Baptist Health Medical Center (COE) Hospital
Overall I had a good experience at Baptist. I had quite a few complications and wound up being hospitalized a total of three months post-op. Overall most nurses and staff were friendly and helpful. Several nurses had had the same procedure and offered advice and encouragement. There were a few staff members I was not pleased with, in particularly a nurse named Richard xxxxxxx in the ICU where I spent a few weeks after experiencing kidney failure. The best staff I encountered was at the Baptist Rehabilitation Institute where I was moved for physical therapy after about 2 months in main Baptist Hospital. All nurses and staff there were extremely helpful and professional, especially a nurse named Steve Karnes.
The nursing staff and all of the aides were terrific to me. They always had smiles for me and took good care of me. Even the respiratory therapist was my cheerleader each time she saw me walking in the hall. Dr. Baker puts his patients on the 6th floor and they are quite experienced in dealing with gastric bypass patients. I had surgery 11/18/02.
I being a nurse was not impressed with my care on the 4th floor. I rarely saw my nurses if at all and had to wait nearly 2 hours the first time I asked for pain meds. I had no help getting in and out of bed. I walked by myself. Never had any encouragement from staff in regards to diet or activity. Was only told what I needed to do but no offers to help with anything. Nursing students were my salvation, but they left way to soon.