Kelsey C.
Yelp
I truly do not feel there are words to properly express how appreciative I am in regards to the treatment I just received in this emergency department. I am from out of state and this is the first time I've left my apartment for the majority of the past year; I am chronically ill and have a very serious, painful and progressive disease. That disease tried to ruin me, last night, after making it impossible to eat or drink for days, and depriving me of sleep.
After being up all night experiencing worsening symptoms, calling my doctor back home for his opinion, and being told to go to the emergency department immediately, I became overwhelmed with the sheer number of emergency departments in Atlanta, and had no idea where to turn. I took some medicine, attempted to relax in bed for an hour and read every review on this app for every hospital in ATL, and decided on Piedmont.
I hobbled in their doors with my cane at approximately 5:00pm, was checked in by 5:05pm, sat down briefly and then taken to triage (where a nurse took my history and a provider took my chief complaint, both whom were extremely kind and sympathetic) at 5:15, sat down in the lobby for another few moments and was then taken back to my clean, private room at 5:37.
My own nurse was super empathetic and expressed her disappointment on my behalf, having to see Atlanta like this, but promised I'd be well cared for; I was absolutely well cared for. Within the first ten minutes in the room, I'd had blood drawn, an IV placed, nausea and pain meds administered, IV fluids transfusing and had been seen by my doctor (Dr. Sue, you're FANTASTIC; I can't remember all of the nurses that helped me, but OLIVIA, JEREMY and ALL of my nurses were INCREDIBLY empathetic and very obviously loved their jobs)! My disease causes my veins to be fragile, thin and small, and usually it takes 3-7 sticks to get an IV in me--Jeremy got it on the first try. It infiltrated an hour later after a few doses of meds, which I predicted for them would happen, and it took three more tires between two nurses to get my second IV, which is still better than most. Trust me.
It took less than five hours from the second I walked thru the front doors to being discharged, and that time included drinking contrast over the course of an hour for CT, getting that CT, xrays, waiting on the results for them and my labs and having my pain medicated. I received pain medicine approximately every hour, and they tried to convince me to let them admit me because I was still in intense pain, not any better when I left, really, and they were worried. They wanted to *admit me for pain control and observation* due to my disease; we assume a specific issue is developing but won't know for a day or two, and by then I'll be home and treated there, which makes me sad. I'd rather it be here.
I know my body and once an acute emergency was ruled out didn't want to have to stay, but PROMISED I'd come back to this hospital if I take a turn for the worse, and I meant it! I haven't felt so seen, so heard and so *important* to medical staff in a long time, let alone a strange, new medical doctor in the ED I'm presenting to from out of state. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. You saved me today.
Complaints:
*forcing patients in an emergency situation to pay for parking in your garage
*an admin employee had no place coming into my room and attempting to explain to me (incorrectly) that I wasn't getting more pain meds (which was wrong); she upset and distressed me for no reason
*nothing else comes to mind!
More commendable things:
*I am uninsured and was treated like a damn princess, as far as I'm concerned, and wasn't asked for a dime up front
*it was easy to see the staff generally got along and cared for each other and their patients, making the environment feel safe
*well lit, clean, decent location in comparison to other ATL hospitals, security, well staffed (as far as evenings go). I didn't eat the food so cannot rate it!