McLaren Northern Michigan — Local services in Petoskey

11/11/23 First time in the ER in Petoskey. Fourth ER visit of my life. 30 year old sole income for my family of three. Weight of the world on my back but I gladly carry it.

My wife took my blood pressure at home as I was experiencing chest pain and panic and was 185/122mm Hg. I made it clear at the front desk that I have anxiety attacks and I just wanted to make sure it wasn't anything more serious since I was experiencing severe chest pain. This was probably the worst attack I've ever had. I thought I might have to say my goodbyes to my family, which is making me tear up even now. They took my blood pressure and admitted me. I'm not a medical professional and live by "we're not doctors we should leave these things to professionals".

The following interactions made me never want to return to this hospital again:

The doctor, Tony, took my blood pressure (the blood pressure cuff is extremely unpleasant when you have high blood pressure I found out) and checked my vitals, asked routine questions. His lackadaisical demeanor generally reassured me. After doing his job, Tony made sure to explain to me in great length that I was wasting his time and the hospitals resources. I had chest pain, very clearly my heart as well. Tony said I should be seen by someone else. A primary care doctor, where I could... schedule my emergencies? After what seemed like an eternity of Tony shaming me for using the ER in what was in my mind a potentially life-threatening emergency (185/122!), the nurse that first took my vitals near the front desk then returned and took my blood pressure again. When Tony asked rather incredulously why she would measure my blood pressure again, she responded "for my charts". The irritation and spite of these two dripping from their words, never have I felt so unwelcome anywhere. The nurse then put the cuff on me so tightly, much tighter than the rest of the tests, that I immediately knew it was too tight, winced in pain from the cuff inflating and squirmed a bit on the bed. The nurse smirked as she walked away from me in discomfort. I believe she knew she was making me "pay" for wasting their time. My hand was completely numb after about 30 seconds, which means the blood wasn't getting there (not a medical professional, remember). The cuff was never removed, and I continued to talk to Tony and made sure to reaffirm many times that I understood that I was wasting everyone's time. Tony could tell I didn't care what he was saying and asked me "if I was even listening". The cuff was on for several minutes after deflating and eventually I removed it on my own. Tony then said I was being discharged and left the room. We waited several minutes, and Tony had said I was being discharged so we thought we were supposed to leave. We left the room, no one told us anything about "necessary" paperwork. One of the staff behind a computer said we needed to be given discharge paperwork, which we weren't told. So my family went back into the room and waited several more minutes, before we agreed that we'd been treated badly and we should just leave anyway. We walked out of the room and proceeded to leave. Conveniently, the paperwork was ready for us as we got to the doors. We left.

I'm not a medical professional. I had chest pain, my blood pressure was very high. I'm going to be scared I'm having a heart attack. I'm human and afraid when things that aren't normal happen, especially something where I may die.

Doesn't surprise me at all this hospital is poorly rated. Tony your demeanor sucks and your annoyed attitude is not appreciated, maybe treat people with respect and patience and you'll receive the same. The nurse knew what she was doing and I feel bad for her children if she has any. My wife and I talked about moving, since if we get into danger with something severe we'd like to have the hospital we visit be anything but this one. Overall I'm more than disappointed, I'm scared that this is what is near if something bad happens.

The front desk lady was absolutely wonderful and showed concern...

Lately, my fathers experience at McLaren northern Michigan has been awful. McLaren used to be such a great hospital. It’s really going downhill. The nurses are great, but the lack of physicians and speciality providers is well noticed. In October when my father was admitted, physicians and locums physicians failed diagnose a serious medical issue my father was suffering. There was one test ordered and that was the end. Me and my father would continue to point out to the providers about his unusual condition at the hospital. Then he was discharged. On the discharge papers it noted his issue along with multiple other issues. A month later he is having emergency surgery regarding the medical concern, this could have all been prevented if the providers actually took the time to order more tests and listen to the patients and families. This is litterally an issue of malpractice.

And just recently, on Thanksgiving day, Nov 23rd 2023, my father had been experiencing yet another health issue, and we brought him into the ED. We could not believe our ears. The ED Physican assistant named Jason Schumer told us that McLaren could not properly care for my dad because there was no GI coverage specialty over the holidays for FIVE days, that being said, they wanted my dad transferred go to Traverse city, because that’s the closest hospital that had a GI specialist on board. Traverse city is not close. Like seriously??! Isn’t a hospital supposed to find coverage for a speciality?? Not even a locum on call. Devastating news for my father and family. I asked Jason the PA if he could call around to Charlevoix hospital or even Gaylord hospital to see if they had any GI on call, but Jason the PA didn’t follow through with us. It was only traverse city that we were recommended to go to. On top of that, Jason the PA seriously needs to be open to second opinions. My father was recommended to take a medication that would make him hyper coagulate and is VERY PRICY. My father is already a risk candidate for stoke, why increase his chances to throw a clot???? This hospital doesn’t even have a GI doc on call, what makes people think they will have a neurologist on call on a holiday week if he stroked out. Jason states the request for the drug was supposedly discussed with other GI specialists in TVC. However the numbers just don’t add up, it doesn’t makes sense. I wish I could go into more detail… My dad still had wiggle room before considering that medication. That should not have been the first choice of action. With my dads age, and heart condition that drug would put him at increased risk for throwing a clot resulting in a more serious life threatening and possibly life altering condition. Jason did not take time to listen to family concerns. What really needed to Happen was for a GI doc to see him. It’s always good to have a second opinion In healthcare. Don’t just put all your trust in one passive aggressive provider. There’s a reason why medical errors is the third leading cause of death in the US. They were putting my elderly father at risk for developing another health care problem. At this point, it seemed like the mid level provider just wanted to put a bandaid on my father and send him off to Tvc. I understand it’s the holidays, no one wants to work, but let me tell you, no one wants to come into the hospital if they don’t have to. McLaren is lacking providers and specialty providers. My father and I know this from his experience. McLaren’s cardiology and GI specialty docs are skeleton crew. If there is a provider, it’s probably a locums, traveling doc who comes once or twice a week to fill in the empty time slots. There is no continuity of care. If there is a permanent staffed provider, he or she is overworked and most likely practicing in an understaffed enviornament at McLaren...

No patient relations. I am a 66yo with past surguries includeing major back and hip surgery, with my second hip surgery recently and discharged yesterday. I now understand the low reviews and personally believe that a 3 star is high, maybe it's because it was memorial day holiday and and administration just wanted me out before the holiday. I'll explain this later in the review. The nurse and pct staff at mcclaren Petoskey were either very good to very bad, no in between. Without mentioning names I will leave it at the staff who were helpful a very heartfelt thank you and to the rest not so much, you know who you are. A little more about me as a patient and past complications I have had and that mcclaren knew about. I have in the past, chronic pain and use opiates to control this pain. Just prior to surgery the chonic pain started in my back, hip and knee and continued to take tramadol which is a low strength painreliever ,compared to what I've used in the past. Prior to my surgery on Wednesday I hadn't BM since Saturday or Sunday. I had the surgery on Wednesday and when I came to I was in more pain I have ever experienced in my life. They gave me a barage of painkiller including fentanyl,morphine and others I have not heard of. The morphine ended up taking care of the pain but the high dosage of opiates were given, have should been. Now for my stay other than what was mentioned above regarding nurse and pct staff. As mentioned surgery was on Wednesday and a discharge scheduled for Thursday if possible. With the chronic pain in my back, left hip and swollen knee not to mention the surgery I just had the pain was horrible. I had my first therapy and a 15 foot walk was the goal for Wednesday. I got up and could only take a few steps. He said that goal was too much for me today and that tomorrow ( scheduled discharge date) we would have to achieve along with stair climbing since my house I have a total of 14-15 steps. The physical therapy tech recommendation for Thursday was not to be discharged. Within what seemed minutes the case worker was pressureing me against that decision but yet it was my decision. Friday therapy wasn't alot better I was able to make it to the doorway of my room but wasn't able to make it to the steps. Again the therapy tech recommended that I stay since I wasn't reaching my goals to be able to make it up and down stairs safely. This time the social worker AME to see me with the same pressure same lines but my decision. Saturday therapy was the worse because I was unable to recover from the chronic pain which affected both hips, both the right and left side of my back and knee. I could hardly stand and here comes the case worker along with the pressure. She offered a suggestion to go with in house therapy at a well known 5 star located in charlevoix. Once the VA was paying for the surgery, I told the case worker if she could get the VA to commit to pay for the service I would go. She said she felt sure that they would pay but I had my doubts. She returned later and said they wouldn't but got a number for me to talk to a VA rep on Tuesday after the holiday to see about getting in house therapy at either the Saginaw or Detroit VA and that only seemed my choice but when asked if okay I didn't respond and on the checkout form I put a note that I disagreed with the discharge. Mcclaren Petoskey has put me in a very dangerous situation by discharging me knowing I have a history of falling, not taking advise on the part of their own therapist. Should anything happen to me you surly will hear from me. Again I know why your rating is low. Sent from my Huawei tablet

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