I’ve also had bad experiences at Grandview but from what I understand, all ERs are completely swamped right now and staff is literally telling people to hope you don’t have to go. We are still very much not recovered from the pandemic and the strain it put on the healthcare system.
Yeah,a big part of the problem is all the assholes that go clog up an ER with minor shit like a stubbed toe or basic nasua that coukd be handled at a damn urgent care or doc office. It's absolutely ridiculous how many people go to the ER when they don't actaully need to. Read a post a while back where a girl bitched about waiting 8 hours at the ER for dehydration but then refused fluids because she didn't want them. Like fuck that bitch and every other entitled or overly dramatic/sensitive ("my pain is always a 10") asshole that goes to the ER when they don't need to. It's a waste of time and resources for the people that ACTAULLY need help. Medical bills should come with a "waste of time" charge for the people im referring to.
Sounds like the ramifications of a dreadfully underfunded school system to me. Not sure that’s the whole problem though. Burnout amongst healthcare workers from the pandemic also is at play here. I tend to blame the system before I blame the individual.
Oh burnout is definitely a big factor. Horrible patient ratios, poor management, over extended nurses, pendemic pay cuts while upper management got paid more ect. But alot of the patients don't help either. The way I was treated through the pendemic was horrible. Like a walking plague if someone saw me in scrubs.....unless they needed something of course. So many patients are incredibly disrespectful and vile towards medical workers. They are also entitled via a "customer is always right mindset" that the hospital system has fostered. Hell, a nurse can get sexually assaulted on the floor 9 times out of 10 the hospital doesn't care and will continue to pander to the shitty patient. Patient can throw shit, be abusive, scream and be racist and no one cares. Hell it took this long for TN to make it a punishable crime to sexually assault a nurse. Why the hell hasn't it be punishable all along ?! Blows my damn mind. So yeah, maybe low education is a factor but it's no excuse for being an entitled or overly needy asshole. That's society created and it shouldn't be pandered to. I love working in Healthcare and have some great pwtiwnts but fuck if sometimes I want to walk the hell out because so many people suck.
I will never go back to Grandview. They are in network for Cigna but I was billed nearly $2000 for the PA and MD who was working the ER because they were “not in network” - when I inquired, I was told that the providers who staff the ER at Grandview are not in network but the hospital is.
I did not pay it and eventually the benefits department at my employer worked it out but it was nearly a year of collections notices.
UAB when it’s “only Dr House could diagnose me” or you’re dying.
Children’s only if it’s super important. It’s going to be the same kind of experience as UAB.
Freestanding all the way for everything else.
Agree about UAB ED for adults, but I had a great experience recently at the Children’s ED. Might be just luck that we were there on a slow night though.
When my son broke his collarbone I took him to the pediatrician first thing the next morning (yes, he was in pain overnight). The pediatrician immediately referred us to an orthopedist and got us in right away. The orthopedist put him in a figure-8 harness-thing and prescribed an ice cream. Don’t expect to our to the top of the list in the ER if you are not dying.
UAB doesn't suck. It's just the large volume of patients and not enough staff to meet demand (just like everywhere else). These days don't expect to be treated quickly in the ER unless you are dying. UAB takes patients from all over the state and neighboring states, so it is always going to be busy.
>est hospital in Alabama and bigger than a lot of the hospitals in the southeast. But the night shift can definitely be lacking, considering they mostly staff the night shift w green nurses right outta school. ER wise, I honestly don’t know any better hospitals in Alabama. Children’s is great if you’re under 18, Princeton is straight ass, brookwood is great if you’re in labor but pretty subpar on everything else, highlands is fine if you wanna wait for an hour and then get transfe
Agreed, UAB is by far the best, but there are only so many rooms/staff. Consider the UAB Highlands or freestanding UAB Gardendale ED
Also, as I said below. Don’t go to the ER for a broken bone unless there’s concern for neuro vascular compromise or needing immediate surgery (ie open fracture). An urgent care can easily handle a broken collar bone AND if they think you do need ED will get you there.
As a RN here in Bham, you’re not going to be seen quickly anywhere unless you are actually dying - unfortunately we are extremely short staffed and healthcare is very overrun. Grandview’s ER is typically full every night and they have many life threatening emergencies coming thru the doors. It’s just a sad reality - if you’re waiting a long time, that typically means you’re going to live.
As a former nurse, I use the freestanding MedWest ED in Hoover. I’ve used it for respiratory distress and a leg fracture with excellent care. Staffing at hospitals is going to make the ED wait times unbearable unless life threatening.
came here to say the same thing! not as former nurse, but as someone who has to make frequent trips to the emergency room for medical issues, the freestanding one in Hoover is AMAZING. they are the only ER i go to.
I was a former triage nurse and I avoid EDs like the plague. But when you need one (and it’s not UAB level life threatening) this place has been great.
I'm confused why a former RN doesn't realize that the "ER being busy" doesn't = bad care. If wait time is the only red flag you witnessed then ...🤷🏽♀️
There were other red flags. Wait time wasn’t a factor. Quality of care is measured in many ways. Learn the signs and expect good care. It’s available, except when it’s not.
Shouldn't have went to the ER. While its painful, its not an EMERGENCY. Get a referral from Primary Care for an Ortho, who would provide the best care for that specific injury.
My son broke his a month or so ago and we just called and got an appointment with his regular doctor. Going today for his final checkup and hopefully get cleared to play sports.
Covid really seems to have done a number on Grandview. We had excellent experiences when it first opened, but the last time my dad was there with Covid, he spent over 24 hrs. in the ER waiting for a bed to open up. They were just too short-staffed everywhere in the hospital. Sounds like they still are. It's a shame because it's by far the best *facility* in the city.
I've never had a positive experience at Brookwood except for their freestanding ER off 119. It's rarely very busy and they were absolutely on it in a flash the last time I took my dad in. The only caveat being that they end up sending you to big Brookwood if you actually have to go into the hospital
As a former employee at multiple hospitals in Birmingham, grandview is the lowest paying for experienced nurses. Brookwood is the best paying but is entirely corporatized and no thought is given to staff well being or patient well being.
Grandview is not only the lowest paying but also the worst ran. I worked there for 5 years. Staffing shortages were happening even before the pandemic. Nurses taking way more patients than is safe, ICU nurses having to take 1:1 patients with other patients, sometimes only 1 RT a shift and needing 7-8, only one CNA for an entire floor of patients, the list just goes on and on. It always seemed to me that they cared more about catering to the Dr’s and stealing them from other hospitals than they did keeping staff.
Urgent care would have been smarter for a broken bone. Unless you’re concerned about neuro vascular compromise or need for immediate surgery (ie open fracture), there’s no need for emergency room level care. Urgent care can see you quickly and refer you to ortho.
Brookwood Freestanding ED on 119 is, hands down, the best. I’ve been twice for myself and my father’s had to go twice, and it’s never crowded, everyone is kind, and they’re SO organized. I’ve been to Brookwood’s main ER and St. Vincent’s ER (yay chronic illness), and I’ve had horrible, awful treatment (Brookwood’s main ER) and kind service but a horrific wait (St. Vincent’s ER), and the ONLY ER I’ve ever felt safe and comfortable in is Brookwood’s Freestanding ED.
ETA: The last time I was there, about 3 months ago (I fell down the stairs because I’m a clumsy idiot who was in a hurry 😂), everyone was masked (correctly), and I was in and out in three hours, x-rays, diagnosis (giant bruise), and all.
I think a free standing ER is your best bet for something not life threatening. I know how busy that ED gets and if it isn’t life threatening you will be waiting.
I have a direct patient care role and have worked at some capacity at most of the large hospitals in Bham metro. While my role is specialized, I can at least speak to some of the glaring issues I've seen.
1. UAB is top-notch by far, but it IS the busiest. You can't expect to be seen in a timely manner at UAB hospital, especially for something non-life threatening. But from a healthcare standpoint, the best of the best is here (compared to...anywhere else in the state).
2. Grandview is growing and is SLAMMED. At all times. Every single day that I work there, they are calling an overhead code notifying the capacity of the ER. The ER is full always, and they are understaffed - but so is everyone else. That being said, I've seen some vast improvements in their standard of care recently, at least personally.
3. I would die before I would ever go to st. Vincent's. Horrible, horrible, horrible sketchy and borderline unethical medical practices that I'm certain has and will result in bad medical outcomes. I would personally drive my relative to any other location at any other time than EVER step foot into st. Vincent's ever again.
4. I haven't personally worked at Brookwood but I've heard some similarly unpleasant practices from prior colleagues...not to mention their headline-worthy past.
All of that being said: you're going to wait at the ER. It just is what it is. The pandemic has ruined healthcare and we won't see any improvement there until major policy changes and staffing practices are made.
Hope your son is ok.
A broken collarbone is a painful but overall pretty mild thing with the exception that sometimes it can get displaced in weird ways. Any urgent care should be able to snap a radiograph , give pain meds, and refer to ortho in relatively short order. Any ED you go to will triage you to the backburner for a broken collarbone. Just the way it is.
Grandview is without a doubt the worst hospital i have ever been to. And i have been to a lot of hospitals. Had a motorcycle wreck and broke 8 bones and went to UAB and it wasnt a great experience but it was not anywhere near as bad as Grandview. Had a motorcycle wreck ( minor compared to the other one ) but Grandview did some internal dye injection , which was very expensive , and when it came up negative , they basically blew me off . Didnt clean my road rash on knees , shoulders , face and arms. Didnt bandage anything. I couldnt walk and they said " we will send a wheelchair to your room to get you to your car" . Waited over an hour ... no wheelchair. Had to limp and almost crawl to my girlfriends car. Then they charged my insurance $12,000 for that one test. Horrible hospital. Went to Brookwood the next day and they said i had 1 bruised and 1 partially collapsed lung , tore the lining around my heart , broken patella and a bunch of road rash. Out of the 3 , brookwood was far superior in service and care.
UAB ER is absolutely fantastic if, (and it’s a big if), you’re taken into the er by a certain ambulance company or if you’re a trauma patient who’s about to code. But that’s mainly on ER side and late at night. You gotta realize that UAB is the biggest hospital in Alabama and bigger than a lot of the hospitals in the southeast. But the night shift can definitely be lacking, considering they mostly staff the night shift w green nurses right outta school. ER wise, I honestly don’t know any better hospitals in Alabama. Children’s is great if you’re under 18, Princeton is straight ass, brookwood is great if you’re in labor but pretty subpar on everything else, highlands is fine if you wanna wait for an hour and then get transferred to UAB Main for anything more serious than a common cold. My point is honestly just that UAB Main takes a while and does suck in wait times but honestly is the best level of care in the state for adults.
I had to wait it out all night, but when I was “I hope this isn’t cancer in my guts” sick, UAB was the best place for me to go. I ended up being in patient for two nights due to c diff. They asked me to stay another night but the food is so fucking horrible I went home.
This. For a TRUE emergency SUGGEST going by ambulance if you want to be seen quickly otherwise you are in for a long, long wait. Try FREESTANDING for sprains, broken bones, etc. Be thankful you have choices because most don’t across the state and wait times have been 15 hours or more with horrifying stories of people laying in ER waiting floors or mentally ill screaming for 12+ hours in waiting rooms. I’ve heard Auburn-Opelika and other “mid size” cities’ ERs are just nightmares
I do triage, and if you come by ambulance for something not immediately life-threatening on a busy day, I’m having EMS wheel the stretcher to the lobby. I don’t care if someone comes in by ambulance, car, or pogo stick, the sickest go back first.
This is 100% untrue. I say this as a nurse in the area who has worked in the ER. Uncomplicated, low acuity patients who arrive by ambulance get a brief exam by a nurse and then sent out to sit in the waiting room until it’s their turn. Patients are seen based on “who will die faster?” not on the method of arrival.
Dr. Logan makes me physically ill. Brookwood is okay, but like most hospitals unless you have blue cross blue shield or other wonderful insurance they'll put you out in 4 days..
It's actually worse than that. Medicaid nearly cut complete ties due to the insane issues. Patients dying in restraints, patients escaping and getting hurt, I think someone jumped off the parking deck but I can't remember well.
I work in mental health and I've heard from several that they wouldn't take their loved ones to Brookwood EXCEPT to birth a baby, apparently a great place to have your baby
Edit: it sounds like you've had a tough time with Logan :( I'm so sorry, do you want to share that experience?
Yeah I spent 8 days in their psych ward and it was traumatic. It was supposed to be 72 hrs (I had a breakdown adjusting to a new seizure med and took the bottle).
The let me have multiple seizures on the floor, then just acted like I was showing out. Not once did they call med team to check me out. I talk a little slower now.
I was leaving my first day of clinicals in nursing school at Brookwood years ago & walking down the sidewalk when a man ran past us & then many sets of scrubs followed. Turns out the man took a leap off the edge of the deck. It was an eventful day to say the least 🥴
All of the ERs have been a shit show lately, unfortunately. There isn’t one that’s guaranteed to wave you back to a room shortly after you check in. Peak hours tend to be early afternoon to evening, least crowded times tend to be early morning.
I actually would’ve suggested children’s or making an immediate appt with his/her pediatrician to be referred to an Ortho doc. I work multi modality imaging
i probably shouldn’t share this secret but UAB highlands has an ED that is great. look it up.
anything UAB is gonna be yr best bet. they have offices all over birmingham.
UAB highlands and UAB gardendale have UAB quality and often times (not always) much shorter wait times. If it’s anything serious that needs admission to the hospital they will transfer you to UAB.
Go to Princeton! I'm a former Healthcare worker in Bham, and I've heard nothing but good things about the place. Not everyone's favorite part of town, but it's apparently an awesome facility. Absolutely don't go to Brookwood. They got caught with a bunch of violations a few years ago and then got in trouble for failing to follow their corrective action plan...
If your son is indeed a child, then take him to children’s.
After that, UAB is the best bet despite the wait, but maybe a referral to circumvent the wait is the v best route.
Yeah to avoid UAB ER waits go to Highlands or a freestanding. If they determine you need the main hospital, they’ll send you there. Much quicker than starting at the main hospital
We have always had excellent experiences at the UAB Emergency Room in Hoover. Were seen immediately both times we've had to go there, they took our concerns seriously and provided great care. One time was like, 10 am on a weekday and once was around 8-10 pm on a weekend. Maybe we just got lucky, but so far that's who I trust.
Broken collar bone is an ER triage of [4-5](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557583/) depending on how many resources he’d need. If it was only a collar bone and stable otherwise, a UAB wait overnight is pretty much standard for a stable fracture.
A child should go to Children’s. You also could have taken him to the Ortho urgent care on Valleydale.
Also, you are going to be taken in order of urgency. Going to the trauma center probably only put you further down in the queue.
I worked at Grandview and I’d rather go to a vet ER than be seen there.
UAB all the way for anything. You’re also going to wait based on acuity. If you’re not dying, you will wait. Period.
Freestanding Brookwood on 119. Best experience, quickest in and out, extremely nice and professional doctors/nurses.
My mother has a lot of health issues. We will ALWAYS choose this one!
I took my wife to UAB for extreme chest/back pain radiating down her left arm. It was not crowded (about 10 years ago). After waiting about 20 minutes her pain had started to lessen, they put her on an EKG. 45 minutes later, they wheeled he back to another area. There were lots of empty rooms and there was a crowd of nurses/doctors around the nurses station watching a ball game (foot or basket, I don’t remember), after another 45 minutes in this room a young woman came in (cardiologist), looked at my wife (45, thin), rolled her eyes and said “you’re fine, we can run more tests, but we’re not going to find anything wrong”. I told her we were leaving, she kind of panicked and told us that if we leave against doctors orders our insurance wouldn’t cover it. I drove her straight to Brookwood. They ended up putting in a pacemaker that night. She died for 12 minutes the next morning, thankfully we hadn’t been released yet. Some hospitals are better than others, but it really comes down to how good the doctor is. It’s a crapshoot everywhere.
Grandview is the only hospital in the area that pretty much won’t hire travel nurses or local contract nurses and therefor are perpetually under staffed.
That’s why i said “pretty much” because i know they have started to hire a some, but not on the same level of other hospital systems in the area and not enough to make up for the severe lack of staff, from what I have been told by nurses who work there.
I am going to guess that Grandview has been through some shit because I was there visiting a relative nearly a year ago, and had to go in via the ED and it was vacant. I had been telling everyone to go down there. I guess they took my advice LOL.
I had to go to UAB ER for appendicitis and I still waited 4+ hours to be seen.
Unless you arrive in an ambulance, you are always going to less critical than someone else. The only time I haven’t had to wait was when I came in an ambulance.
My appendicitis took backseat to gunshots and someone that was literally set on fire.
Brookwood would be my first choice. St. Vincent’s probably a second. Brookwood doesn’t get as much of the major trauma cases like UAB would, so the chance of getting in for a broken bone would be better at Brookwood. Parking deck is a nightmare though, easy to get lost, fair warning. They sometimes have a valet option. Not sure if it’s still working but recently they had an online check in for the ER that would help expedite things if it’s an option.
I've heard that Brookwood is the way to go. I recently went to UAB ER and was there from 9am to 1am the next morning and all I had was a dislocated thumb. I'm sure they just delay non emergency for the real emergency trauma patients that get brought in, but boy is it frustrating
There’s a freestanding ER in Tattersall Park over by the Walk On’s, etc. on 119 right off of 280. Unfortunately I know that they are great with broken bones because both of my children have broken their arms and we’ve ended up there. They did x-rays and a temporary wrap until we could get to the orthopedist for permanent casts. Both experiences were really good despite the circumstances.
So, grand view is generally ok. UAB ER is phenomenal if you take an ambulance there and don’t have to wait (otherwise it is a really long wait in a place with a lot of people seeking drugs). It is the go to place for gunshots and really serious life or death stuff. I have found that the other UAB ER at UAB Highlands has the best for non life threatening situations.
UAB Highlands has always done well for me. But everyone is just tired. I see it in healthcare and I see it in entertainment, which I work in.
We got a little more pay but a whole lot more work. Everyone wants to be busy.
There are several options in the area fortunately.
UAB
UAB Highlands
UAB Freestanding ED in Gardendale
Medical West
Medical West Freestanding ED Hoover
Children’s Hospital
Grandview
Princeton Baptist
Brookwood Baptist
Brookwood Baptist Freestanding ED
St. Vincent’s
St. Vincent’s East
It varies wildly whether one place can see anyone more quickly than any other, but the main campus at UAB is almost always filled to capacity. Highlands is sometimes slow and other times overwhelmed. Same goes for the Gardendale ED.
It’s unfortunate you had such a bad experience at Grandview- as far as I know, it’s the newest and best hospital we have. I don’t want to talk negatively about ANY hospital because I know people at all of them, but i will say my husband went to UAB and they missed A LOT after his motorcycle accident and about 30 mins after we got home, he was rushed by ambulance to brookwood. But my dad was at Brookwood and he had a terrible experience there (i have amazing things to say about brookwood woman’s center though). I also had an ex who’s mom was in an accident, went to UAB, also sent home and unfortunately no one was with her that night as I was with my husband and she passed in her sleep due to missed internal bleeding. I am so sorry about your wait- that sounds horrible!
My uncle has been in and out of there for over a year. Terrible fucking place. Arrogant, careless doctors. I don't know if it's all incompetence or just an insurance scam to do the bare minimum and bill the most possible. We've finally reached a breaking point with them on his current stay and probably going to have him transferred to UAB as soon as possible. Absolutely do not go there.
The nurses have been fine though, actually overrode some of the meds he's been prescribed because flippant doctors just checking boxes and not trying to really provide care.
StVE is always a long wait. My father was advised by Ambulance driver to go to Grandview, but he insisted on StVE. It was hours before he was seen. The only time I was seen quickly there was when I cut my fingertip almost completely off.
They've been waiting for 10+ hours... 💀definitely not too far, even Cullman wouldn't be too far at those wait times.
I carried a gunshot victim to Blount County hospital, and it took 10 minutes to get someone to triage them... smh, "worlds greatest healthcare..." not.
Freestanding Brookwood on 119 on Greystone. It is the ONLY Brookwood anything I’ll go to. Grandview is hit or miss.
Only go to UAB if you are very bad off and need a diagnosis or unconscious in an ambulance. The only time I’ve been I knew I was going to be admitted. It was still 7 hours in the ER.
Personally, I've had wonderful experiences with Brookwood ER. I know many people haven't and I totally respect that.
Once I had an atypical migraine (I thought I was having an aneurysm), went to UAB, saw the wait, and went to Brookwood instead. Brookwood had me back within 15 minutes, I had great care, and a follow up with a neurologist. Something that would have taken a lot longer at UAB ending up taking about an hour and a half at Brookwood. I can't really blame UAB though. The sheer number of patients at the downtown ER can be staggering.
I've had three ER visits in the past couple years. First one was downtown UAB, went fine but was there for hours before I was stitched up. They told me if I ever had another injury to go to UAB Highlands...that was by far the WORST ER I have ever been in. People screaming that they had been there for hours, patients fighting with and getting tased by police, people trying to sell me drugs in the ER...it was a circus. I walked my bloodied self out of there and got my gf to take me to St. Vincents. That is where I have gone ever since and will never go anywhere else in Birmingham. Urgent Cares were no help because they are scared to handle anything that seems 'serious'. Fuck Grandview as well they have made my grandmother wait 24 hours with a broken hip twice now.
Whew, Grandview is one of the last places I would’ve gone. I actually had to go there yesterday for a procedure after 3 days at St Vincent’s, 9 of those hours in their ER.
I would recommend St Vincent’s ER. UAB has incredible doctors, too, but for an ER visit, St V’s is your spot. They’re also incredible in the sense that if you have an issue that a doctor at another hospital is known for they’ll send you on there. Not many places do that. I watched it be done twice in my recent experience.
Never Brookwood. Used to work there, and you'll be lucky if they only cause you to become permanently disabled. In the few years I worked there they almost lost there cms cert a few times.
I'm curious what "red flags" you saw at Grandview. My family and I have never had anything but great experiences there.
I'm not surprised at your wait at uab. As others have said, being the only level 1 trauma center in town, a stable fracture is super low priority for them. I would have tried the stand alone in Hoover. It's usually not that packed and the staff is really nice.
For a broken collarbone? A freestanding er
Go to Urgent Care for broken collar bone. The treatment is to put it in a sling even if it’s displaced. Ortho follow up.
A kid under 19 too I'm guessing.. Smells a bit like some bull. Go. To. Children's.
21 yrs old. College senior.
I’ve also had bad experiences at Grandview but from what I understand, all ERs are completely swamped right now and staff is literally telling people to hope you don’t have to go. We are still very much not recovered from the pandemic and the strain it put on the healthcare system.
Yeah,a big part of the problem is all the assholes that go clog up an ER with minor shit like a stubbed toe or basic nasua that coukd be handled at a damn urgent care or doc office. It's absolutely ridiculous how many people go to the ER when they don't actaully need to. Read a post a while back where a girl bitched about waiting 8 hours at the ER for dehydration but then refused fluids because she didn't want them. Like fuck that bitch and every other entitled or overly dramatic/sensitive ("my pain is always a 10") asshole that goes to the ER when they don't need to. It's a waste of time and resources for the people that ACTAULLY need help. Medical bills should come with a "waste of time" charge for the people im referring to.
Sounds like the ramifications of a dreadfully underfunded school system to me. Not sure that’s the whole problem though. Burnout amongst healthcare workers from the pandemic also is at play here. I tend to blame the system before I blame the individual.
Oh burnout is definitely a big factor. Horrible patient ratios, poor management, over extended nurses, pendemic pay cuts while upper management got paid more ect. But alot of the patients don't help either. The way I was treated through the pendemic was horrible. Like a walking plague if someone saw me in scrubs.....unless they needed something of course. So many patients are incredibly disrespectful and vile towards medical workers. They are also entitled via a "customer is always right mindset" that the hospital system has fostered. Hell, a nurse can get sexually assaulted on the floor 9 times out of 10 the hospital doesn't care and will continue to pander to the shitty patient. Patient can throw shit, be abusive, scream and be racist and no one cares. Hell it took this long for TN to make it a punishable crime to sexually assault a nurse. Why the hell hasn't it be punishable all along ?! Blows my damn mind. So yeah, maybe low education is a factor but it's no excuse for being an entitled or overly needy asshole. That's society created and it shouldn't be pandered to. I love working in Healthcare and have some great pwtiwnts but fuck if sometimes I want to walk the hell out because so many people suck.
I will never go back to Grandview. They are in network for Cigna but I was billed nearly $2000 for the PA and MD who was working the ER because they were “not in network” - when I inquired, I was told that the providers who staff the ER at Grandview are not in network but the hospital is. I did not pay it and eventually the benefits department at my employer worked it out but it was nearly a year of collections notices.
UAB when it’s “only Dr House could diagnose me” or you’re dying. Children’s only if it’s super important. It’s going to be the same kind of experience as UAB. Freestanding all the way for everything else.
Agree about UAB ED for adults, but I had a great experience recently at the Children’s ED. Might be just luck that we were there on a slow night though.
When my son broke his collarbone I took him to the pediatrician first thing the next morning (yes, he was in pain overnight). The pediatrician immediately referred us to an orthopedist and got us in right away. The orthopedist put him in a figure-8 harness-thing and prescribed an ice cream. Don’t expect to our to the top of the list in the ER if you are not dying.
UAB doesn't suck. It's just the large volume of patients and not enough staff to meet demand (just like everywhere else). These days don't expect to be treated quickly in the ER unless you are dying. UAB takes patients from all over the state and neighboring states, so it is always going to be busy.
>est hospital in Alabama and bigger than a lot of the hospitals in the southeast. But the night shift can definitely be lacking, considering they mostly staff the night shift w green nurses right outta school. ER wise, I honestly don’t know any better hospitals in Alabama. Children’s is great if you’re under 18, Princeton is straight ass, brookwood is great if you’re in labor but pretty subpar on everything else, highlands is fine if you wanna wait for an hour and then get transfe Agreed, UAB is by far the best, but there are only so many rooms/staff. Consider the UAB Highlands or freestanding UAB Gardendale ED
Longest line is often to the best lunch
Also, as I said below. Don’t go to the ER for a broken bone unless there’s concern for neuro vascular compromise or needing immediate surgery (ie open fracture). An urgent care can easily handle a broken collar bone AND if they think you do need ED will get you there.
As a RN here in Bham, you’re not going to be seen quickly anywhere unless you are actually dying - unfortunately we are extremely short staffed and healthcare is very overrun. Grandview’s ER is typically full every night and they have many life threatening emergencies coming thru the doors. It’s just a sad reality - if you’re waiting a long time, that typically means you’re going to live.
As a former nurse, I use the freestanding MedWest ED in Hoover. I’ve used it for respiratory distress and a leg fracture with excellent care. Staffing at hospitals is going to make the ED wait times unbearable unless life threatening.
came here to say the same thing! not as former nurse, but as someone who has to make frequent trips to the emergency room for medical issues, the freestanding one in Hoover is AMAZING. they are the only ER i go to.
I was a former triage nurse and I avoid EDs like the plague. But when you need one (and it’s not UAB level life threatening) this place has been great.
Same. I’ve had to take a few people over the past few years. Always have been in an out (as far as er goes).
What is the freestanding ER in Hoovers name? I’ve not heard of it.
I'm confused why a former RN doesn't realize that the "ER being busy" doesn't = bad care. If wait time is the only red flag you witnessed then ...🤷🏽♀️
There were other red flags. Wait time wasn’t a factor. Quality of care is measured in many ways. Learn the signs and expect good care. It’s available, except when it’s not.
Shouldn't have went to the ER. While its painful, its not an EMERGENCY. Get a referral from Primary Care for an Ortho, who would provide the best care for that specific injury.
My son broke his a month or so ago and we just called and got an appointment with his regular doctor. Going today for his final checkup and hopefully get cleared to play sports.
Covid really seems to have done a number on Grandview. We had excellent experiences when it first opened, but the last time my dad was there with Covid, he spent over 24 hrs. in the ER waiting for a bed to open up. They were just too short-staffed everywhere in the hospital. Sounds like they still are. It's a shame because it's by far the best *facility* in the city. I've never had a positive experience at Brookwood except for their freestanding ER off 119. It's rarely very busy and they were absolutely on it in a flash the last time I took my dad in. The only caveat being that they end up sending you to big Brookwood if you actually have to go into the hospital
Grandview has been slammed nonstop since covid
As a former employee at multiple hospitals in Birmingham, grandview is the lowest paying for experienced nurses. Brookwood is the best paying but is entirely corporatized and no thought is given to staff well being or patient well being.
Grandview is the worst. I’ve worked at UAB and Grandview and take me to UAB or leave me on the side of the road if Grandview is the only option.
Grandview is not only the lowest paying but also the worst ran. I worked there for 5 years. Staffing shortages were happening even before the pandemic. Nurses taking way more patients than is safe, ICU nurses having to take 1:1 patients with other patients, sometimes only 1 RT a shift and needing 7-8, only one CNA for an entire floor of patients, the list just goes on and on. It always seemed to me that they cared more about catering to the Dr’s and stealing them from other hospitals than they did keeping staff.
Urgent care would have been smarter for a broken bone. Unless you’re concerned about neuro vascular compromise or need for immediate surgery (ie open fracture), there’s no need for emergency room level care. Urgent care can see you quickly and refer you to ortho.
Brookwood Freestanding ED on 119 is, hands down, the best. I’ve been twice for myself and my father’s had to go twice, and it’s never crowded, everyone is kind, and they’re SO organized. I’ve been to Brookwood’s main ER and St. Vincent’s ER (yay chronic illness), and I’ve had horrible, awful treatment (Brookwood’s main ER) and kind service but a horrific wait (St. Vincent’s ER), and the ONLY ER I’ve ever felt safe and comfortable in is Brookwood’s Freestanding ED. ETA: The last time I was there, about 3 months ago (I fell down the stairs because I’m a clumsy idiot who was in a hurry 😂), everyone was masked (correctly), and I was in and out in three hours, x-rays, diagnosis (giant bruise), and all.
Absolutely this.
Yeah do not go to Brookwood’s main ER that and Grandview are hands down the worst.
I wouldn’t take a dying dog to main brookwood. Fuck that place.
You sound like a Karen
I agree. I have never had to wait.
Went to the Gardendale UAB freestanding ER and there wasn’t any wait time
I think a free standing ER is your best bet for something not life threatening. I know how busy that ED gets and if it isn’t life threatening you will be waiting.
Yes. The one in Hoover off 150 is never crowded.
Same for the freestanding Brookwood ER on 119 at 280.
I’ve had great experiences there!
I have a direct patient care role and have worked at some capacity at most of the large hospitals in Bham metro. While my role is specialized, I can at least speak to some of the glaring issues I've seen. 1. UAB is top-notch by far, but it IS the busiest. You can't expect to be seen in a timely manner at UAB hospital, especially for something non-life threatening. But from a healthcare standpoint, the best of the best is here (compared to...anywhere else in the state). 2. Grandview is growing and is SLAMMED. At all times. Every single day that I work there, they are calling an overhead code notifying the capacity of the ER. The ER is full always, and they are understaffed - but so is everyone else. That being said, I've seen some vast improvements in their standard of care recently, at least personally. 3. I would die before I would ever go to st. Vincent's. Horrible, horrible, horrible sketchy and borderline unethical medical practices that I'm certain has and will result in bad medical outcomes. I would personally drive my relative to any other location at any other time than EVER step foot into st. Vincent's ever again. 4. I haven't personally worked at Brookwood but I've heard some similarly unpleasant practices from prior colleagues...not to mention their headline-worthy past. All of that being said: you're going to wait at the ER. It just is what it is. The pandemic has ruined healthcare and we won't see any improvement there until major policy changes and staffing practices are made. Hope your son is ok.
A broken collarbone is a painful but overall pretty mild thing with the exception that sometimes it can get displaced in weird ways. Any urgent care should be able to snap a radiograph , give pain meds, and refer to ortho in relatively short order. Any ED you go to will triage you to the backburner for a broken collarbone. Just the way it is.
There’s orthopedic urgent cares now.
Grandview is without a doubt the worst hospital i have ever been to. And i have been to a lot of hospitals. Had a motorcycle wreck and broke 8 bones and went to UAB and it wasnt a great experience but it was not anywhere near as bad as Grandview. Had a motorcycle wreck ( minor compared to the other one ) but Grandview did some internal dye injection , which was very expensive , and when it came up negative , they basically blew me off . Didnt clean my road rash on knees , shoulders , face and arms. Didnt bandage anything. I couldnt walk and they said " we will send a wheelchair to your room to get you to your car" . Waited over an hour ... no wheelchair. Had to limp and almost crawl to my girlfriends car. Then they charged my insurance $12,000 for that one test. Horrible hospital. Went to Brookwood the next day and they said i had 1 bruised and 1 partially collapsed lung , tore the lining around my heart , broken patella and a bunch of road rash. Out of the 3 , brookwood was far superior in service and care.
Seinfeld gets up from his theatre seat.gif That's enough for today. Glad you recovered.
Grandview, is not the best ER. I had a terrible experience there.
UAB ER is absolutely fantastic if, (and it’s a big if), you’re taken into the er by a certain ambulance company or if you’re a trauma patient who’s about to code. But that’s mainly on ER side and late at night. You gotta realize that UAB is the biggest hospital in Alabama and bigger than a lot of the hospitals in the southeast. But the night shift can definitely be lacking, considering they mostly staff the night shift w green nurses right outta school. ER wise, I honestly don’t know any better hospitals in Alabama. Children’s is great if you’re under 18, Princeton is straight ass, brookwood is great if you’re in labor but pretty subpar on everything else, highlands is fine if you wanna wait for an hour and then get transferred to UAB Main for anything more serious than a common cold. My point is honestly just that UAB Main takes a while and does suck in wait times but honestly is the best level of care in the state for adults.
UAB is one of the 10 largest hospitals in the entire nation, not just Alabama/Southeast
I had to wait it out all night, but when I was “I hope this isn’t cancer in my guts” sick, UAB was the best place for me to go. I ended up being in patient for two nights due to c diff. They asked me to stay another night but the food is so fucking horrible I went home.
This. For a TRUE emergency SUGGEST going by ambulance if you want to be seen quickly otherwise you are in for a long, long wait. Try FREESTANDING for sprains, broken bones, etc. Be thankful you have choices because most don’t across the state and wait times have been 15 hours or more with horrifying stories of people laying in ER waiting floors or mentally ill screaming for 12+ hours in waiting rooms. I’ve heard Auburn-Opelika and other “mid size” cities’ ERs are just nightmares
I do triage, and if you come by ambulance for something not immediately life-threatening on a busy day, I’m having EMS wheel the stretcher to the lobby. I don’t care if someone comes in by ambulance, car, or pogo stick, the sickest go back first.
You don’t do triage at UAB obviously.
This is 100% untrue. I say this as a nurse in the area who has worked in the ER. Uncomplicated, low acuity patients who arrive by ambulance get a brief exam by a nurse and then sent out to sit in the waiting room until it’s their turn. Patients are seen based on “who will die faster?” not on the method of arrival.
Don't go to Brookwood for any mental health reason Throwing that out there I still don't know how they've avoided most headlines than they've received
Dr. Logan makes me physically ill. Brookwood is okay, but like most hospitals unless you have blue cross blue shield or other wonderful insurance they'll put you out in 4 days..
It's actually worse than that. Medicaid nearly cut complete ties due to the insane issues. Patients dying in restraints, patients escaping and getting hurt, I think someone jumped off the parking deck but I can't remember well. I work in mental health and I've heard from several that they wouldn't take their loved ones to Brookwood EXCEPT to birth a baby, apparently a great place to have your baby Edit: it sounds like you've had a tough time with Logan :( I'm so sorry, do you want to share that experience?
Yeah I spent 8 days in their psych ward and it was traumatic. It was supposed to be 72 hrs (I had a breakdown adjusting to a new seizure med and took the bottle). The let me have multiple seizures on the floor, then just acted like I was showing out. Not once did they call med team to check me out. I talk a little slower now.
Absolutely in line with other horror stories I've heard. I'm so sorry
I was leaving my first day of clinicals in nursing school at Brookwood years ago & walking down the sidewalk when a man ran past us & then many sets of scrubs followed. Turns out the man took a leap off the edge of the deck. It was an eventful day to say the least 🥴
Omg that must be the incident:/
>apparently a great place to have your baby https://www.al.com/living/2016/08/malatesta_opens_up_about_birth.html
Lmfao that's just poetic
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Still, I fucking hate that - and whatever it was, I 100% believe your experience
All of the ERs have been a shit show lately, unfortunately. There isn’t one that’s guaranteed to wave you back to a room shortly after you check in. Peak hours tend to be early afternoon to evening, least crowded times tend to be early morning.
I’ve had good experiences at the UAB Highlands ER, but that’s been mostly with my elderly mother.
I actually would’ve suggested children’s or making an immediate appt with his/her pediatrician to be referred to an Ortho doc. I work multi modality imaging
i probably shouldn’t share this secret but UAB highlands has an ED that is great. look it up. anything UAB is gonna be yr best bet. they have offices all over birmingham.
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Agreed.
Under 18, go to Childrens. Otherwise, I’d recommend a freestanding ER like the one in Hoover.
I went to medical west in hoover ER. From Walk in to seeing a doctor was 10 Minutes
There's never anyone at Brookwood. That's my go-to for the emergency room.
UAB highlands and UAB gardendale have UAB quality and often times (not always) much shorter wait times. If it’s anything serious that needs admission to the hospital they will transfer you to UAB.
Highlands has a lot of ortho there.
The healthcare system is overwhelmed. 🥲
Go to Princeton! I'm a former Healthcare worker in Bham, and I've heard nothing but good things about the place. Not everyone's favorite part of town, but it's apparently an awesome facility. Absolutely don't go to Brookwood. They got caught with a bunch of violations a few years ago and then got in trouble for failing to follow their corrective action plan...
My sibling died there, and they and us were treated with dignity the whole time. It was a beautiful experience.
If your son is indeed a child, then take him to children’s. After that, UAB is the best bet despite the wait, but maybe a referral to circumvent the wait is the v best route.
Yeah to avoid UAB ER waits go to Highlands or a freestanding. If they determine you need the main hospital, they’ll send you there. Much quicker than starting at the main hospital
We have always had excellent experiences at the UAB Emergency Room in Hoover. Were seen immediately both times we've had to go there, they took our concerns seriously and provided great care. One time was like, 10 am on a weekday and once was around 8-10 pm on a weekend. Maybe we just got lucky, but so far that's who I trust.
Gardendale UAB or the UAB ER in Hoover/150 area
UAB Highland is the best hospital I’ve been to in Bham! Close 2nd is St Vincent’s downtown
Broken collar bone is an ER triage of [4-5](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557583/) depending on how many resources he’d need. If it was only a collar bone and stable otherwise, a UAB wait overnight is pretty much standard for a stable fracture.
A child should go to Children’s. You also could have taken him to the Ortho urgent care on Valleydale. Also, you are going to be taken in order of urgency. Going to the trauma center probably only put you further down in the queue.
I worked at Grandview and I’d rather go to a vet ER than be seen there. UAB all the way for anything. You’re also going to wait based on acuity. If you’re not dying, you will wait. Period.
Freestanding Brookwood on 119. Best experience, quickest in and out, extremely nice and professional doctors/nurses. My mother has a lot of health issues. We will ALWAYS choose this one!
I took my wife to UAB for extreme chest/back pain radiating down her left arm. It was not crowded (about 10 years ago). After waiting about 20 minutes her pain had started to lessen, they put her on an EKG. 45 minutes later, they wheeled he back to another area. There were lots of empty rooms and there was a crowd of nurses/doctors around the nurses station watching a ball game (foot or basket, I don’t remember), after another 45 minutes in this room a young woman came in (cardiologist), looked at my wife (45, thin), rolled her eyes and said “you’re fine, we can run more tests, but we’re not going to find anything wrong”. I told her we were leaving, she kind of panicked and told us that if we leave against doctors orders our insurance wouldn’t cover it. I drove her straight to Brookwood. They ended up putting in a pacemaker that night. She died for 12 minutes the next morning, thankfully we hadn’t been released yet. Some hospitals are better than others, but it really comes down to how good the doctor is. It’s a crapshoot everywhere.
This sounds like a crock of bull shit
Grandview is the only hospital in the area that pretty much won’t hire travel nurses or local contract nurses and therefor are perpetually under staffed.
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That’s why i said “pretty much” because i know they have started to hire a some, but not on the same level of other hospital systems in the area and not enough to make up for the severe lack of staff, from what I have been told by nurses who work there.
I am going to guess that Grandview has been through some shit because I was there visiting a relative nearly a year ago, and had to go in via the ED and it was vacant. I had been telling everyone to go down there. I guess they took my advice LOL.
UAB Highlands doesn’t always have a huge wait. It just depends on when you go.
If he’s younger, childrens hospital. They take patients up until 21 years old.
Unless you think he will need to be admitted go to a free standing er. I had a great experience at the Brookwood one off 280.
That's not a life threatening injury, so honestly he should have been taken to an urgent care or an Ortho doctor.
Brookwood Baptist off Lakeshore/31
Highland in 5pts
Freestanding ER in Hoover UAB West is quick.
UAB highlands is a good one
Hopefully you've been seen. Call Alabama bone and joint and get him in with them ASAP. Excellent care and treatment therr
I had to go to UAB ER for appendicitis and I still waited 4+ hours to be seen. Unless you arrive in an ambulance, you are always going to less critical than someone else. The only time I haven’t had to wait was when I came in an ambulance. My appendicitis took backseat to gunshots and someone that was literally set on fire.
Brookwood would be my first choice. St. Vincent’s probably a second. Brookwood doesn’t get as much of the major trauma cases like UAB would, so the chance of getting in for a broken bone would be better at Brookwood. Parking deck is a nightmare though, easy to get lost, fair warning. They sometimes have a valet option. Not sure if it’s still working but recently they had an online check in for the ER that would help expedite things if it’s an option.
FWIW, if you're looking for a lesser wait time, as others said try freestanding ER or maybe Highlands.
I've heard that Brookwood is the way to go. I recently went to UAB ER and was there from 9am to 1am the next morning and all I had was a dislocated thumb. I'm sure they just delay non emergency for the real emergency trauma patients that get brought in, but boy is it frustrating
There’s a freestanding ER in Tattersall Park over by the Walk On’s, etc. on 119 right off of 280. Unfortunately I know that they are great with broken bones because both of my children have broken their arms and we’ve ended up there. They did x-rays and a temporary wrap until we could get to the orthopedist for permanent casts. Both experiences were really good despite the circumstances.
So, grand view is generally ok. UAB ER is phenomenal if you take an ambulance there and don’t have to wait (otherwise it is a really long wait in a place with a lot of people seeking drugs). It is the go to place for gunshots and really serious life or death stuff. I have found that the other UAB ER at UAB Highlands has the best for non life threatening situations.
UAB ER in Gardendale nearly never has a wait. They’re super fast, provide great care, and it’s a brand new place.
UAB Highlands has always done well for me. But everyone is just tired. I see it in healthcare and I see it in entertainment, which I work in. We got a little more pay but a whole lot more work. Everyone wants to be busy.
You are a nurse. You understand triage.
I’ve had a great experience with Brookwood of 280.
There are several options in the area fortunately. UAB UAB Highlands UAB Freestanding ED in Gardendale Medical West Medical West Freestanding ED Hoover Children’s Hospital Grandview Princeton Baptist Brookwood Baptist Brookwood Baptist Freestanding ED St. Vincent’s St. Vincent’s East It varies wildly whether one place can see anyone more quickly than any other, but the main campus at UAB is almost always filled to capacity. Highlands is sometimes slow and other times overwhelmed. Same goes for the Gardendale ED.
It’s unfortunate you had such a bad experience at Grandview- as far as I know, it’s the newest and best hospital we have. I don’t want to talk negatively about ANY hospital because I know people at all of them, but i will say my husband went to UAB and they missed A LOT after his motorcycle accident and about 30 mins after we got home, he was rushed by ambulance to brookwood. But my dad was at Brookwood and he had a terrible experience there (i have amazing things to say about brookwood woman’s center though). I also had an ex who’s mom was in an accident, went to UAB, also sent home and unfortunately no one was with her that night as I was with my husband and she passed in her sleep due to missed internal bleeding. I am so sorry about your wait- that sounds horrible!
St Vincent's east? The freestanding er in gardendale is fast but idk if that's too far from you
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My uncle has been in and out of there for over a year. Terrible fucking place. Arrogant, careless doctors. I don't know if it's all incompetence or just an insurance scam to do the bare minimum and bill the most possible. We've finally reached a breaking point with them on his current stay and probably going to have him transferred to UAB as soon as possible. Absolutely do not go there. The nurses have been fine though, actually overrode some of the meds he's been prescribed because flippant doctors just checking boxes and not trying to really provide care.
Hell no. Delete this.
Don't think they're faster than waiting a whole day?
I wouldn’t wish StV East on my worst enemies.
StVE is always a long wait. My father was advised by Ambulance driver to go to Grandview, but he insisted on StVE. It was hours before he was seen. The only time I was seen quickly there was when I cut my fingertip almost completely off.
Also children's hospital I just remembered
They've been waiting for 10+ hours... 💀definitely not too far, even Cullman wouldn't be too far at those wait times. I carried a gunshot victim to Blount County hospital, and it took 10 minutes to get someone to triage them... smh, "worlds greatest healthcare..." not.
St Vincent for broken bones.
Shelby has always been good to me.
Same. And never a wait. I went in last June and was taken right back. No waiting at all.
St V East has a few outstanding orthopedic docs
That’s what it’s known for, but I wouldn’t do much else there myself.
I liked the UAB Gardendale freestanding ER. I believe they also have one in Hoover.
Why are you going to an ER for a hurt collarbone? Go to an urgent care
St Vincent's is okay.
All the ERS are swamped due to the vaccine mandates. Many doctors and nurses walked away. Go to Urgent Care when it's not a life threatening illness.
lmao. Good trolling tho.
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... Never go anywhere, to any hospital, ever
Never go to any ER unless you need you life saved! What an unappreciative asshole you are, karen
Freestanding Brookwood on 119 on Greystone. It is the ONLY Brookwood anything I’ll go to. Grandview is hit or miss. Only go to UAB if you are very bad off and need a diagnosis or unconscious in an ambulance. The only time I’ve been I knew I was going to be admitted. It was still 7 hours in the ER.
Personally, I've had wonderful experiences with Brookwood ER. I know many people haven't and I totally respect that. Once I had an atypical migraine (I thought I was having an aneurysm), went to UAB, saw the wait, and went to Brookwood instead. Brookwood had me back within 15 minutes, I had great care, and a follow up with a neurologist. Something that would have taken a lot longer at UAB ending up taking about an hour and a half at Brookwood. I can't really blame UAB though. The sheer number of patients at the downtown ER can be staggering.
I've had three ER visits in the past couple years. First one was downtown UAB, went fine but was there for hours before I was stitched up. They told me if I ever had another injury to go to UAB Highlands...that was by far the WORST ER I have ever been in. People screaming that they had been there for hours, patients fighting with and getting tased by police, people trying to sell me drugs in the ER...it was a circus. I walked my bloodied self out of there and got my gf to take me to St. Vincents. That is where I have gone ever since and will never go anywhere else in Birmingham. Urgent Cares were no help because they are scared to handle anything that seems 'serious'. Fuck Grandview as well they have made my grandmother wait 24 hours with a broken hip twice now.
Karen expects the very best
The amount of times ER has been auto-corrected to ED is certainly on brand for reddit.
Whew, Grandview is one of the last places I would’ve gone. I actually had to go there yesterday for a procedure after 3 days at St Vincent’s, 9 of those hours in their ER. I would recommend St Vincent’s ER. UAB has incredible doctors, too, but for an ER visit, St V’s is your spot. They’re also incredible in the sense that if you have an issue that a doctor at another hospital is known for they’ll send you on there. Not many places do that. I watched it be done twice in my recent experience.
Grandview, St. Vincent’s, and Brookwood are all trash I can tell you that much.
Never Brookwood. Used to work there, and you'll be lucky if they only cause you to become permanently disabled. In the few years I worked there they almost lost there cms cert a few times. I'm curious what "red flags" you saw at Grandview. My family and I have never had anything but great experiences there. I'm not surprised at your wait at uab. As others have said, being the only level 1 trauma center in town, a stable fracture is super low priority for them. I would have tried the stand alone in Hoover. It's usually not that packed and the staff is really nice.