UMass Memorial Hospital

I had an excellent op experience. Also gave birth to my daughter here with emergency and NICU team.. all THE BEST.

It is a surgical center, and the care was amazing.

I HAD A LONG WAIT IN THE RECOVERY ROOM, BECAUSE OF LACK OF BEDS. WHEN I DID GET A BED, I THINK I WAS PUT IN THE LAST SECTION OF THE HOSP. THAT WASN'T REDONE.

The recovery department was excellent. However, once I got onto the floor in my own room, it seemed like it all fell apart. I knew that I needed those swabs and as soon as I got into a room I asked the PCA for some. He didn't bring them to me. An hour later I had the first and only (knock on wood) anxiety attack I have ever had. My mouth was soooooooooo dry and suddenly I felt some phlegm in my lunds and coming up my throat. But I couldn't cough and so I was inhaling to try and cough but still wouldn't and then I started to panic as I couldn't exhale. It was horrible. If I had just had the swabs like I had asked for, this wouldn't have happened. I hit the call button and someone came immediately and brought them to me and all was then fine.

Some of the nursers were much nicer then others. An overnight one named Theresa was fabulous.


Other problems were that some of the PCA's brought me johnnys that wouldnt fit my 11 year old cousin. That is very distrubing.

I asked for help walking the first time and the PCA didn't get time to do it so my friend had to walk me later that night.
I had to ask for them to empty my drain all the time. They always seemed to forget that.

On the day of discharge, my void cap didn't get looked at or emptied at all. How unhygenic.

I was soooooo surprised that things fell apart after the surgery. Let me reiterate, the recovery department is great. They do a fine job down there. However when you get onto the floor, you have to demand what you need. Except for the anxiety attack, I didn't feel like my life was in danger or anything like that. I am really disappointed though.

The PACU staff was great! They were very attentive, positive, and helped me get up and walk around as soon as I was ready. They moved me out of a noisey room when I requested, and in with a nice quiet one. That showed they understood my need for rest.

Some of the Nurses were more friendly than others but overall they were attentive, especially when called upon. Seeing the surgeons face even a few seconds a day was nice. There was construction above my room so it was noisy and the overall cleanliness left a lot to be desired, especially in the hallways around the nursing station.

Excellent people, friendly, courteous, attentive and considerate. I was on 3 South post-op. The nurses were good, but the PCAs were excellent!! They were so helpful. As a nurse, I know how difficult, physically, it can be to help obese patients, they never seemed frustrated, and were very appropriate and smiled all the time. I would like to caution patients about the surgical residents. They come REALLY early in the AM, all stand around your bed and treat you like a "case" not a patient. But this is true of any teaching hospital and not a reflection of the rest of the care I recieved.

My recovery room nurses were fabulous! They were very attentive to my needs and even allowed my mother to stay past visiting hours. When transferred to 3 South, I had a fantastic nurse and a wonderful PCA! I was lucky enough to land a private room, so I recuperated in peace & quiet! If I have to be in the hospital again for any reason, I will request UMass-Memorial.

Most of the staff was great did have a day shift nurse twice that was useless..the good old dissappearring act alot..BRB..ment never..but the others were good.

I think that u-mass trys very hard...despite the problems they are having with staff cut backs...I don't think that the administration realizes how valuable the nurses and Dr's are and all the people associated with patient care!