UCI Medical Center — Local services in Orange

This hospital wasn't so bad back in 2023 and 2024, but now in 2025 it has gotten significantly worse. While there are some kind nurses that are patient and willing to help, there have been some cruel nurses that just don't care enough to want to be there other than to chit-chat with their friends and co-workers. There have been some nurses who talk about other patients and laugh off or dismiss their concerns to let their patients suffer and make them scared.

One thing I find messed up is that while they understandably have signs about respecting patients with silence, they do absolutely NOTHING about crappy patients that are noisy and abusive to their roommates.

The whole "share a roommate" separated by a curtain has become more common now so it's nearly impossible to get a room all to yourself anymore; whether if it's limited resources or human overpopulation, that's besides the point. The point is, it is completely unacceptable that any rowdy patients they've had recently don't get discharged or denied service when it's literally in the hospital rules to behave and treat other patients with respect or face the consequence to be removed from the property. Some patients don't even deserve to stay nor keep a room as rude, loud, messy and bullying they cause without consequences for their actions.

As for shared roommates, NOBODY wants to share a room with someone defecating hourly in a bedpan stinking up the whole fricking room to make the other roommate and their visitors gag or vomit upon entering the room. I get that hospital rooms are limited, but for crying out loud trade a roommate for these situations; if someone is either rudely disruptive on purpose and/or unhygenic then they should NOT be allowed have a roommate. If people can mind their own business and be quiet around other roommates, then put those patients together and let them handle with it like normal people should.

Speaking of having shared roommates, a curtain does NOT automatically make someone "deaf" to sensitively private information. If hospitals are all about "oh yeah we respect patient privacy", except here the conversations they have with a patient will be in the SAME ROOM as another patient who can overhear and run their mouths off to friends on the phone and other visitors in the room that have no business in knowing what the other patient is going through. This isn't an 1800's infirmary room, times have changed, I don't see how a curtain prevents this from being an HIPAA violation. Maybe it needs sliding doors or window see-through wall to kinda barrier the shared room to soundproof it and just add the curtain for visual privacy.

This place also happens to allow students like a University of the sorts (Medical School type), maybe there's just something about if it's a student or I don't know exactly what makes some of the workers so... Heartless? So I won't comment too much and theorize on nonsense like that. But I know maybe with the amount of abusive patients there are now as the neighboring areas become more ghetto, it has become a thankless job for the overworked and understaffed workers who have to put up with abusive patients that cuss them out. In which case, shame on both society and the workers because both sides need to co-operate and not treat each other like dirt, have mutual respect. This is why hospitals need to stick to their rule, they claim they have the right to kick out abusive patients and visitors but they just sit there and let them run wild abusing other patients, visitors AND staff members like it's a zoo around here. Some floors even have these "Stop Light" sound fixtures for noise control depending on which zone you are in; not all of the zones have it, only some areas do.

Even the infusion center across from this UCI isn't much of a saint place either. One time I heard a few nurses giggle while whispering to each other saying "No hope for them" at one point, cancer is NOT a fricking joke. If a person asks for oxygen or needs something, they start laughing and take their time rather than taking...

I don't often post reviews but did want to transparently share some grievances for others' awareness and preparation if they're planning on having a baby at UCI Orange. I am sharing my experience from the Labor & Delivery Wing of UCI Medical Orange Hospital in November 2024 and my experience in working with them since then. I have rated two stars due to the GREAT nurses working the labor and delivery floor - they were SO KIND, supportive of my needs and birth plan, attentive, PROACTIVELY helpful and didn't make me feel ashamed or embarrassed for asking a million questions (it was my first baby). They deserve all the praise and raises! Unfortunately, every other experience deserves 0 stars, and I will not be returning to UCI to deliver in the future. I will likely head to St. Jude or St. Joseph instead. Reasons for 0 stars/warnings to others: They did not allow my husband to join me when I first checked in at the Maternity Ward desk and we had to push to get him eventually welcomed in at triage. The doctor in triage tried to talk me out of most of my birth plan (which was not demanding), and pushed back when I kept saying I wanted minimal interventions (I had a very healthy pregnancy and delivery with no issues or risks). Triage was very cramped and hot, and they kept asking me to lay down on the gurney despite having terrible back labor. I tried my best to stay still and be quiet due to other women in the shared room (only divided by thin curtains), but it was stressful for me and a hard start to labor. Throughout my time there, they did not have specific supplies one would expect, (such as heating pads, extra diapers, cold compresses), apparently due to the "low supply and high demand". I strategically labored a lot at home and arrived during business hours so as to avoid the ER Department charge. They charged me anyway (nearly $2000!!) even though I didn't use any ER Department service, because "that's what they do for every labor and delivery". Doctors always came in groups of 3 and always pushed back on my birthplan, pressuring me to give in to interventions. Fortunately, there was always a nurse who had my back. Also, I didn't end up needing interventions because baby boy came in his own time! I'm glad I brought my husband and doula to advocate for me when I was at my most vulnerable state. My labor room was filled with 18 medical people when I was pushing. Crazy. I asked for no students to be present, but believe they ignored this since I was not a risky pregnancy and baby was healthy. My husband and doula could hardly move next to me because the room was so packed. Due to a "paperwork" error and miscommunication between their teams, they waited a whole extra day to discharge us (costing us an extra unexpected $1400!!) and couldn't circumcise our son (apparently he was too heavy/long at 9 pounds and 21 inches?). This led to a very chaotic and busy next 4 weeks postpartum as we desperately searched for someone to circumcise him...long story short, it didn't work out and we had to forego it. Very frustrating! Despite having really good insurance, our total bill for a very quick and minimally-invasive vaginal delivery was over $6,000. After months of working with UCI, they refused to change any of the charges, despite their errors. The Mom & Baby floor nurses were not very supportive/proactively helpful. I tried to communicate very frequently with their Financial Aid branch "Charity Care" which was VERY DIFFICULT. Despite saying you can message in the app or email, they only want to talk on the phone with you (to pressure you to pay). They were very difficult to work with and ultimately denied us any coverage anyway, despite a lot of work and time on my end to prove that we were eligible. I just got the notice today that they're working with collections! Incredibly frustrating. I hope this helps others and brings about positive change. I understand how difficult it is to work in healthcare and wish ALL the best to those amazing nurses who helped me deliver our...

A brief narrative of my partner Juliet's spine surgery experience. Space constraints make this a limited review. *21 April 25, 10:15. 1) Really appreciate the valet parking. It seems lame, but given the size of the center and distance of parking, a lot of time is saved by the valets. They have been uniformly helpful and friendly. 2) Admission to the Douglas (actual hospital) was very efficient and friendly. 3) Admission to the surgery/procedure center was quick and easy. Special mega-props to June Auyeung(?). Helpful, patient, and calming, she was a superstar! I like the fact that I am sent a text at every “event” of my “loved one”. *21 April 25, 11:20: I was texted I could visit Juliet in Pre-op. She was very comfortable ensconced & warmed by a sort of heated air-blanket (looks a bit like transparent pleated air mattress). Her surgeon, Dr. Nitin Bhatia, came in to meet us. He talked to us about the surgery, confirmed the procedure again, described what he would be looking for and what he would do, etc. A nurse anesthetist came in and gave Juliet a mild sedative and after a round of good wishes & good luck kisses, Juliet was wheeled to the operating theater. I was given an estimate of when I should return along with assurances I would be called by the surgeon as soon as surgery was completed. I immediately began receiving texts re. Juliet's status, e.g., Juliet was in the OR, procedure was beginning, and later, informing me she was being closed up. I then received a call from the surgeon who told me everything went really well, the problem was found, and that the problem was repaired (Phew! What a relief!). Another text informed me she was in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and it would be another hour before she would be clear-headed enough to receive visitors. Driving back to UCI, I once again turned my car over to the valet parking. The receipt I had for earlier parking was still valid which was nice, even though the validated parking fee is a only $3.00. *21 April 25 - 17:30. Per the reception gal, I might meet Juliet in the PACU or at the room where she’ll be for a couple of days or so. The reception gal was very friendly despite it being late in the day. After this, things got confused. Juliet was moved to her room and no one knew until I went back to reception and asked where she was (no text). There was a bit of a confused bustle as various people (assigned nurse, diet/food ordering, physio) etc were involved in sorting things out. "Please order for Juliet", I was asked, "because dining closes soon." I called to order food, but was told Juliet wasn't approved. A nurse or physician must clear give permission first. The nurse was gone for a long time for shift change,, but fortunately, a physician stopped by & submitted the change. *21 April 25 - 1830: Only paper "chux" versus strong cloth absorbent sheets on bed. This makes helping Juliet adjust position much more difficult and painful. Staff are friendly but disorganized. Just before midnight, someone remembers Juliet needs to have a sponge-disinfecting (wake up Juliet!). UCI seems so checklist heavy, staff fret about things to check-off and actual patient "care" lags. *22 April 25 - Ortho PA visits but we never again see Juliet's surgeon. Later, she began to have a lot of pain and the opioid oxycodone was required so that she could sleep. It took some doing to translate Juliet's pain (changed affect, crying) into action by the hesitant nurse. *23 April - 0800: We are both surprised to find Juliet is to be discharged today. By the time I arrive at UCI, Juliet has been packed & bustled to the 5th floor in a holding room & awaiting pickup by me. A back brace is fitted. Things seem confused and rushed, but with the help of a nice young volunteer, we get down to parking. A valet brings the car, and we go home. *Conclusion: Surgery day very organized. Text tracking great until PACU. An A+ job. After this, things much more confused, less personable, disorganized. A C+ job, adequate but nothing to...