Corewell Health Pennock Hospital Emergency — Local services in Hastings

I recently visited Pennock Hospital due to illness related to Covid-19 and was forced to leave by their Manager (who was exceptionally rude to me) for asking questions related to my care. I waited for over an hour before the doctor came to see me even though only two other patients were there behind seen (it's a small hospital). The doctor looked me over for 1 minute and then promptly left after stating they would administer a Covid test [the dr. stated they couldnt afford the rapid tests so I had to get the 72 hr one, not a good sign]. Another half hour passes before I am seen again, but only to be given discharge paperwork and nothing else. At this point I was not given any prognosis or treatment options other than "suspected Covid 19 infection" and was told I was being discharged. I had previous to this requested a note from the doctor explaining my visit to give to my employer as a result of my absence. However, the note only stated that I was seen for care that day and literally nothing else related to WHY I was there that day. When I asked the nurse to speak to the doctor in regards to this unsatisfactory note that explains nothing in regards to my care, sypmtoms, or related illness, I was instead greeted by their Hospital Manager. I explained to her that this doctors note said nothing of my illness or even that I was suspected of being infected with Covid-19. She then stated that, "We dont make those kinds of notes". I then further explained to her that this note will not be satisfactory for my employer to excuse my absence because there was nothing on it mentioning anything about my condition or the reason for my visit. After making that comment she became alarmingly agitated and asked me to leave and that if I didn't go now I would be escorted out by security. Now, I had never raised my voice to anyone, I had never made a threat of any kind. I was as calm as one one could be, but I was sick as a dog, and I just wanted to know why I couldnt receive a proper semblance of medical care. After asking for an explanation as to why I couldnt be given a more personalized note she proceeded to call security to my room. Again, I was not acting hostile, or raising my voice, I was just sitting on my hospital bed, still in my hospital gown, freezing from the chills because I wasn't even given a blanket. Again I pressed for an explanation because I just couldn't understand why this question deserved my forced removal from the hospital, but her only response was "If I did that for you I'd have to do it for everyone." Well... shouldn't everyone I thought? Isnt that what individualized health care is all about, the individual? It was clear then to me that despite being sick it was in my best interest to leave. So, I then gathered myself up as best as I could and was promptly escorted off the hospital property. I cannot believe how rude and unprofessional that manager was at Pennock or even why she became so agitated so quickly. I only wish I had been more with it to remember what her name was. I was so sick I could barely walk straight. All I can say for sure is that I will never be going back to Pennock Hospital for medical care in the future. My care was handled completely unprofessionally and it is outrageous to force someone to leave a hospital for asking questions related to their health. I would never recommend going here for care. Avoid...

Update: At my follow-up visit with my GP, it was discovered that my uterus PROLAPSED! Not one provider out of the parade of providers suggested a pelvic exam. I was told my ultrasound showed my uterus was “normal”. I was in excruciating pain and was brushed off by a slew of MALE providers. This is unacceptable. I’m furious that non of them felt that my claims of “it feels like my uterus is falling out” might actually equate to EXACTLY what was happening! Foolish!

Original review: Went to this ER hoping for faster service despite the phone operator telling me they don’t give out estimated wait times before she hung up on me. Bad experience right there. You can say if they are busy or not busy BUT cannot guarantee wait times. Emergency care is based on this information! Horrible policy.

I arrived and was treated like the ER was packed despite the waiting room being empty and every room I saw was empty—staff was gathered around the nursing station talking casually, but the medical assistant helping me was rushing through everything and cutting me off when I was talking. He took my blood pressure NO LESS THAN 6 times and kept repeating “I don’t believe that”. Yes, my BP was high, I was in a ton of pain.

The PA (I believe that was his title) came in and probably had the best bedside manner—but not until I expressed that I felt that I was being glossed over.

They gave me pain meds and THEN asked if I was ok. CT scan, ultrasound—the doctor said everything was “normal” despite sobbing during the ultrasound from pain—the doctor bragged as he walked in the room that he does trainings on these ultrasounds and does them “all the time”.

Then the med asst asked me if I was still in pain and after saying yes he gave me a psychotic med—but when I asked him how to spell it, a worried look came over his face and he asked if I was going to look it up. I explained I was sending it to my sister so she could help advocate for me since I was alone. It wasn’t until THEN that he told me what the med was for.

All three of these male doctors seemed afraid to do anything. I came in saying quite literally “I feel like my uterus is falling out”. No pelvic exam, was told everything was “normal”, and sent home with a referral to follow up with OBGYB.

I called my own GP who did a pelvic exam and found I have a PROLAPSED UTERUS!!!!!!! These guys are just in it for the money or something. I don’t know how they think they are giving any level of decent care if that was my symptom and they never bothered to look. Google it—it’s the first thing that comes up if you search “uterus feels like it is falling out”. If I could give zero stars I would. The pain med they gave me hardly touched the pain and I left without diagnosis.

I hope these guys get a chance to read about how they failed me. They need to leave the ER if they can’t provide basic emergent care and treat pain effectively. I left feeling like...

We pre-registered our Moms for the COVID vaccine. The MyChart experience was about as simple as a healthcare online experience can be. It worked well.

Then yesterday morning, @10 days after we'd registered, first my Mom, then an hour os so later, my wife's Mom were email notified of the vaccine being available by appointment. A minute or two later, and we were booked. Again, it was a simple and effective online process.

We arrived at our appointment, and it was a relative cattle call (for a small-town) of people that reminded me of exiting a baseball stadium, something which I never though I'd miss but after 10 months of this, I realize I do.

But Pennock had it properly and just as important pleasantly staffed, and the entire process was streamlined and a (relatively) pleasant (as it can be) experience. We choose to live here because of the people, the community and everything it has to offer, and Pennock and those in line with us yesterday, certainly delivered once again. We're not Bedford Falls, but we are pretty close to an ideal.

If there was a Pennock staff member who didn't have a mask-smile working with their eyes the entire time we were in line, I didn't see it gone for more than a few seconds. From the person handing out the questionnaires, to the two ladies distributing the information sheets, to the temperature taker, the computer input techs and the IT guy standing in the back, and all of the nurses, Dr. Weatherhead, and Stacia (I'm pretty sure) and Bernie (I read his COO nametag) working the line keeping everyone at ease and just being friendly, it was a really good experience, in trying times and a perfect example of the great fortune Hastings has to be able to have this facility and the people the facility employs there for all us.

Thank you, and see around Feb 23 for the...