UNC REX Hospital Emergency Department — Local services in Raleigh

I was stung in the eye (yes, IN my left eye) by a wasp. Turns out, I am allergic to wasps. Who knew? By the time we got to REX Emergency Room (10 minutes later), I could no longer walk and was having tremendous difficulty breathing. My fiance rushed in the main entrance, asked for a wheelchair, and told the staff I could not breathe. That's when the most effective and efficient staff took over. I was wheeled from the parking lot, given a nausea bag and a towel (because anaphylaxis is fun), and immediately taken to triage for assessment and then off to a private room for treatment. I was terrified, but not for long.

The entire team of nurses, PAs, interns, and Dr Fleming was so kind and SO very good at their jobs. Within 30 minutes of being stung, with a plunging BP, severe allergic reaction including hives, difficulty breathing, flop sweat (seriously, like a firehose), and pulse ox below 88%, I was given everything my body needed to heal. They even went out of their way to preserve my dignity -- I had been wearing a dress when I came in so putting on a gown was difficult, to say the least. But I was shown such compassion and even managed a little humor as they replaced my dress with a paper gown. "We're all friends here now. Besides, it's nothing you haven't seen before, and if it is it's about time you did. Now who wants to hold my vomit bag while I strip?" They laughed. I laughed. We all felt better.

I was kept for observation for a few hours until my vitals returned to normal. When they tired of looking at me, they sent me back home with a scrip for two shiny new EPIPENS and a whole lot of Prednisone. But while I was there I was never alone. Someone was always nearby to make sure I was alright and was comfortable, even if it was just to hold my hand. It was a truly terrifying thing, getting stung and going into shock. The monitors kept beeping in protest to my vitals, scaring my fiance and me. On the way to REX I actually feared for my life. However, once this extraordinary team took control, I wasn't afraid any more. I knew I was receiving excellent care from excellent people. And I am forever grateful. Thank you.

I hope no one reading this ever needs emergency care. But if you do, you can feel confident in placing your health and well-being in REX Hospital Emergency Department. I confidently and...

I can't get over how TERRIBLE and uncompassionate this Emergency room is. My daughter had just turned 19 and developed a rare syndrome where she couldn't keep any liquids or food down for over 2 months. As a result we had to frequently return to the ER 1 -2 times a week to ease the constatn vomiting and nausea and also so she could receive liquids and nourishment in order to survive until we could find a way to manage the syndrome. Each time she came in the nurses treated her worse and worse and we could over hear the nurses whispering about her snarkily in the nurses station. One time when I went out to the car to pull up to the curb once she was dismissed so she didn't have to walk through the parking lot and I was waiting outside, fully expecting someone to help her out. At this point she was so weak for not being able to eat anything for over a month. the only nourishment she had had been able to take in was what she received in the ER. She was sleepy and could barely even walk. The nurse told her she was discharged, and she thought someone was going to help her out. While she waited she fell asleep from being so weak and exhausted. Instead of being helped, the nurse yelled at her and told her that if she didn't leave they were going to call security. They had my number on file. If they needed me to come in and get her they only needed to call or text to let me know. But the didn't. My poor daughter was in no condition to walk, much less find her way out of the confusing maze that is the ER. She should have been led by someone, or brought out in a wheel chair, but instead they treated her like she was a trespassing criminal and gave her no help or guidance. They only scared her with the threat of security and treated her with contempt. When she later called to share her experience with the ER, they wouldn't listen to what she had to say, they hung up on her. They truly don't care about the people they treat and obviously have no desire to listen to how the patients are treated so they...

I had an incredibly disappointing and frustrating experience with Dr. Erika Rice in the ER earlier this week. From the moment she walked in, her attitude was unfriendly and dismissive. Not only did she show absolutely no sympathy for the pain and discomfort I was experiencing, but she also made me feel like a burden for even being there. As a patient in a lot of pain, the last thing I expected was to be treated with such cold indifference.

What made matters worse was that her diagnosis was completely wrong. She barely listened to my concerns and rushed to an incorrect conclusion, likely coming to her conclusion based on personal biases due to my age and the appearance of the issue, but had she listened to what i was saying and the history, I don’t think she would have been as quick to call it. Not to mention the fact that I came to the ER specifically because I was in an incredible amount of pain, screaming and crying, and she didn’t think to prescribe anything to help with the pain. She could barely give me even an idea of what to look for to help with the pain at CVS. Her unwillingness to engage in a meaningful conversation or provide any level of comfort was alarming for someone in her position. An ER doctor should be compassionate and thorough, but Dr. Rice was neither. I left the ER feeling worse, not just physically but emotionally, due to her unprofessional and unhelpful behavior. I wouldn't trust her with any medical issue after this experience.

I do want to mention that both the nurses that assisted me were very kind and compassionate, but their pleasantness was completely overshadowed by Dr. Rice’s coldness and...