HCA Florida Northwest Hospital — Local services in Margate

My mom was brought to this hospital due to fatigue/lethargy. In the emergency room, the doctor said my mom was a bit dehydrated. They gave my mom a saline drip. She got better (for her). The doctor then said he wanted to admit my mother. What happened next is the worst treatment/behavior I have ever seen in a hospital. This hospital, HCA Florida Northwest located at 2801 N State Rd 7, Margate, FL proceeded to have just about every doctor from every department they could think of show up in my mother's hospital room, plus a host of nurse's and technicians for blood draws, tests, attempt to administer drugs. Remember they said my mother was dehydrated. At one point an infectious disease doctor appeared and a speech pathologist??!! Plus others..gastro, pulmonologist etc. But not the worst part. My mother was held hostage there for 7 days and 6 out of the 7 days, they did not give my mother any food or liquids. Because a speech pathologist was scheduled to see her and apparently they didn't want her to eat or have any fluids until then. The speech pathologist never showed up, but everyone else did (see above). So with all the doctors and nurses making an appearance in my mother's hospital room, not one of them thought this patient at the very least needs some fluids. Or the speech pathologist needs to see this patient within 4 hours. When we wanted to take my mom home on day 2, they told us we couldn't and that they would only release my mom to hospice. The only diagnosis was dehydration though (patients rights?). We didn't want hospice, did not have any interest in hospice, didn't ask about hospice (I live with my mom and the emergency room doctor was told this). All the time though, still taking blood, administering anti-biotics and drugs/medications, doctors still showing up (but not the speech pathologist). Then they gave us a case manager (didn't ask for this either) and a palliative care doctor (useless) pressuring us to choose a hospice. This hospital takes advantage of older patients and I later found out they partner with hospice. As a matter of fact hospice roams the halls of this hospital, looking, seeking, waiting for a referral and this hospital is more than happy to hand patients to them. And hospice pounces. On the day before(or day of) my mother's release I asked a nurse to give my mother a saline drip. She told me she COULDN'T because my mother was released to hospice (the only way we could get my mom out of there). When I asked the hospice nurse if she could give my mother a saline drip, she said hospice doesn't provide saline drips - oh, but I know they can provide a whole lot of drugs for pain and plenty of it. My mother didn't have any pain (I think my mother was just dehydrated). By the time my mother left this place, she didn't even look the same as when she came in. This hospital is bad. Very bad. Very, very bad. I am stunned. I have never experienced anything like this before. Shameful. We brought my mom to Cleveland Clinic (Weston, Fl) and it was completely opposite. I also noticed another older patient that they were doing the same thing, like every 5 minutes a nurse/doctor or technician appeared to run tests, take blood, inform of a procedure and a host of other nonsense. THIS HOSPITAL IS THE GRIM REAPER. BEWARE. Especially if you are an older patient. I don't trust any hospital that partners with hospice. Not the way they do it. It's so bad. They don't have the patients best interest in mind. It has devolved into something sinister. I have been in a hospital twice, I have visited family/friends in hospitals. I have never seen anything like this. I wasn't a patient but I am left scarred by what I saw and can't stop thinking about it. No one wants to see a loved one treated like this. They don't care and they are in the care business the question is what do they care about, because it's not people. @Medicare @JusticeDepartment @Florida Agency for Health Care Administration @U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights @Centers for Medicare &...

I had my surgery at NWMC (outpatient). My surgeons were Dr. Gomez and Dr. Sierra. First and foremost, I’d like to thank my entire care team— the Nurses: Lenni/Leticia (preop), Nicky (postop) and special thanks to Sister Elsamma (Elsa) (postop). And my anesthesiologist Dr. Malco.

Lenni my preop Nurse was great. I am a hard stick and she was able to get not one but two IVs on me on the first try for both. She has a calming demeanor and helped me to relax as much as possible. Thank you soo much!

Nicky, my postop Nurse— thank you for helping me with post op pain and nausea vomiting. I remember the pain and I remember your kind and concerned demeanor. And when the pain was addressed it felt heaven sent. I remember praying through the pain and you telling me how strong I was. Thank you.

Dr. Malco, my Anesthesiologist- you spoke to me like a human being. This was small, but had the biggest impact on me. I had to pee before getting stretchered in the OR. Though a little pushback from the OR Nurse because my bladder would be drained with a straight cath in the OR- you took the time to give me autonomy by disconnecting me from the IV to let me walk myself to the bathroom prior. That small gesture allowed me to relax more and gave me relief. I will always be thankful that you took the time to let me go to the bathroom.

Special thanks to Sister Elsamma (Elsa). Words cannot express the impact you have made on me post operatively. I wish every Nurse, including myself, could be just like you. The world and care for people would be so much better. Thank you. I told you I went to church the day prior and almost broke down. I asked God a tall ask- not only to surround me with His presence, but to show me in physical form. Then I met you as my postop Nurse- a working Nun. You are my testimony and my forever miracle. I truly will practice Nursing in reflection of how you cared for me. I am forever changed by your compassion and care and will love you forever because of it. No one knew the level of apprehension I felt (not my husband or parents). I kept it to myself and trusted God. I thank God answered me with you as my Nurse. Through your patience, my patient experience with severe postop nausea and vomiting and inability the urinate, I never felt like a burden, but a person you carved out time to care for. I felt like you met me exactly where I was and I will forever have gratitude for you.

To my Doctors: Dr. Gomez and Dr. Sierra- I owe each of you a hug for everything I went through and the best of your abilities that you did for me. Grateful for your skillful hands, the team, and the time you took to see me before and after my surgery. Also, thank you for talking to my husband and explaining how everything went (as I was not the only one going through it, but he as well). Most can get lost in the “job” of it all- including myself, but at the end of the day we are caring for someone like us- we all bleed, cry, get scared, feel joy, etc. Thanks for not forgetting there’s a human under a scalpel.

NWMC is doing the right things. From my check in, preop, surgery, postop and the follow up call— I had an incomparable experience. The facility and staff are getting it right. I come from a PACU setting and wish I knew how NWMC operated so I could have suggested changes for improvement at my prior surgery center. I do believe this was a 5⭐️ experience.

(Side note: a medical student following the resident Dr. O’Connell rolled her eyes when I emphasized that she should not be taking part in anything. Please reiterate to students, medical or nursing, that a refusal for their participation has nothing (at times) to do with not wanting them to learn, but may be more complex than they know- don’t take a refusal personal. Take it with grace. The eye roll by this one medical student was in poor...

I went into the Emergency Room on Sunday July 13 around 7pm for extreme pain in my kidneys but also suffering from abdominal cramping. I felt like I was having contractions very similar to birthing pains. (Not pregnant) It was surprisingly busy but I was able to be seen very quickly and everyone was incredibly accommodating and helpful. After some tests I found out I had a kidney stone. I’ve never had one before and knew that I would be needing surgery. They admitted me to Floor 6 room 643 B. I can honestly say at first I was nervous and extremely scared. I’ve never had surgery before and didn’t know what to expect. Every single nurse on my team was prompt, patient, and friendly. Novelette, Cierra, Emmanuel, Natahlie just to name a few, we’re absolute angels. I was seriously impressed by how much they do and deal with every day. This job isn’t for the weak and i was witness to how easy they made everything and they truly deserve all the praise! They spoke and treated me not just as a patient, but as a friend and I'm forever grateful for them! The doctors were amazing as well! Dr. Leon and his team always made their rounds and answered all my questions providing me relief throughout my stay. I will say my fear of surgery really got to me, I almost wanted to leave at one point because of personal matters as my home responsibilities were weighing on me as I didn’t plan on being at the hospital as long as I was, but Novelette was everything I needed at those moments when I needed support. If it wasn’t for her, I would have left and probably would have been worse off with my pain and issue. She reassured me that I would be scheduled that day for surgery and back home immediately to see my kids. She made me feel safe which is HUGE for me since I was so scared being that this was my first surgery. Transport nurse Charlie brought me down to the OR and was incredibly positive and very nice, reassuring me I was in good hands as well. In the OR Maya was assigned to me and I was met with constant communication and comfort. I also met the anesthesiologist and doctor to discuss what to expect from there. I know I was down there for a few and had my surgery and immediately brought back up to my room to be discharged.

I do want to say, the new system with the patient portal is a godsend for patients and their families to have access to updates and information throughout your stay. It really helped me understand everything that was going on and made it easier. I am glad that I was able to use it!! My family even had access to it while I was in surgery to receive updates and it’s just brilliant because it helped answer questions my family had that I couldn’t answer while I was in surgery. I also appreciated the fact the doctor called my family to update them on my surgery and progress for me while I was in the recovery room. The relief I felt after surgery was amazing! I am so incredibly thankful for my entire experience here and Dr. Sachedina did an AMAZING job! Thank you!! I left and received hugs and well wishes from the nurses. Everyone here truly left an impression on me and I would absolutely recommend this hospital again and again. The staff and especially the nurses are really angels. I got to see first hand everything they do and I just want to shout them out for being so levelheaded and involved with their patients. They deserve all the praise! They all are amazing! Thank you to...