UPMC Montefiore

Called wanting to discharge patient. Showed up to pick up patient and were made to wait 5+ hours. 1 ridiculous excuse after another. Staff is pleasant but absolutely clueless

Post op care is negligent...run with pleasant nurses with no knowledge or care of how to manage serious surgery....ok maybe if you need a bandaid

The girl in the coffee shop out in the front was terribly rude. Didn't say hello, goodbye and ignored me standing there talking to another employee over something that could of waited. She eventually waited on me. You need to train manners maybe?

So, we ended up here after a mis-diagnosed fractured ankle at Presby ER. Don't get me started on that whole problem... Here's what happened at Montefiore though..

Brain cancer patient with alleged fractured ankle was carted to a double room that was already occupied by a clearly drug-addicted patient at around 9pm on a Friday. This guy talked to himself, ranted, yelled for someone named Petey, blared his TV, and left his lights on all night long. Cancer patients don't need sleep apparently and everyone just sort of ignored this behavior like it was normal.

The next day, a series of docs and nurses came by - a few minutes here and there. They were all nice, but each one had to wait for another one to figure out how to get us out of there in any sort of efficient manner. Apparently, no one who provides the needed services works on weekends, so word to the wise, don't hurt yourself on a Friday. Crazy druggie roomie continues to wail and moan all day, until he finally has a violent meltdown over his suboxone dose and is removed by security. Yay - finally a moment of peace to sit and wait endlessly for someone to figure out how we can get out of there.

The next day comes and another round of docs with few solutions - all very nice, but without the resources necessary to spring us. Bathroom and shower do not accommodate a wheelchair (in a hospital), so it's a bedside potty or a ride on an office chair into the bathroom. This day also brings a case worker, who presents a letter saying that since he's only there for observation and they can't figure out what to do with him, they'll be billing all his services on an outpatient basis - you know, so they can charge 25 co-pays instead of one. Great. This day also brings a new roomie, who comes with a 24/7 sitter since he's on a psych hold. He's worlds better than the last guy; but due to the complete lack of privacy, I now know everything about him - including his full name, employer, how many wives and kids he has, where he lives, his current and past illegal drug history, his plethora of mental and physical issues, etc. Great. Oh...and since they couldn't figure out what to do with us still, they figured they should double check that broken ankle, which it turns out isn't broken at all. So glad I'm racking up hospital bills for all that...

On Monday, there are finally people who provide the PT services necessary to get discharged. PT services that he only really needs because he's been bedridden for no reason for two days. That's done in the morning; but of course, we aren't discharged for another 8 hours. Because...no reason - just takes 8 hours. Because it does.

These hospital and medical buildings in Oakland are so eclectic. I imagine the inspiration for the floor plans came from the children's story about the man who walked a crooked mile. You're on the 8th floor and walk down a corridor and you're on the 6th floor. Elevators and stairwells don't all go top to bottom. You zig and zag to get to your destination, requiring a map for first-timers. (I know the reality is old, preexisting buildings were acquired as the hospitals grew. I'll continue to believe my story, though, because it is a lot more interesting to me :)

And it's very bustling with many people quickly moving from all directions like the harried train staff on The Polar Express, yet as frazzled as it seems it's actually very orderly and, from my point of view, efficient.

There are a few places to eat - cafeteria on 4th, Starbucks kiosk on 7th and a gift shop on 7th.

Today I went to Montefiore hospital and what a great service I have received from my nurse. Specially from Betsy, her real name is Elizabeth and took care of me this morning. She always has checked me out to see if I was doing fine, if I need anything and if I was comfortable enough. She brought me blankets and pillows. I never had such wonderful treatment. I wish all health care professionals would be like her. I could see that she does likes her job because she does everything with so much care and treat everyone with kindness. She always is smiling make you feel better and happy. After her, Chuck took care of me he also was nice.

If I can I will give 0 star. The people I met there I can tell no one cares about patients. They don't care about anything. UPMC let me did blood tests but I want know how much my insurance company will cover or not. If not I won't do it or see what other options. They let me wait for 30mins and told me their advisor is calling my insurance company to " help" me figure out. But they actually never called my insurance company. UPMC just assumed my insurance will cover but actually not. The reason I wait because that person went to coffee!!!! So after they Pretend calling and told me to trust them I did these blood tests. Guess what! After a month UPMC charge me $3800 because my California insurance company only cover emergency. I called my insurance they told me no one called them and when I back to UPMC they told me they don't remember which advisor did this. A simple call can figure out but they don't care. Now I have to pay and I even didn't see any real doctor at UPMC. Luckily I have money to pay but for those people who can't or not easy to pay thousands dollars bill I would suggest you don't go this place or at least don't trust them easily. All they want is money not care your healthy. You are just a number for this hospital. And some of your life is depending on this hospital. ITS A JOKE.

I had the pleasure of working with a number of different therapists here during my stay in rehab. They were all deeply committed to their work and treated me on an individual basis, with exercises that closely matched my needs. The food was good too - much better than in the hospital!

This review is for Dr. Anna Donovan at UPMC Montefiore Internal Medicine. She is an excellent physician who is very easy to talk to. Highly recommend her for a primary care physician.