MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital — Local services in Puyallup

The one star is for the nursing staff who were great. They are heroes in my mind having to deal with a stressed system where hospital leaders are putting profits ahead of delivering quality care for patients.

I entered a local Multi-Care ER with extreme pain in my upper abdomen area. CT Scan revealed a spleen infarction (blood clot in spleen). Administering a heparin drip, the pain receded. Transfer to a Multi-Care listed hospital was next, but all beds were full. After 28 hours, I was notified of a transfer to Good Sam.

My family advised NOT to transfer to Good Sam, but being on a heparin drip, I felt it was too risky. I arrived by ambulance and they carted me to my “observation room”. But this was NOT a room, it was a curtained off section large enough to fit a bed and chair with TV. The row consisted of six beds. They had fully enclosed rooms, but it was basically, luck of the draw. I asked to be moved to a enclosed room once one opened up, but was told no. The entire 3-6 days observation period would be in this section. This was one of the most stressful situations I’ve ever experienced. Zero opportunity to relax. During the day, TV volumes would continue to increase as everyone competed to hear their own TV. Every conversation is heard since the curtains provided no sound suppression. It would be very simple, and inexpensive, to setup sound deadening partitions to replace the curtains (Management, do this now!). Nighttime was even worse, with patients falling asleep with their TV’s still on and multiple extremely loud chronic snorers. Provided ear plugs were cheap and ineffective. Even my air pod pros did not help. During the night, they admitted one patient (regular privacy room) with a yorkie service dog. Every time a nurse walked by or went in to check the patients’ stats, it would bark up a storm. By 3am I had enough, signed a waiver and checked myself out. Patients need an environment with at least a limited about of peace and quiet to rest and heal. This area does not meet that level. The doctor visited within an hour of arriving. However, only to inform me of a echocardiogram order. MyChart had posted the results of my second CT scan(from the ER room), which showed my spleen as clear(I assume the heparin cleared the clot). The doctor did not mention results. My wife and I also heard a conversation from a patient two beds down, demanding to speak with his doctor. The nurse nicely said, “you can talk with me” and he said, “with all due respect, I've been here for two days and only seen my doctor once. You don’t want to see the bad side of me so am asking again to speak with my doctor.” When I arrived, they asked for my prescriptions. My wife had already brought my prescriptions from home. I was told I couldn’t use them. While I can, in a way, understand this policy, there must be a way they can just transfer my prescription to their pharmacy. Several of my prescriptions are very expensive and my doctors have provided $10 co-pay coupons. I am dreading the bill I’ll be receiving for the cost of these pills without having the coupon. I had two IV’s so the ER could administer medication and draw blood. However, at Good Sam, they said no, we must stick you every time blood is needed. Their reasoning is drawing blood from IV would risk infection when flushing. I responded by saying don’t you flush the IV after administering medication? What’s the difference? I was told, well this is the same way they do it at the ER. I responded by saying I was just at a Multi-Care ER for 28 hours and all three times they used the IV. The nurse gave up that this point. In summary, my experience was terrible and not at the quality I expect for premium health care, even under pandemic conditions. I will never use a Multi-Care facility again if there’s a chance to be transferred to Good Sam. Many of these issues can be resolved if Good Sam management changes policies that focus on providing quality care for patients, not profit. The multitude of negative reviews is evidence changes must happen...

In 2015 I saw Dr.McAllister. I was pregnant with my second child and was scheduled for a C-section because I had one with my first child and Good Sam doesn't allow VBAC. We showed up to Good Sam on the day of, on time, and got ready for surgery. She was an hour late and no one knew where she was. The surgery was awful. I vomited throughout the entire C-Section and my husband was the person suctioning out my mouth so I didn't choke. The anesthesiologist was on his phone most of the time and Dr. McAllister left part way though and never returned. 2 weeks after my C-Section, Christmas day of 2015, I woke up at 2am hemorrhaging. We called an ambulance and I was taken to Good Sam ER. I was given an ultrasound to see if there was any tissue left from my C-Section. The tech that preformed the ultrasound had it read by another radiologist. They found something on it but said it couldn't be tissue because it didn't show up the right color. The on-call doctor gave me some medication to shrink my uterus and sent me home. I couldn't even stand without vomiting and I was still bleeding as I was leaving the ER. He gave my husband 3 different prescriptions that needed to be filled.. on Christmas Day! No one was open! My husband took me home then left and drove to Tacoma to have them filled. Meanwhile, my 2 sons were with family and our entire holiday was ruined. At 6pm that evening I was still bleeding just as much as I was earlier that morning. I called the ER and asked if I should come back in since I was filling up a pad in about 5 minutes and the person on the phone said no, I should stay at home. She pulled up my chart on the computer and said if I was still bleeding after 6am to return. After standing to use the restroom, I passed out on the floor. My sister-in-law found me and called the ambulance. They took me back to Good Sam ER where a new doctor was on call. He gave me 2 blood infusions and said I had lost 1/3rd of my body's blood. I was taken to a room and had some very very painful things happen to try and stop the bleeding. I eventually passed out from the pain and woke up a few hours later. After getting pitocin to try and shrink my uterus, along with other medications, my bleeding started to slow. A week later they let me go home. Exactly a week after leaving, I woke up early in the morning passing blood clots larger than my hand. I went back to Good Sam ER and went straight to a room. They did several tests and took me back for a D&C. Dr. Wong was my surgeon and she was amazing. They told me that I had a 2cm cut in my uterus from the C-Section and that was why I didn't stop bleeding. Then a few days later, a nurse told me that was untrue and they didn't know why I was bleeding so much. They warned me about having children in the future because I would experience the same situation again. The nurse said I was bleeding because my uterus just wouldn't shrink like normal after a birth. My husband and I were devastated to not be able to have more children but didn't want to risk my life again. It wasn't until July of 2016, over a year later, that my family doctor pulled up my chart and told me that they had found tissue in my uterus that was left there from my C-Section. Had someone read the ultrasound right the first time, that all could have been avoided. I still have no idea if there was a cut in my uterus. I also don't know why my OB was late for the C-Section or left before it was over. If I would have listened to the receptionist at the Good Sam ER, I would have died at home. My newborn son spent the first 3 week of his life with my sister-in-law and I wasn't able to continue breastfeeding him. I can't tell you the amount of stress and anxiety this has caused my family and I. I also can't believe this is how they...

My recent experience at the labor and delivery was incredibly challenging and disappointing. As a mother seeking a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), I was met with resistance and a lack of support for my personal choice which deeply affected my birthing journey. I was originally suppose to go to st joes but I was not going to make it as I was already pushing me good Sam was the closest hospital unfortunately.

From the very beginning, I felt disheartened as the hospital staff did not respect my decision to have a VBAC. My husband and I were bombarded with negative predictions of dire consequences if I continued pushing. Despite the significant pressure placed upon us, we believed in the power of natural birthing and advocated for our choice – which ultimately resulted in a healthy baby girl being born through a vaginal delivery. Even with my clear request to not cut the cord until it was clear they cut it even with my doula present they did not listen . They also refused to allow me to take my placenta home until my doula step in and advocated for my rights and she left the hospital With it safely.

However, the troubles did not end there. The hospital staff refused to discharge us, citing concerns for our baby's safety, despite clear instructions from my midwife and doulas to do so. This refusal to acknowledge professional medical advice and the strain it imposed on me as a fragile mama was incredibly distressing.

Throughout our stay, we faced continuous harassment and threats, exacerbating the struggles of postpartum depression and anxiety that I was already dealing with. This severe lack of empathy and understanding at such a vulnerable time made my postpartum experience even more challenging.

While I acknowledge the complexities and risks associated with VBACs, a supportive and patient-centered approach should have been practiced by the hospital staff. Every woman's choice and individual circumstances should be respected and supported, allowing for an optimal birthing experience.

I hope that this review serves as a constructive reminder for the hospital and its staff to reevaluate their approach to patient care during the labor and delivery process. The emotional well-being and empowerment of mothers-to-be should always be a priority, fostering a calm and supportive environment that enables the best possible birthing outcomes.

As a mother who successfully achieved a VBAC with a healthy baby, I am disheartened that my overall experience at this particular hospital was characterized by resistance, lack of respect, and inadequate support. It is my sincere hope that the hospital administration will take these issues seriously and work to improve their approach to provide more compassionate care for all expecting mothers and their families.

It took me a year to finally write this review and I am still also dealing with the billing from the hospital as they let me borrow a breast pump and the nurse I left it with when I was finally discharged a week later said she would return it and found out it never was and they have been billing my I...