Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton — Local services in Oceanside

my friend came to the ER on Sunday night due to excruciating pain, they told her she was pregnant but couldn’t find the baby, sent her home with Tylenol and that was that. (Eye roll.) about 6 hours later she was back in the emergency room, still in absolute pain, they kept her for another 6 hours or so just giving her the run around and more Tylenol which is doing nothing at this point, they sent her home once again around 1pm, I picked her up from the er, around 5pm I get a phone call from her absolutely screaming bloody murder, I went into her house and found her on the ground vomiting and in so much pain she could not move. At this point she was crying to not go back to this hospital, but I could not get her downstairs and into the car by myself so I had to call 911 and unfortunately here she is back on the way to naval. I followed the ambulance and met her in the room when they let me, they had her do a urine sample, did more blood work (same stuff they did this morning and never told her anything about) they took her back for a chest xray and a transvaginal ultrasound, she was in so much pain they couldn’t do it, it was around 7-8 pm at this point and they finally decided to give her morphine (where was this hours ago) of course they gave her the lowest amount so she was back to screaming in about 20 minutes. Ive never seen so many clueless people in my life, this was insane. Eventually my friend told me she needed to pee, I got the nurse to get the wheelchair and I rolled her in the bathroom, she is on the toilet peeing, My friend has anxiety induced seizures (apologies for not knowing the specific medical term) she can tell when they are about to happen, she told me to go grab a nurse because she was about to pass out, I run out, 3 nurses follow me, my friend is on the toilet, pants around her ankles with me trying to hold her up, they are just staring at us like we are stupid, I explained this isn’t a normal seizure where she is flopping around cold, she is just passed out, I then asked for help to get her into the chair, the other nurses left but the one who stayed seemed very annoyed with with this, my friend woke up as she got into the chair and was in so much pain she was screaming once again, this nurse rolls her eyes (probably did that more than she even spoke) and says “come on let’s get back into bed” in such an annoyed tone, we roll back into the room and she is standing there, once again my friend passes out and I asked for help getting her onto the bed. My friend is going in and out of consciousness and crying in pain saying “help me” the nurse says “I don’t know what I am supposed to do for you” eye roll she leaves. At this point I am absolutely horrified and told my friend I’m not leaving because of what just happened, they genuinely just do not care, this is scary. Another nurse took her back for a test (I think they attempted to finish the ultrasound) I went home to get food and came back, we sat there alone until about midnight, a Dr that we haven’t seen before came in, basically said they will be discharging her and will be giving her more Tylenol, my friend is pleading asking if there is something else they can do or give her because this is not normal, the Dr goes on to say “you seemed fine until I came in here, I’ve been standing outside listening” WTF??????? my friend has been screaming into her blanket/literally biting her arm in pain because she doesn’t want to be annoying, apparently that’s what it takes for proper care at this place though. My friend at this point can read her shitty energy and gets upset and says “so what am I supposed to do in a few hours when I am still in excruciating pain and vomiting, come back?” She said “if we see you are in more pain at that point we will think about admitting you” my friend then requests if she can speak to an actual obgyn, the dr is bickering with my friend and then leaves the room— I will post part 2 in the replies as I am out of space...

Updated experience from 6/2024: went to the ER after a slip and fall stepping into the shower. Unfortunately, I experienced an audible pop, called the Tricare advice line and was advised to go to the ER. Arrive at the ER, front desk was good, the initial RN at intake was incredible. I was triaged and brought back to the urgent care side of the ER. Met with a PA, that didn’t seem to understand my concerns. I explained what happened, I was unable to walk, move my leg, etc. She then told me to hop up on the can table… after explaining to her I couldn’t move. I was in the worst pain of my life. I’ve had two children, gallbladder removed, wisdom teeth, tonsils etc. she said they don’t really do anything in the ER for knee injuries. I was like no imaging nothing. She then agreed to an xray… Xray came back and my knee was partially dislocated but other than that she said I was fine. She told me to take some Tylenol and follow up with my primary. Then she came back in and asked me again what happened. I explained it to her again. She said she was going to call the ortho on call. She came back and I asked if there was anything I could do for pain management and again she said Tylenol should take care of it. She said they made an appt for that coming Monday for their orthopedic at the hospital but she didn’t think anything serious happened to my knee. She said it likely wasn’t my ACL so not to be worried. I was in tears. Fast forward to Monday we head to the ortho clinic, check in and the PA I met with said with the Xray results I can guarantee it’s your MPFL not your ACL. He attempted to examine me and get a brace one which was nearly impossible with my pain. He advised there was nothing they could do for me there as their imaging appts were backed up for months. I then had to call my primary and get a MRI request in. My MRI took several weeks to get an appt and several to get the report back. To my surprise, complete ACL tear, medial meniscus and PCL. Thanks for nothing Navy Medicine. I couldn’t believe the lack of empathy during the most painful thing that has ever happened to me. I WILL NEVER COME BACK! Pendleton is not equipped for anything beyond ouchies and boo boos. I plan on filing a formal complaint.

Previous review:

Never would I ever think I would be writing a 5 star review for Navy Medicine. However after 20 years, my care this last visit to the Emergency Room and CP Naval Hospital really truly deserves it. I arrived to the ER with severe abdominal pain from a known gallbladder issue that I was awaiting civilian outpatient surgery for. The waiting room was fairly full but I was triaged quickly. After a short wait for an ER I’d say less than an hour I was brought back. I was immediately started with an IV, fluids and pain management. The RN and Dr listened, understood and came up with a plan. I was worked into the OR’s schedule quickly and they took AMAZING care of me. My surgeon Dr. Beck is a true professional with excellent bedside manner. I will forever be grateful for my experience with him. I wish I knew everyone by name especially the ER Dr and RN. In the MSW - ENS Miller, RN...

OB is terrible. More than half the people I have come in contact with are rude. Including one of the heads of OB that I have spoken to. I was laughed at, by my OB doctor for crying over paper work that concerns my job that they have been giving me a hard time about. I can’t say everyone in this department has a careless attitude, but the majority do. A lot of these people seem to be in the wrong profession, or they just do not like their jobs. Not sure, but when my doctor laughed at me for crying during a serious conversation, I can say that I have definitely never felt so disrespected by a healthcare “professional” ever in my life. Thanks to TRICARE and me living on base, I now have to fight for my right to receive care elsewhere even though I am having twins and considered “high risk”. I suggest you avoid OB if at all possible.

On the other hand family practice at the hospital has kind people who seem to enjoy what they do and take pride in taking care of their patients. We sometimes see different doctors just due to our PCM not having availability but all providers we have seen have been very nice. My only complaint is that they don’t actually start taking calls at 7:30 when they open their phone line for appointments. I always usually try to call to get into the clinic before even considering going to the ER just because of the huge difference in care. I mean who wouldn’t rather go to your own doctor over an ER anyway? So I always call just to check and see if it’s possible to be seen there instead of the ER.

I really wish the ER staff was more understanding and kind. Over the last 2 and a half years I have been to the ER twice for myself and 2 times for my youngest so I wouldn’t say we are frequent flyers by any means although we are treated as such. I am not a first time overly dramatic parent that brings my child in for the sniffles, but yet I am treated as such. As a parent, when something is wrong with your child that is very rarely sick you just know when something is really wrong, even if the illness has barely just started. I always second, third, forth, and fifth guess myself before I take my kids here for anything because every time I have prepare myself to deal with the poor attitudes of the people in the ER. Minus one very sweet lady who gives the armband and makes sure your info is up to date.

The few times we have gone to the ER I hope each time for a change in the attitudes of the people we see there, but I guess I will need to keep crossing those fingers, or avoid it all together and go somewhere else. The convenience of the ER on base is nice but if quality of care, compassion, and understanding is not possibly then the convenience factor means nothing. Compassion and caring nurses is what should be in the ER, not ones that look at you like an idiot for going there when all you are trying to do is get care for yourself...