Freeman Hospital West - Emergency Room 1102 West 32nd Street Freeman Hospital West, Joplin, MO 64804

"These people will kill you. I got the number for “risk management” to file a complaint against a nurse. She didn’t wear gloves, wanted me to use a sanitary wipe that she opened with her bare hands, unhooked all my equipment while holding the wipe. Then once I was all unplugged she handed me the wipe, she had in her hand the entire time and told me to go use it in the restroom. I said this wipe?? That you’ve had in your hand the whole time. She said yes. I was appalled. She then threatened me with a catheter if I didn’t do it. I told her I wanted someone else in my room right away. Her name is Laura and she works in the ER. She should not be allowed to work in the medical field. People with no care like her are why people die. Also they just left trash all over my room. Needles, trash. I wouldn’t trust this hospital with anything at all. I’m at home now reading my paperwork. I had a male doctor which I asked for his name so I could file a complaint on him aswell and he said that his name would be on my paperwork. I guess his name is Erica? Guess he didnt actually want his name on the paperwork. Call risk management and report this ER. These people are death doctors."

"My experience was horrible and sadly if you don't have an advocate there for you even worse. I left with almost every symptom I went in with. I don't know where to tell anyone to go around here or I would be there. You hope for that one Dr who will listen and not be arrogant just listen but they are sadly far from few. This is not like this in other states so don't give up. I wish every Dr and/or nurse treated their patients like they were one of their own loved ones. We are all someone's loved one's."

"This review relates to STAFFING of the emergency department. Kudos to staff for efficient intake & triage & a kind receptionist who couldn’t offer any answers but was compassionate nonetheless. Tests were ordered & performed quickly … but then the wait began with NO information provided on test results or approximate timing to speak with a doctor. Yes, it’s flu season, but why is that a surprise & staffing not increased accordingly? I witnessed two families with young children leave without being seen by a doctor, while only one patient was taken back for treatment the entire period we waited before leaving ourselves. Leaving extremely sick or injured people to sit in a cold ER lobby while having to stay awake all night is probably not a model of good health care. Administration needs to do better."

"I'm conflicted on the rating to give. Most all of the nurses we had were very kind and caring and answered any questions we had. The main exception was an older redhead lady who works in the E.R. She may be good at her job, but without compassion, I feel that she has no place there. We were on edge with her around. She seemed annoyed with us from the start and gave off the feeling that she felt challenged anytime I'd ask questions about my mother's health. Her name starts with an A, and I hope she's much kinder to future patients. As for the overall experience, I feel that this is definitely a business rather than a place to treat people back to health. We went in confused as to what was causing my mom's health to go downhill and left just as confused. She had CT scans, MRIs, x-rays, neurosurgeons come in and ask questions, 3 different doctors, and was there for a total of 4 days. In the end we left with no results as to what caused her health to deteriorate and have more questions than answers. She also had an IV in her arm they kept switching from one arm to the other that caused her pain and for her arm to bubble up on the 3rd night. When my mom pushed the call button It took a nurse 1 HOUR for her to come in and see her. I'm not sure if it's because this hospital is severely understaffed or because they saw a Hispanic woman by herself and didn't consider her a priority. Once there, the nurse was going to place it in the opposite arm until I asked her not to put it in at all. (I did this over the phone because I physically couldn't be there) In the end it turns out she didn't even need to be attached to an IV, so the pain in her arms could have been avoided. Nurses were a 3.5/5 overall experience was a 2/5."

"The waiting room at this ER is extremely worrisome- there were so so many people there and we had to wait a LONG time to even just get checked in. BUT once we got back to a room it was alright - my boyfriend was in significant pain and they gave him ice and were very kind! I feel the ER is understaffed and that their employees deal with a lot of hard situations which makes the employees a little bit irritable. But despite that, I still feel they could treat people a little kinder and that they could be realistic about wait times when you check in. If we ever have to go to the ER we will probably just go to mercy hospital. Nothing against freeman but just a rough experience all together."