HCA Florida Lake Tarpon Emergency — Local services in Palm Harbor

Do not go here unless you have $5,000 you need to get rid of quickly. The nurses and doctor were all great. The nurses were nice, funny, polite and caring. The doctor who saw me was very compassionate when he could see my agony. I went in for basically poison Ivy which would not go away after none of the urgent cares in the area could give me the right meds to help my allergic reaction that carried on for ten days. I was seen for about 10 minutes by a doctor. It took longer for me to fill out the patient information myself on their roll around iPad. I paid $200 right there on the iPad. I received one steroid injection, and they sent Walgreens a prescription for prednisone for me. The ER fee was $4,358. They billed twice for the administration of the injection and the steroid itself. That is an over billing of $321.52 + $82.51 for a total $404.03 overcharge. This is not to mention that they charge over $400 for something that Baycare Walk-in charges you $28. They also charged a second "Evaluation" charge of $403. It was explained to me that if a second doctor or more than one nurse saw me, they usually charge for that separately. There were two very nice nurses. Nurse 1 filled out my information on a computer and nurse #2 took my pulse. Did they bill me $403 to have someone put a blood pressure cuff on my arm? When I called to talk about the charges the very nice lady on the phone told me that my bill for $670 was actually wrong and that I owe $1550 after the insurance "discounts" and the $2750 insurance payment. I thought $670 was too much. Man, am I sorry I called. Of course, when you call, nobody can actually help you or talk specifics. They will send out an itemized bill which you must dispute. Given that I was seen for about 10 minutes and billed over $5,000, that would put the hourly rate somewhere close to $30,000/hr. I think state law should make the facility post that fee at the entrance. Maybe other people already knew and that is why the parking lot was empty and I was able to be in and out quickly. Next time I will just drive right by, take a couple Benadryl and deal with the itching. I will...

DO NOT BRING YOUR CHILDREN HERE I’ve used this ER a lot but last night I brought my son in to get stitches for a cut on the web of his toes. When arriving I noticed it wasn’t their usual friendly staff. We continued on in trust he’d be taken care of. The doctor cleaned and flushed out the wound which was pretty uncomfortable for my 11 year old. Getting ready to stitch she was “unsure” if she’d be able to numb him due to where the cut was and suggested to avoid double pain she should attempt to stitch WITHOUT numb and do the “best she could” trusting this doctor we moved forward. She started the stitch and immediately my 11 year old was in excruciating pain. Instead of using bedside manners she said things like “I can’t do this” “ your expectations are too high” etc. this is a child are we talking about. I immediately had her stop, and asked for our paperwork and let them know we’d be going to a children’s hospital. She stormed out of the room and upon returning decided to argue her point of my expectations being too high and that we’d have the same experience going anywhere else. I told her she said it herself that she “couldn’t do this” and she blamed my child who was NOT NUMBED AND STITCHED PER HER ADVICE. While walking out a nurse said “I hope the next hospital has more than we do and can help” so knowing you do not have the necessary tools/meds WHY WOULD THEY NOT TURN US AWAY AND ADVISE A CHILDRENS HOSPITAL. It would of saved the traumatic experience for my son. Needless to say- we finally got our paperwork headed straight to Mease countryside where they calmly numbed him with numbing CREAM, and stitched him up with no pain. It was an absolute ridiculous experience/nightmare and we will never ever go back.

Update I called three times and left messages for the number they respond with for complaints...

Are you kidding me?????? $4,000 for an xray and breathing treatment and no ambulance!!!!!!!!!! Are you guys helping people or pushing them into a debt that would make them wish they died instead of go to your hospital. Horrible. Over priced. Scam. I've been to the hospital for worse in ambulace with no insurance and it was under $2,000. Talk about taking full on advantage of peoplr who have to choose life or a $4,000 bill from your guys. Just had same xray done at my family doctor for...are you ready...$55.00. If I could curse on here I would. Just read an article. Mostly FLORIDA hospitals (but most across us) raised there rates by..are you ready...1000%. Yes 1000. No rhyme reason. Because they can. Wish I read that before I went to this hospital.. Family doctor, same day service, same services, $55.00 bill. $4000 from you guys. Inhumane. Even with my insurance. No ambulance. Bill is $2,300. At $100 a month I will pay them for 2 hours of work for the next 2 years. Could have borrowed my neighbours inhaler for what you guys did for me. Not to mention the xray technologist got my i.v. line wrapped in my wheelchair wheel and almost ripped it out. I had to yell 3 times for her to stop. Amazing staff too huh?

Note to doctors: you swore an oath to save lives.

Dont remember where in the oath it said take advantave of their wallets. Some people will be in debt for years. Exchanging 2 hours of work for years of human labor and payments is not the oath...