Valley Health Surgi-center

Overall: Not Recommended

The intake staff is rude and they seem to pride themselves on the divide and conquer patient and family member / support person. No one is allowed to be with you as you are being prepped for surgery, ie. IV, changing of clothes, discussing the procedure, and discharge instructions. I insisted on my wife being with me and was ridiculed as well as told to stop being such a baby and to grow up. They tell you that they will come back out for your wife or person when you are ready, but that is typically not true. My grandmother waited for over an hour for them to come out to get her for my grandfather and she kept asking if everything was ok, and she was told she could not see him yet. Finally she insisted on going back and was told, oh mam, your husband has already been taken into surgery, we'll call you when he is out. Another example of this is a few weeks ago when I was there with my son as we had no choice but have the surgery there. Since he is underage his mother and I were allowed back with him the entire time. Let me tell you that there is no space constraint as he is bigger than me and with the 2 of us by his bedside there was ample room for nurses etc.. Before he was taken back the took a gentleman that was seated beside us. He was nervous and very scared. I can relate since this was his first surgery as well. I felt the same way. He kept saying to his wife I need you with me, they are not letting anyone go back, you know they can't get IVs in. She comforted him and assured him. But no, the staff threw a fit and she was sent to sit and wait. We went back minutes later and was with our son, he was off to surgery, and we returned to the waiting room. There she sat in tears. Still not allowed to go back. She kept asking if everything was ok, and they kept saying I am sure everything is fine, but never would call back to the nurse to see. Finally she demanded and with attitude the lady at the desk picked up the phone and called back. She then in front of everyone says, well they had difficulty with the IV and had to get a specialist, your husband is nervous and upset, but anesthesia was just with him and you can't go back. They are taking him into surgery in a few minutes. Just wait here. It is this lack of caring that puts everyone in a bad mood and upset those getting surgery. I have vowed never to personally have surgery there ever again. There is just no reason for it. I would never have been able to remember everything they had gone over prior to surgery. Thank goodness I refused to go back without my wife and she was there. It really is needed. There is no reason why the Surgi Center cannot change this one simple policy that would make a world of difference in how patients view the center and their attitudes toward it.