Redington-Fairview General Hospital 46 Fairview Avenue, Skowhegan, ME 04976

"During my first several visits to emergency, I was treated with dignity and respect. I was suffering from severe vomiting spells that could last up to two weeks (couldn't even keep down water) and I would be in and out of the hospital practically every other day. I saw Dr. Miller (GI) to try to get to the bottom of it. At first I thought he was great. He scheduled testing for me and got things moving pretty quickly but my issues persisted, even in his office. I had to expunge, so to speak, into a basin to avoid soiling his carpet. It wasn't long after my first endoscopy that the emergency department began to treat me differently. They would neglect my needs for hours, refuse me medicine or try to give me things I can't have, and at times not even bother to put me in a room, choosing to keep me in the hallway instead. I found out later that this was due to a note Dr. Miller had left stating that I was "very emotional" and "threw myself to the floor sobbing" and tried to accuse me of doing it to myself by continuing certain habits (habits that I still continue, but haven't had any vomiting spells in, I think, over a year now since getting the right medication alongside dietary treatment, so it couldn't possibly have been that). With all of this, when I received my "results" back for the testing, I received a mostly blank paper that read "Everything is fine.". I decided I wanted a second opinion so I got one. I learned that not only am I lactose intolerant but that I had a hernia from all the vomiting as well as polyps. When I confronted Dr. Miller about this with both results, he said "Oh yeah I knew about all that". When I asked why he didn't tell me about it, did he know that was patient neglect and was he refusing to treat it by not telling me about it, he responded with "Well, I've never been sued" and ignored my original concern. The ED is good in a pinch, but don't expect them to have much compassion for very long, especially not if you're a woman with Dr. Miller as your gastroenterologist. I really don't recommend."

"Don't expect to get any real care here. After taking an unnecessary x-ray and charging us for it, there was no resolution provided to the actual problem. Take the ibuprofen that hasn't helped for three days and see your PCP. Completely unhelpful. Do yourself a favor and go elsewhere."

"I went into the ED at 1am with severe pain to the stomach, and previously puked due to so much pain they immediately got me into a bed, hooked me up to a medicine that took the pain away, got me hooked up to IV and wires to monitor my heart, within the hr came in got blood work done, while waiting for a CT scan they kept coming in offering me TV blankets etc. Got the CT scan and they said they could do a ultrasound in 2 hrs when the ultrasound tech came in and let me spend the night instead of sending me home a 30 min drive just to come back. The ultrasound was done then they sent me home with knowing what caused the pain and got me in to have a consult the next day with a surgeon. Best ED service I've ever had! Friendly staff also!"

"This was the best - by far - ER trip I've had in my life! From the greeter (really) to check-in and check-out personnel, then the nurses and Doctor Robert, I've never had ANY medical staff treat me with more respect and understanding. I'm grateful and appreciative."