UCI Health — Placentia Linda Emergency Department — Local services in Placentia

Horrible experience, bad customer service, incompetent doctors. I went to this er on NYE hoping I could easily get an x-ray for some rib pain I was having. I am pretty knowledgeable about medical issues considering I was pre-med, have doctors in the family and practice personal injury law and had a major medical crisis years ago and had to educate myself on the rare disease I have. I walked into the ER waiting room at about 2:00 p.m. It was packed and the ladies behind the screen are not very caring nor helpful when you check in. I finally was triaged by the nurse who took my vitals and I explained to her in detail my history, complaints and that I needed a chest x-ray to rule out a rib fracture and pulmonary complications. It took about two hours to get to the nurse and then sent back to the waiting room. In the waiting room there are many sick people, elderly people and it is freezing cold. This day it was about 60 but windy, so freezing and these people have the ac blasting with the automatic door opening and closing anytime someone steps five feet away from it. Everyone was complaining about the cold and I felt very bad for the elderly patients who were sick. I asked if they could turn the heat up and the check-in ladies just said they couldn't and there was nothing they could do. So there we all are freezing and waiting. (Nice way to show you care!) I finally get taken back for my x-rays and they take two views one of my entire chest and one localized to my right side. Another two hours later so now it is 6:30 pm, I finally get taken back to the main area with curtains to see the doctor. The doctor stated that most likely I had some musculoskeletal issue like inflamed cartilage(costocondritis) or a pulled muscle, which is what I thought. He told me that my x-ray was clear and that there was no fracture. He then told me because of the rare disease I have, that they need to check my blood work for treponins (this means they want to rule out a heart attack or pulmonary embolism). The doctor further stated that my rare disease meant I am more prone to blood clots. I look at him and say, no that is not true, I am not on any anticoagulants and have been never told this is a concern. The doctor clearly did not know what he was talking about. If I had a pulmonary embolism from this rib pain, I would have been dead six days ago when it started. The nurse then said they need to take another x-ray of the left side of my chest for comparison...I am sorry, what? I told her you already took the entire chest and I am not going to subject myself to extra radiation for nothing when there was no fracture. I asked if they could take my blood work, as a precaution, and then leave and if they could call me with the results. The nurse told me that since I was at the ER they could not call me with the results and that I had to wait there because I probably had a pulmonary embolism and would need treatment immediately. I then understood that they were practicing defensive medicine, not listening to my concerns and would not even give me a differential diagnosis unless I had blood work done. They were clearly trying to find anything under the sun to bill my insurance. I told the nurse what they were doing is ridiculous and I am leaving AMA (against medical advice). This nurse was really trying to scare me in thinking that I was having a heart attack or a pulmonary embolism when I had no symptoms of either. So I left the er diagnosing myself, extremely displeased and here today...no heart attack or pulmonary embolism as expected. I ended up calling my cousin (internal medicine) and dad (orthopedic surgeon) who told me to apply heat, take Alleve, and rest. The quality of medical treatment is the worst I have seen. I am never coming back to this ER and only going to proper UCI hospitals in the future. I would not suggest coming here because they cannot even handle a heart attack (as I heard a patient come in who had to be transferred to another hospital.) All the horrible reviews on...

TERRIBLE SERVICE!! I came in for a medical emergency and starting at the front registration desk I was given terrible customer service by Charlene. Nurse Nancy, who was taking my basic information before I could see the doctor, was giving me terrible attitude and rushing me to give her answers to unnecessary questions that she could've answered herself by taking my stats. The worst part of all was when Doctor Hom was being very inconsiderate and delivering vague and unclear answers whenever I asked questions concerning my injury. Along with that, Dr. Hom was very unprofessional by giving me attitude and tried arguing against what I had to say about my injury and my condition. It wasn't until nurse David came in and was able to answer all of my questions in a clear and precise manner while maintaining his professionalism. He was very considerate about my pain and my injury and gave me the best solutions to my problem. I feel like he should have the title "doctor" instead. Then when I was asked about my registration for my insurance, Victor was also very considerate and showing signs of empathy towards my pain and my issues with the hospitality and the service of this hospital. At the end of the day, my injury was left untreated and Doctor Hom was unable to do anything for me. But thanks to Nurse David and Victor, I at least got some help out this...

Do not go here. My daughter did not receive the best care. She had a ct scan and blood work. They couldn't figure out what was wrong. They didn't look further. She was given nothing for pain and nausea and was sent out to wait on the curb even though she expressed she was still in pain and nauseous. Her insurance was billed over $34,000 for a few hours. PL was paid $5000 from insurance, and want $5000 more from her. We had to go to another ER the following day, where they repeated all tests and did see what they were looking for. They gave her meds for nausea and pain and she was not sent out the door. They billed ins waaaay less. We sent a letter to PL and they basically said even though we had some "key points" that would be presented to the ED staff as follow up, that they believe standard of care was met. Their key points being, she had no call button, lack of communication, and let's not forget she was sent out on the curb with nothing for pain or nausea. Not even a chair. The EOB shows most of the charge falls under miscellaneous. They will not give her any discount or financial aid since they person she spoke to said she would have to prove she paid over $3000 in medical this year to qualify. Seriously. We are in the process of...