Charlotte Regional Medical Center Center for Joint Replacement

Terrible hospital, more worried about the $$$ than the patient. In for chest pain and right before I went for an angiogram this lady comes and tells me she needs my deductible and co-pay, right then, needeless to say I got very upset, blood pressure shot up andmy test was rescheduled. Told them I wanted to leave and they wouldn't take the IV's out, so I pulled them out myself and left. Went straight to Fawcett and had the test done there. Very unprofessional people there.

When my husband had a heart attack, the staff was efficient, professional, and caring. They were able to take care of the problem in a timely manner, so that there was no further damage to his heart. We are eternally grateful.

Charlotte Regional (and Peace River in Port Charlotte - it's sister hospital) are well-run and well-managed facilities. The level of care and individual compassion is FAR superior to Fawcett (right next door). They also have a good pain management policy...again you will be left to suffer - literally - at Fawcett.

Good surgeons, excellenct nurses, outstanding medical imaging and lab departments. They are very pricey if you don't have insurance, but they offer a 60% discount for full payment in that circumstance, or payment plans which makes them reasonable.

Food in the cafeteria is actually quite good.

Clean, comfortable, professional. The individual care you get from the nursing staff is unsurpassed. These people really care about you as a human being... you are not just another patient or a number.


Negatives:

- Poor communication: In general, the doctors and nurses make diagnostic determinations, but nobody ever comes and tells you what is happening or how serious your condition is (or is not). In an emergent situation, when you are asked to make a decision about the care of your loved one, you are not given any background information upon which to base your decision. You are presented with a form which states the risks and benefits have been explained, but they have NOT been explained... only the recommendation made. There is a woeful lack of printed information or informative staff to provide statistical or clinical trial background information on the drugs or procedures being recommended. So you must decide based on how much you trust the clinician's background. It is terrible to feel that way.

- Environmental: There is no "healing garden" or quiet place for patients or their families to go contemplate the spiritual aspects and implications of illness. Even a quiet roof garden or a secluded fountain would be nice. They do offer a chapel, but it is small, stuffy and dark. Other hospitals offer a garden environment with water features and they have been very helpful to me in my dark times.