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Sibley Memorial Hospital
Categories: Health and Medical Hospitals Health and Medical Doctors Hospitals, Doctors [Edit]
5255 Loughboro R NWWashington, DC 20016
Neighborhood: Palisades
(202) 537-4000
- By Appointment Only:
- No
21 reviews for Sibley Memorial Hospital
21 reviews in English
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Review from Nikki F.
Washington, DC
12/9/2011
I have been very fortunate throughout my life to have never spent real time in a hospital. That all changed when i gave birth...I had some nasty complications that required a middle-of-the-night trip to Sibley, followed by an emergency delivery and many days of follow-up treatment for me and my baby. I don't know much about other hospitals, but if i ever need to be in one again I will only go to Sibley. My experience was as good as one could have considering our circumstances. I was given amazing care by some of the nicest, most competent people I have ever met. The doctors and nurses at Sibley literally saved my ass and ensured the safety of my baby. Even the cafeteria staff was kind and recognized me every day. Being in a hospital sucks, and having a sick baby sucks harder, but if I had to do it again I would go straight back to Sibley without hesitation.
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Review from Navegante D.
Washington, DC
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've been waiting for admissions over 40min and counting. This is just ridiculous.
2 stars just for hoping That the medical side goes well.... -
Review from Mark M.
Lafayette, CA
1/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
So far, not so good. Working relations between the doctors and the nurses seem highly dysfunctional here. Here to visit my Dad. Nurse said the doctor could talk this afternoon. Waited 3 hours, then heard he didn't have time. Head nurse seemed non- chalant about it.
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Review from Lorena B.
8/5/2011
I had to come here for minor outpatient surgery since this is where my doctor operates. Even though it was a 20 minute procedure, I was a nervous wreck because I'd never had surgery and anesthesia before. Everyone was super sweet and pleasant, from the admissions staff to the volunteer that checked me in at 2 West to the nurses. They did a great job of putting me at ease. I refused to sign the anesthesia consent form until I spoke with the anesthesiologist, Dr. Leifer, and he patiently answered all of my questions without rushing me to sign the form.
The post-op nurses were amazing as well! I can't get over how pleasant everyone was. The only exception was the pre-op nurse I had, an older Asian lady who barged in while another nurse was putting in my IV and began talking over her so that I couldn't listen to both of them at once. She did the same thing when security came to get my valuables and I was pretty annoyed that she couldn't just chill for a couple of minutes.
I think the best part is that the hospital is small and quiet. If I was ever in need of another surgery, I would not go anywhere else. -
Review from A B.
Washington D.C., DC
9/28/2011
I just had outpatient surgery here .I was unlucky to have to come and I'd never been to Sibley before but this is where my doctor operates. Everyone was very kind and took great care of me. The procedure was delayed a couple hours but I was kept up to date and watched over carefully. Everyone explained everything several times (not annoying) and made me feel very comfortable at a difficult time. My husband was also very comfortable waiting for me (able to distract himself on the free wireless while he waited). I won't give 5 stars only because it a difficult time for me. The staff here made it as ok as they could though so kudos there.
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Review from Louis B.
9/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
Went there for the mandatory middle-age colonoscopy. The check-in procedures were swift, prompt and courteous. And I had pre-checked on the phone the day prior so it was even more uneventful. The staff was utterly professional and friendly. They had me out in no time.
One of the nicest touches was a nurse whom I told I was cold and she brought a heated blanket to place on me.
I am pain adverse so I told them to knock me out. They did. Well, not with a kick to the jaw but with a sedative that had me sleeping like a baby.
A very pleasant experience for an otherwise unpleasant procedure. Still, it behooves everyone over 40 to consider a colonoscopy. It may save your life. -
Review from Mary W.
Washington, DC
6/24/2011
I was disappointed in their ER dept. I had a UTI (very routine condition for women) and it took me 2.5 hours to get my prescription for antibiotics. I was uninsured and thus the bill from the hospital was $650 for that ER visit -- $250 for the ER dept, $300 for the urine test to prove I had an UTI, and $50 for a pregnancy test even after I said I wasn't pregnant, the doctor wanted to test to make sure.
BUT THEN, I received a separate bill for $350 for EMA, Inc. which apparently provided the doctor in the ER who was not affiliated with the hospital. And apparently I signed my consent to this in the myriad forms that were presented to me during registration. Awesome.
So, $1000 for 2.5 hours in the ER for a UTI, which I'll be slowly paying off over the next year. They get one star for offering interest-free payment plans. Needless to say though, I feel scammed by this hospital and will not be returning. -
Review from Anna C.
New York, NY
11/6/2010
I know that reviews of hospitals are highly subjective (with 100s of nurses, doctors, and surgeons, everyone could have a different experience) but I figured I throw in my two cents.
I had an emergency appendectomy last week. I came in with some serious stomach pain and I was taken care of quickly and pleasantly. They quickly got me into a bed and began administering the necessary tests to figure out what the hell was wrong with me. Everyone I dealt with, from the front desk receptionist to my surgeon, was patient, friendly, and accommodating.
They could tell I was young, alone, and scared. I'm a college student, my family is in Massachusetts, and I was about to have surgery. So they bent a lot of rules about visitors for me. They allowed three of my friends to stay with me during pre-op, post-op, and after I was settled in my room for the night. I was very thankful for their company and very thankful that the hospital allowed it.
Oh, and they gave me liberal amounts of morphine.
So, two thumbs up Sibley. -
Review from Darlene H.
Falls Church, VA
8/26/2009
I delivered my baby here a couple months ago and the visit was not good overall.
They changed nurses on me so often during my labor, eventually one or two of them forgot to take my temperature. They didn't take it for 4 or 5 hours, and only took it again when I complained to my mom I was hot and she made them. They found I had a very high fever and at that point had to have a c-section because it was so high (103.7) and the baby was in danger. If they'd been taking it, they'd have seen it rising and given me antibiotics and everything would have been fine. So, not a good start.
I had two anesthesiologists. Everything was fine for a while, but the nurses kept making me switch what side was laying on and eventually the epidural wasn't working everywhere. They gave me more and more drugs to dull the pain, but they didn't really start working until they were wheeling me into the OR. Apparently I wasn't numb on the inside though and after they cut me open I could feel everything. All I really remember is that I was screaming nonstop until the baby was out. (My husband said the nurses faces drained of color when I started screaming.) As soon as she was out, the anesthesiologist put me out with something and for that I'm grateful.
The baby had a temperature when she came out, due to the nurses not monitoring my temp, so she had to go to the NICU for 48 hours. When I got to see her five hours later, her temp was gone and she was perfectly fine, but they still had to keep her for the full 48 hours.
The next morning a nurse came in to check on me and I asked when I could breastfeed the baby. I still had the epidural in and couldn't move my legs. She told me they had planned to keep the epidural in until 6pm. If I hadn't said anything they weren't going to let me see my baby all day, or try to breastfeed her.
When we finally got the baby back in our room the last night were there, the nurse that night kept taking her 'to let us sleep' she said. On the hospital tour they told us they would only take our baby from the room if we asked. We told her not to take the baby, that we wanted to keep her in the room with us, but she kept insisting and finally just took her. When she brought the baby back to feed in the middle of the night she told us we should give the baby formula, but we told her no, we didn't want to. The baby was doing great breastfeeding, 15 minutes on each side and getting plenty. The nurse again insisted, but we held our ground and told her no. She took her again and when she came back for the next feeding she told us she'd given the baby formula. After we told her not to! And took the baby again even though we wanted to baby in our room.
The next morning, they had to do a bunch of stuff before we could check out. They took the baby to do a hearing test, but 2 hours later we found the baby at the nurses station with no one around, so we took her back to our room. The hearing test person wasn't there yet, so they just left the baby there, didn't bring her back to us or tell us it was going to take a little while.
Also, we specifically told them not to give her the Hep B shot because we were having our doctor do it in a couple days. We didn't sign the consent form and the nurse asked us repeatedly if were were sure. Then they gave it to her anyway. Or at least we think they did, because on her form they wrote that they did it (but didn't tell us).
Most of the nurses were great when I was in recovery though, just not the last ones. -
Review from Kate F.
Washington, DC
8/12/2010
Wednesday, Surgery Attempt #1: Starve, get hooked up, and wait...and wait and wait. Over an hour after my surgery was scheduled we finally track someone down. Everyone thought someone else would tell me my surgery was delayed and will likely be cancelled. I get that it's a hospital and things come up, but they dropped the ball. They had the saline on warp speed, so at least I left completely hydrated. Parking was awful due to construction.
Friday: Surgery Attempt #2A: An intake nurse calls and is downright mean because I don't have my paperwork in and my surgery is tomorrow. The phone call takes 10 minutes for me to get her to understand all my paperwork is in already, because I had just been there and had been rescheduled.
Saturday, Surgery Attempt #2B: Actual surgery occurred! Will wonders never cease? My recovery nurse was super and put up with my post-anesthesia nonsense. I get back to my room and my roommate has decided she needs to describe her abdominal surgery to everyone she knows on speakerphone.
It gets to the point that staff is talking about it in the hall. When I complain to staff, they counter with the fact that the sound of my oxygen bothers her. [Oh no you all just di'nt!] My mom let me get away with that BS logic until about age 6. Grow up and grow a pair, Sibley Staff. Only half the time did they verify my identity by bracelet and identify what they were giving me. My own medications were strictly verbotten and I was told to leave them at home. It's a good thing I like sticking it to the man, because staff did not administer them.
Someone dumped water on me. It was an accident and she felt bad. However, unless they occasionally turn off gravity over there I'm not sure why she expected it to end differently. Everyone kept commenting about something I didn't have and how it would make everything rainbows and unicorns. No one thought it important enough to get for over 13 hours.
They're a bit obsessive about embolisms. I had to wear compression stockings and then get hooked up to something that felt like it was giving a painful deep tissue massage to my lower leg. I eventually just turned it off, because it tattles on you if you leave it undone too long. The bed has a bubble that moves around under you from time to time. These things don't lead to restful healing.
They put the IV in my hand for the second attempt because my elbow crease had already been accessed for the first attempt. My hand was sore for about three weeks and I was unable to free myself on my own from the deep calf massage machine.
Pros: The food service what awesome, I can't get delivery like that at my house. Parking was better, but probably because we got there as the sun was coming up.
They would have gotten an entire star if someone had written or called to apologize for what happened the first time. It seems like everyone's attitude is "Not my problem" or "Run away until someone else deals with it." Or else they're extremely unorganized. -
Review from Lauren B.
Washington, DC
8/7/2007
Having just gotten out yesterday morning I would have to say that my stay at Sibley Memorial Hospital was overall pleasant. I went in for a blood transfusion and radiation treatment last week. The first of several I am told and I will have to admit that the nurses and the staff were amazing.
I was treated to a private room which I was surprised by because my insurance was not paying for it but my doctor's were worried about me catching something from being in a room with someone else so I was given a private room. Nice maybe even swanky I would have to say. It was not like your typical hospital room at least not what I remember from my last stay at GW Hospital.
I had what I would call a real bed which was nice, a real bathroom and even a sofa and chair for my guest to hang out while watching me get my treatments.
The only reason I am not going to give them 5 stars is because even though I had amazing care and a great room the food sucked.
I was given a menu every morning so that I could chose what I wanted to eat. This was nice because I was not on a restricted diet for my stay. The only problem was that I never got what I ordered! I was given a bland meal each day except for the last day and I received the low fat meal.
Now as I said to my nurse Sandy, Why the Hell did you give guys give me a menu so that I could chose what food I wanted if you were just going to bring me what you wanted me to have. I would have been fine with that, but you gave me options and that just was not fair considering what kind of food it was. Not at the top of my list of places to dine trust me. So for that reason alone I am taking off 1 star and giving Sibley Hospital 4 stars.
Visited: 7/30/07 to 8/6/07 -
Review from Tanya S.
Washington D.C., DC
3/16/2011
Very good hospital. I have, unfortunately, been there twice, and both times I was so relieved to find high-quality medical care and as well as compassion from the doctors, nurses, and techs. There have been minor glitches, but that happens when dealing with human beings.
The first time, I went to the ER. I was initially seen quickly, but then there was a lot of waiting. However, they gave me pain killers and tried to keep me comfortable; I wasn't abandoned, it's just the way things go. The ER staff were helpful and responsive to my questions. They came up with an accurate diagnosis, too.
The second time, I had same-day surgery. The staff kindly tried to ease my anxiety, and when there were complications, I received quality care and more compassion. Seriously, never underestimate compassion when you are in a hospital. It really makes the whole miserable experience tolerable.
If I have a choice, this is where I'll go every time. (Of course, hopefully I won't need them again, but if I do....) -
Review from Erin W.
Washington, DC
7/27/2007
I took my partner to the Sibley ER for a sudden, painful throat infection, and I can't speak highly enough of the care we both received there. Anna was seen quickly by a team of very kind staff. I, being the nervous partner, was more worried and freaked out than Anna herself, and the ER staff was nice enough to check on me out in the waiting room to make sure I knew Anna would be fine.
I agree with Stef W.--if you're downtown or in NW, shell out an extra couple bucks and cab it to the Sibley ER. You'll be seen quickly and will avoid the chaos of the other city hospitals. -
Review from Anna R.
8/26/2007
I gave birth here several years ago and if there's one regret I have about my gynecologist leaving the area, it's that I won't be giving birth in this hospital if I have a second.
The reason why I'm giving four instead of five stars is because of a really nasty Indian woman who was my first prenatal nurse. Thank god she left the shift soon after I arrived. She was brutal.
Every one and every thing else was perfect. I was waiting around for 24 hours, most of that, in a very comfortabl state for most of the time. The nurses the other two shifts were great, attending to my every need and meticulous about checking up on me and doing all the necessary procedures.
When I went into labor, the anasthesiologist was wonderful and the nurse who assisted in giving birth to my child was outstanding. She was actually the one who birthed my son, not my doctor.
After that, the nurses in the maternity ward were also tremendous. They were so caring. I got a single room and I was so comfortable the whole time. My husband was able to stay with me during the three day stay and our baby was in the room with us until the nurses decided I needed a break.
Our son ended up having to stay an extra night, scary at first, but he had jaundice. The neonatal care was outstanding.
I can't say enough good things about Sibley. I wish I was going back there. -
Review from Terinee B.
Washington, DC
Although it was pretty unfortunate that I had to come here, I am really glad that I chose this hospital over others. Prior to coming here, I went by Holy Cross hospital right outside of DT Silver Spring, and I asked a lady there how long she had been waiting and she said over 2.5 hours... They were PACKED!!! And I really didn't have the patience to wait. My husband remembered that someone mentioned Sibley, so we made our way there. WOW! When we pulled up we didn't even realize that we had made it to the emergency room b/c it looked like a ghost town!!! When we figured out that it really was the emergency room, I was THRILLED!!! I went in and began filling out my paperwork and before I could finish it, the nurse had come out to get me! They had me back before the doctor within 10 minutes!!! Everyone was extremely nice, and did their job well. The facility itself was very neat, clean & tidy which also made for an extremely pleasant experience. This was my first time having to get stitches, and they really put me at ease. They really did a fantastic job, and I think we were out of there in about an hour! I would definitely recommend Sibley. Their level of care is fantastic, and they don't keep you waiting all night! :)
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Review from Stephanie L.
San Francisco, CA
4/1/2008
I went to the ER room here twice-once for myself, and once for my boyfriend.
I came in on a Friday night, when it was wet and raining outside. I waited for hours in the waiting room and met many interesting characters.
However, once inside I met with a Nurse Practioner who was very kind and understanding, and not at all condescending. The entire staff here was very kind.
My boyfriend came in once at 3am with the his ear canal swollen shut. It was so swollen that the doctors were not even able to drop ear drops in his ear. We both got great service.
The place was clean. Everyone on staff was very nice. It is in a great place of D.C. There is always parking.
If you are unfortunate enough to land in the E.R., choose to go to Sibley.
Also, I forgot to add I had to pick up some test results, but I didn't get off from class till 4:45pm, and the pathology office was supposed to close at 5pm. However, when I called there around 4:50pm, the receptionist said she would wait for me. I then asked if I should come in the next day, because I was stuck in horrible rush hour traffic. She said it was fine, and that she would wait. I finally arrived at 5:30ish, and there she handed me a copy of my results in a sealed envelope.
Billing here was a non issue as well. My insurance covered the ER trip, and it was quick and easy to deal with. My boyfriend's insurance covered a part of his E.R. trip, and they sent him a bill for the rest. He paid it with over the phone with a visa card, and two days later received the receipt in the mail.
Great hospital. -
Review from Jennifer M.
Alhambra, CA
10/11/2007
I delivered my first baby girl here in 2005. It was the best experience compared to the 2nd delivery. They just remodeled the maternity ward and the rooms are spacious and well lit and the furniture is very comfortable. The nurses and care takers were MARVELOUS, GENTLE, KIND and PATIENT. They cleaned me up even in the most private areas without any complains and was very nice about it. They brought me food and my little girl whenever I wanted it. They checked on me constantly. I was there for 3 days because of my Csection and I regreted not having my second baby here. It is the BEST. We also took their baby class here for preparation and toured the place. It is a must do for those who don't know where to go or what's happening on the day of your delivery. I definitely recommend this hopsital the staff and the classes.
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Review from Anne A.
Washington, DC
7/14/2011
I brought in a neighbor over the weekend. They checked her into orthopaedics. I cannot say enough good about all the nurses. They were wonderful!
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Review from Louis O.
Washington, DC
6/14/2010
I had a great experience at Sibley.
Easy parking.
Not chaotic at all. Got in and got out very fast.
If you live in Upper NW (Woodley Park, Adams Morgan, Cleveland Park) I would definitely recommend Sibley over GW. -
Review from tangled w.
Bethesda, MD
3/26/2009
Sibley hospital and a few of its associated doctors almost murdered me by misdiagnosing my appendicitis as an ovarian cyst. First visit to the ER in the middle of the night, "examined" and sent home, although I was throwing up into the wastebasket while waiting for my boyfriend to pull the car around. After the most horrific night of my life, when I had nothing left to vomit up but bile, dragged half dead self back to hospital and they admitted me. But they did not treat me. They ignored me, in fact, because it was a weekend, and my regular doctor was at the beach. My appendix ruptured sometime during the next three days, and I was not seen by a surgeon (and only then because my mother literally cried and begged the nurse to send for someone) until I had been there for 4 days!- and the moment he walked in the room, he said, "GET HER TO THE OPERATING ROOM STAT!!! THIS WOMAN IS CLEARLY TOXIC!!" That finally got their attention, and I was duly operated on (huge slashing scar from stem to stern because they were in a bit of a hurry at that point) cleaned up the poison as much as possible, sewed me up and then waited to see if I would die. I didn't, but it was definitely touch and go as I had peritonitis and the beginnings of gangrene in my stomach by then...My enormous wound, complete with draining tube, became infected a few days into recovery...This was not a good experience, people. I will never set foot in Sibley Hospital again. Oh, and then they sued me because my insurance wouldn't cover the entire 5 week stay (wonder why?) and I sure as hell didn't have the money to pay their insane bill....not to mention the fact that there would have been no insane bill if they hadn't...never mind. Don't go there. Go to any other hospital. Maybe if you're only going to have a baby and you know your doctor really, really well...well, no, shit can happen in those cases, too...and I know of a couple... Just stay away. Drive down the road to Georgetown, even if you're throwing up out the window.
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Review from Taylor S.
Chevy Chase, MD
10/18/2010
I visited the ER at Sibley to have stitches in my toe in May. At the time I thought it was great because I got in and out quickly although the instructions for self-care I was given were poor and resulted in my having to have steri-strips applied when my stitches were removed. However, I've been receiving bills for the stitches and steri-strips since May and it is now mid-October. The billing is a total nightmare because the hospital sends you bills, a separate ER doctor's company sends you bills, and God only knows who else sends you bills.... plus numerous explanations of benefits from my insurance company... all for some stitches in my toe. The medical codes on the bills are really cryptic so you have no idea what you are actually being charged for. I am so tired of finding more and more cryptic bills related to this in my mail months later (the latest one arrived today) . I shudder to think of the medical billing nightmare that would ensue from any more complicated medical procedure than stitches. It would be enough for me to direct myself or a loved one to another hospital if I were physically able to do so.
