Holyoke Medical Center

"This has been the worst hospital experience ever. I would suggest anyone to avoid this place if at all possible. We went to the emergency room due to an anemic situation where the person could not stand, talk, or take care of themselves due to dangerously low iron and blood levels. Despite this, they drew blood and told us to wait in the waiting room making seem like we were going to be seen soon. Remember, this was someone who was already short on blood. We did not get any recommendation or advice to eat/drink anything. This was at 11:30 AM. It is currently 07:24 PM and not only have we not been seen, every time we asked how long or how many people were ahead of us, we got different answers. At 4:56 PM we asked how many people were ahead of us to be seen and the woman at the desk told us 5 people. Almost 3 HOURS later, there have been many names called and when I went back up to ask, they then told me it was SIX people in front of us. Keep in mind the person is anemic, we didn’t leave to get anything to eat earlier because we thought we were going to get seen and every time we asked they made it seem like it was going to be soon. To top things off, there was another patient who was coughing up blood in the bathroom and the staff was aware of this. The bathroom was not cleaned for HOURS after the incident and no one came to clean it until I stopped a nurse to inform them the bathrooms needed to be cleaned because we needed to use the bathroom but couldn’t due to the unsanitary conditions. The entire time I’ve been here, that was the ONLY time anything was cleaned in the waiting room and that was only AFTER I requested it. There was even a moment when we noticed a staff member kick trash to the side instead of throwing it in the trash which was RIGHT NEXT TO IT. How do you have an emergency hospital waiting room full of people coughing and spitting up blood and not sanitize anything in an eight hour period?!! I’m filling a complaint with the state and administrative staff. These conditions are unacceptable. I understand it’s a busy time and staff may be short but that should be communicated up front. We live in a time where there is technology that allows you to put people in a queue and contact them when they are coming up instead of having them wait with no idea when they are going to be seen. We could have gone somewhere else had we known, now we have no choice and the person is now in much worse condition than when they got here. This place is inefficient, inconsiderate, unsanitary and should be shut down or replaced with better equipped staff. Please do not go here if you can help it."

"Will never go back. Sat in ER 7hrs finally got back into a room. Dr walked in without even a exam told me issue was internal scar tissue. Gave me a Tylenol sent me on my way.Holyoke ER nothing but a bunch on hacks. Do yourself a favor stay away"

"I normally choose Holyoke Hospital over Cooley Dickenson because they are faster and more direct than the staff in Northampton. However I finally got a taste of why people avoid it. I was brought by ambulance to the ER for respiratory distress and possible pneumonia. The ambulance ride was fine. The RN assigned to me was hostile and condescending. I asked for a change and heard her tell another staff member that I refused to answer her questions regarding food allergies and I was simply confused by her rapid fire questions. The tech/nurse than took over was kind and professional. I commend his work. But there is no reason a patient should be made to feel scolded in a hospital room. We are all adults going through a rough day. I recommend trauma infomed care training. Patients should not be treated as enemies by nursing staff."

"Worst hospital I’ve have ever been to! The emergency waiting are was filthy disgusting never in my life have I seen a hospital so dirty. First of all I was never asked what medications I’m on which to me was the first red flag. The doctor didn’t even let me explain my symptoms and kept on cutting me off like if he’s the one in my body and knows what I’m feeling very rude for sure.They ask for a urine sample but never pick up the cup how unprofessional! They disappeared for hours then came back in the room with discharge paper work and never even spoke to me about my diagnosis which I think that doctor just guessed to be honest. This was my first time and last time attending this place and it sucks because this is my local hospital:( Once again I do not recommend!!!"

"I can’t say enough positives about Holyoke Medical Center from the time I arrived in ER to the time I left. I had amazing nurses and doctors that cared and took the time to explain if I had questions. My only concern if I ever go back is that I can’t pick my room on the 3rd floor with Alycia, Zofia, Evelyn, Rosalie, and their entire crew. Fantastic! Will only go to HMC in the future and I live walking distance to Baystate. Anyone that gets frustrated with the wait in the waiting room has no clue how things work. There are only so many beds in ER and the. Only so many rooms upstairs if someone has to stay. The times I’ve been there were many people in the ER that could have and should have gone to a clinic? The ER is named for a reason,…EMERGENCY."