they would change her bed. That was a lie.

I go in today and she is in the same bed with the air compressor running. I was talking to her surgeon and asked if we could go somewhere quiet so I could hear him. That’s how noisy the compressor is. I went to the nurses station and asked when the hospital physician would make his round so I could talk to him. They had no idea. I brought up the noise issue and I was told they asked her last night about that and she said it was fine. That was a lie. I asked my wife about that and she told she said no such thing and repeated that the noise was driving her crazy.

Back to the nurses station and the nurse said she would talk too my wife. She did, my wife complained about the noise and the nurse said “She only complains when you’re in the room”. I answered “Isn’t that convenient for you”. Yes, I got angry, raised my voice and the nurse objected. I told the nurse I’ll leave and you talk to her. I was lied to again that my wife said she was fine with the noise, but the nurse added they would change the bed only because I asked them too. I won’t know if they did until I return this evening.

By some strange fate, my dear friend Brigitte went to NAMC on my insistence she had to do something about the problem she was having walking. Now my friend and wife are both at NAMC. I saw Brigitte Monday night and she told me she was felling very bad and felt very dirty and was never bathed. She felt she was being neglected and that no one really cared how she felt or how dirty she was. The next day, Brigitte was transferred to Critical Care just a few rooms away from my wife. I couldn’t see her because she went into cardiac arrest four times. The last time was fatal and she died that evening.

There are some very good people at NAMC that really do care about the patients. You can tell by the way they talk to you and the patients. Then you have a good number of nurses who have the attitude that patients who need more than a cup of water and a few words are just a nuisance that interrupts them from enjoying work. I’ve seen the same thing at Helen Keller where a few rotten apples ruin the good work most of the staff does and sully the reputation of the hospital. Just imagine being told “Your wife only complains when you’re in the room”. What a cover...

My mom has been in and out of the hospital since the fall of last year with the majority of those stays being at NAMC. Dr. Baron and Dr. Felix Morris have been by her side and checked in on her during every admission. She’s been on 44/4500 a couple of those admissions, but mainly on 54/5500 which is where she is right now. I can’t explain the gratitude that I have for every care partner, respiratory therapist, OT/PT, nurse, and doctor that has taken care of her. Brittney & Alice, she always loves to joke with when she is on 44/4500. They are always so good at keeping a smile on her face while getting her to do the things she is supposed to be doing. It’s been a minute since she has been on the 4th floor, so I can’t remember all the nurses she has had. I definitely remember Lawrence on admission one night. He was so patient and calm with her & really eased her anxiety. On her last admission, she had some care champion cards made out, but I don’t know exactly what the girls did, but they must of made an impression on her when she was in 5513. Allison, Tabetha M., Whitney, and Elizabeth M. Whatever you girls did, she was real appreciative of you. I’m thankful for all her hospitalists and residents. Dr. Kyei, Prutha and all the residents on that team in early July/late June took such good care of mom. Team A with Dr. Kundu is working with her this time & again, I am impressed! Dr. John Morris, Chasity Beane NP, Dr. Felix Morris had her in early June when we got her lung cancer diagnosis & I can’t love and be grateful for them enough. Dr. Monahgan and his nurses at the clinic have been wonderful. They check on her often & make sure I have what I need. I wish I could remember the girl’s names that call me. Danyell and Linda on 54/55 have really made an impression on me, I will say. They have been like my mom’s little besties and just taken her under their wing and given her the extra love and attention that she needs. It has helped me feel okay staying home with my family and not staying at the hospital so much while she has been admitted. NAMC holds a special place in my heart. I am so grateful for everyone that has taken care of my mom. Thank you & I apologize because I know there are more names that I don’t know and need to mention.

I had to come back and add.. the ER! I have had some doozy experiences in the past with the ER and not just NAMC’s, but mom has been in the ER 4 times, I believe since February & they have been wonderful. Honestly, some of the doctors need to work on their bedside manner, but the nurses.. she has had the most compassionate and detailed oriented nurses I have ever seen in the ER every time. They are truly the backbone of our ER & admin should be proud. I want to say her early June admission, she had a little & sweet nurse that was very pregnant, but never skipped a beat on taking care of her and keeping me updated. Her admission in early July/late June.. I was late getting in the room and it was shift change was going on but the night nurse let me give her the rundown on what was going on and within no time, they were in the room to cath her and immediately got 900 ml of urine out. Mom had been retaining her urine and had a 13 pound weight gain in less than a week. I don’t remember their names, but maybe you can go back in mom’s chart and look to see who was assigned to her. My mom is M. Goodman & she and I are very grateful for all the care she...

My husband had pre-ops here today. We had a great experience from the minute we walked in the building. Traci, the RN who went over the procedure and took his information and Kyle, who did the lab work, were both AMAZING. They treated us with the utmost respect and care.

Sept. 10, 2025 Edit We’ve spent 18 days, over 2 separate visits, in the hospital following some complications my husband had following his surgery and I just have to say the in-patient care we have been given on the 5th floor has been EXCEPTIONAL!!! Everyone has been so kind, professional and treated us with nothing but respect. There are a few who have gone above and beyond during this difficult time:

Dr. MITCHELL, you are the G.O.A.T. I can never thank you enough for the exceptional way you take care of my sweetheart. I will forever be indebted to you for seeing him through all of his trials.

During our first week we were in room 5206 and Kaylie, Jenna and Summer were ROCK STAR nurses. They went above and beyond to see all our needs were met and gave us the highest quality of care. Thanks, ladies.

When we returned for our second visit, we were in room 5414 and OMGoodness, these ladies are the BEST!!!

ANGELA-I’ve never seen anyone who can be so businesslike and go to the mountaintop to get what is needed for her patients the way you do. Then in a split second, you take the time to sit down and discuss procedures with us, like we’re the only patients you have to take care of. Thank you for all you did to help us during this difficult time.

DANA-Gosh, I feel like I’ve known you forever and we only had you as our nurse one day. I told my husband when you walked out of our room…”That lady could easily be my BFF”. You made us feel important and explained everything that was happening in a way my kindergarten teacher brain could understand. Keep doing what you’re doing, sweet lady!!!

CHELSEY-What a sweet spirited young lady you are. Your smile lit up the room and you treated my husband with such care and grace…a trait not too many young people seem to have these days. You have a very bright future ahead in nursing.

LORI, our care partner. Thank you for going above and beyond for every little thing we asked for, and then some. We greatly appreciate all you did for us.

GENEVA from housekeeping. You are a true example of the Biblical definition of “Do everything you do as if you’re doing it for the Lord.” Your sweet smile was as bright each morning as the floors you kept sparkling in our room. Be blessed, sweet lady.

LISA-our night nurse. If Dr. Mitchell is the G.O.A.T of doctors, then you have earned that title as an RN. I can truly say we would never have made it through this without you. The compassion and respect you showed my sweetheart, especially on those difficult Sundowner nights did not go unnoticed. I wish I knew the names of the other ladies who helped you on the “night from hades”, but God bless their sweet souls. You treated Tony exactly like I would imagine you treating your own father, and I am grateful. I don’t know a whole lot about the Daisy Award, but I will be researching and nominating you, asap. Thank you just doesn’t seem like enough. We will miss you. ...