St. Marks Hospital Hospital

Overall, my stay was fairly pleasant. Of course, since this has been my only hospital stay ever, I don't have much to go by, I just know that nothing horrible happened. The pre-surgery nurses were wonderful, the anethesiologist was wonderful. My surgeon was wonderful. :) The rooms and bathrooms were MINISCULE and I can't imagine how unbearable it would have been if I were super-size. There was only one (very uncomfortable) chair for my mom, who stayed by my side 24/7, and barely even any standing room for other visitors, let alone more than one nurse (heaven forbid a medical emergency should arise.. no room in there for more than 2 doctors!!). The "plus-size" hospital gown I wore seemed to barely fit me; again, how terrible it must be for super-sizers. The nurses were very kind and helpful at first. The night shift nurses were the best. My biggest complaint was that since my Mom was there in my room, the day nurses ended up neglecting me. Mom and I had to figure out how to unhook me from everything, just so i could get to the bathroom or walk around (as per doctor's orders). The nurses never emptied my toilet "hat" and I had to page them for every little thing, like changing my IVs and refilling my pain meds. They were friendly, but SLOW to respond and generally inattentive most of the time. There was also confusion and/or miscommunication about how long I would be on Morphine, when/if I could shower, and when I would be released from the hospital or even provided with a wheelchair to get to the car. A hospital stay is hardly a pleasure cruise, but I suppose this was about as good as it gets, considering the limitations of the building and nursing staff. All in all, Dr. Smith is a wonderful surgeon and I would stay anywhere as long as he was performing the surgery.

There was a lot of rivalry in which the patient was the ultimate loser. Several times an aide or RN would say "I will let your ... know what you need", even if it was an emergant item. I had a severe blood loss from the suture site, and had trouble convincing the person who answered the call that I was bleeding.

its a hospital. nothing negative to say.

For the most part things were good. I didn't feel the night nurses gave me the attention and care I needed. Especially the first night.

ST. Mark's is very much set up to accommodate obese people. There were 4 or 5 other WLS patients recovering on the same floor. All rooms are private but tiny. There was only an old recliner chair and folding chairs are what is available for visitors.

I enjoyed my visit (as much as you can) Everyone was friendly and helpfull. They answered all my questions and gave excellent advice for after care.

I think they are very well trained and very accomodating for this particular surgery.

I was very disappointed. The other reviews said this place was great. I have not had surgery before, so maybe my expectations were too high, but the rooms were extremely small. with just 2 people visiting, it was very crowded.
I had to repeatedly ask the nurses to empty the "hood" in the toilet and even then they would leave the room without doing so. I was taken off the morphine pump the second day, and then spent the next 2 days repeatedly asking for my pain meds. a couple of times it took them over an hour to bring them after 3-4 requests.
Not all the nurses were tired and bored with their jobs but most were or seemed to be. The gastric bypass patients are put on the 4th floor along with many other surgery patients. Many of the other patients would moan and groan all nite long, some where delierious and argumentative, and others were barely able to take care of themselves. A couple of nites I was unable to get any sleep due to the noise and confusion all nite long. The TV was in an akward spot due to the tight space in the room, and was not comfortable to watch. Overall, I could not wait to get out of this place. Given a choice, I would pick cottonwood hospital.

Too big, highly impersonal, too many unsatisfied staff. Not enough staff to go around. Bathrooms are too small for the obese.

Everyone was very nice except for one nurse on the day I left. But there has to be at least one bad one, right?