Alton Memorial Hospital

"I appreciate the security team at Alton Memorial for their excellence in procedure, customer relations, and security. I speak on behalf of myself, as well as many other patients that were seen for a variety of reasons, our safety was in good hands. Anxiety levels were kept at a minimum when the patient care staff had to participate in a fire drill on a weekend. The hospitality and maintenance team kept all floors spotless throughout the duration of our visit. Universal procedures were enforced throughout staff and recommended to patients without violating any human rights. We were treated with respect and dignity. This is one of my harsher reviews. As many good quality standards mentioned, there were just as many things that could use some improvements. Patients were not checked on as much as they could have been. There was not face masks readily available to individuals coming into the emergency room without having to ask for them. The waiting area was not sectioned for contagious disease or Covid area. Not too bad shall I say, your life is taken seriously and you are a priority to the old school values and morals of Alton Memorial."

"We love the staff here. Our only problem is parking. My wife is having a procedure done in the Hatch wing this morning. I had to park over by one of the medical buildings because there were no empty spaces closer to Hatch. There are even cars parked in non parking spaces like in front of trash dumpsters. Talking to the nurses and they say the problem is employees parking in patient spaces. If I couldn’t walk as well as I do I don’t know what I would have done."

"I recently had a horrible experience in the emergency room with NP Andrea Thurm. I came in with severe unilateral sudden neck pain and facial swelling. Everyone was very kind, except Thurm. She entered the room in a foul mood right from the start and had no bedside manner whatsoever. She seemed to decide right away that my visit was pointless. She felt around on my neck a little and insisted I had just slept wrong, and even though I repeatedly told her that the pain started before I ever even laid down, she refused to pursue anything further. When I asked her why I had facial swelling if it was just a pulled muscle she told me there was no face swelling, despite the fact that my coworkers had been so concerned that morning because it looked like I'd had bad lip infections and my eye was puffy and red. I said I would just go and get a second opinion at my doctor's office because they have knowledge of my familial medical history, namely the autoimmune conditions. Thurm drilled me on that for a bit, very dismissively, and told me the ER won't test for things like that. I had never intended for them to do rheumatologist level testing, but I had hoped for at least a SED rate or an ANA. Even just a blood count to check for infection signs. ANYTHING beyond just feeling around on my neck and sending me out the door. She then suggested she could give me a script for a muscle relaxer, which to me felt like just masking the problem to get me out the door. I said I was willing to try since I had to work the next day. She asked if I wanted a doctor's note and when I said that my company doesn't accept doctors notes, you just go in or don't get paid, she scoffed and said "Yeah well it's the same for me except if I don't go in I lose $900 a day." I felt like she saw my retail uniform and decided I was so far beneath her that the loss of one day of income was irrelevant. At this point, I was so emotional and feeling so defeated. I said, "Are you having a bad day or something? You seem really grumpy.." She laughed and said no, that she was fine, and did I want the meds or not? When she left the room, I contacted my doctor's office and was able to set an appointment with them instead, so I went to the nurses' station and asked that they just let me leave. Thurm said, "Don't you want your meds?" And I said no, that I was going to go elsewhere. As I walked away, I could hear them laughing. I left and had a good cry, then went to my doctor's office and it took them all of 5 minutes to determine that I have an ear infection in the ear directly next to where my pain is located, and swollen lymph nodes as a result. They got me antibiotics, and I am already doing so much better. I didn't go into the ER wanting pain pills or muscle relaxers, I wanted help to figure out why I was in pain, and instead I was treated like a burden, and then in my patient files Thurm wrote that I was "verbally abusive" to her. I suppose she's never had anyone ever question her about why she talks to patients like they're worthless and beneath her. I kept an even calm tone the entire appointment, only said that I would go get a second opinion and that I felt she was being grumpy, and I left sobbing. I think Thurm should find other employment if she can't handle diagnosing an ear infection or treating her patients with respect."

"I was here Nov. 17 2023. My dad was in the ICU on life support. I read the reviews, and I understand there are different experiences than mine. However, I just wanted to say the nurse who was there was the kindest, gentlest nurse I've personally met. I wish I could remember her name to give her some credit, because she was definitely one of the most sweetest ladies and she was absolutely perfectly suited for a situation such as this. She explained the removal of life support in a straightforward but calming manner, and that was a blessing to have. Despite the circumstances, she made it a lot better than most people would've. Thank you!!!"

"Let me start by saying the doctors and nurses are actually great. It's just getting there that takes the time. 5 hours in the ER waiting room in extreme pain with no relief and no help from anyone. Guy across from us was having chest pains and also sat there for 5 hours. Once we got back into a room the doctors and nurses were very attentive and helpful. Something needs to be done about the waiting situation though."