Palomar Medical Center Escondido - Escondido, California

Helene F.

No case management came to visit me as promised to discuss my wellbeing.
@130am requested pain killers, still waiting at 347am
No food or drinks was offered since I’ve been here, which is over 15 hours ago
No one inquiring how I am doing since 10pm after the last visit of a very compassionate male doctor.
No one asking me if I need to use the restrooms, I needed assistance to reach the restrooms.
Left all alone on a gurney since 930/10pm to deal with my excruciating pain.
Away from the nurse’ station and no way to contact the nurses when needed, unless I yell in order for me to get someone’s attention, no one is coming by to check on me.
I’m so thirsty, hungry and in excruciating pain. Pain medicine was not brought to me when requested and as per doctor’s recommendation.
Never given a heating pad to alleviate the pain as per doctor’s recommendation
Don’t know who the new doctor is for the following shift as he never introduced him or herself.
Was handed a “charity wheelchair” as per the nurse your establishment could not confirmed if they will be getting paid for a new one - can’t wait to see what was truly charged with my insurance . Chair handed was filthy and needed to be scrubbed by the nurses.
Was denied MRI as per the female doctor this is a “golden” procedure and they were afraid they would not be paid for the service. Xray and blood test (?) ordered were useless.
Explain to me why for more than 20 hours I was not offered any water - except when medication was given when I first check in, no food and my pain medication was withheld from me once one of the first doctor I saw ended his shift? Why was the doctor’s orders not followed? Why was I discharged with a pain level above 10? Why was I left alone for so many hours with no care at all? Why the night shift employees are so detached from their obligations?
Why was I not considered a human? I am a daughter, a mom and someone ready to give the last shirt off my back even if that means I’ll freeze, why was I treated like I did not matter to anyone? Only one male doctor early on provided me with the compassion and care I needed, he actually eased my pain Why when he prescribed an intravenous pain killer it was taken away from my care once he left? I’ll figure out his name soon to thank him personally because he certainly is not part of this awful review, he is from Brooklyn NY, please let him know, that day he made a huge difference in my care, he made me feel like I matter as a person - not a number. To the Brooklyn doctor, thank you for your kindness, thank you for caring.
Pictures reflect: fresh blood on the bathroom floor not cleaned for hours, crackers handed when I complained about being hungry, facing the wall from 10pm to my checkout, dirty charity walker handed! No sheets at the bottom of gurney or on top for a while.

Sequoia

This review is for Labor and Delivery. I gave birth to my child a few weeks ago, and it was an amazing experience!!! The Labor and Delivery team was professional, patient, sincere, and courteous. This was my third child, so I already had experience with giving birth in the health care setting. I would summarize my experience by saying that the nurses were attentive to my individual birth plan and respectful of my Christian beliefs, and the professionalism was top-tier, as my husband and I observed that the nurse team and medical staff were courteous and genuine toward me, him, and our baby throughout our stay.
I HIGHLY recommend that you have your baby at this hospital!!!
Shout out to nurse Adrienne, you were fantastic!!! God bless you!

JPHOYLER

After returning from a week's vacation in Jamaica, I developed a fever and severe joint pain (among numerous other symptoms). Turns out I had gotten a mosquito borne virus in Jamaica which had become symptomatic after I returned to the U.S. I drove to the E.D. early on a Sunday and I was prioritized appropriately due to new onset of chest pressure and worsening shortness of breath. Multiple tests were ordered and done fairly quickly and my pain was treated. The E. D. doctor and staff were great - they listened to me, addressed my needs and met my requests. My only disappointment at that time (and reason for this not being a 5-star review) was the 6 hour wait for a bed in the E.D. since even with pain treatment, sitting in a chair for 6 hours was excruciating and almost unbearable. I was admitted to the Hospital and spent 5 days there. Multiple tests were done and ultimately I was treated with I.V. antibiotics for pneumonia caused by the virus. The Nurses, Doctors and Hospital staff during my stay were top-notch. They listened to me, addressed my needs and met my requests. Having this virus was a miserable experience, but my hospitalization and care for it was not. I appreciate all of the caring individuals that I encountered during this stay and say "Thank you" for making a miserable experience tolerable.

Boris M.

Thank you for the treatment! I felt so bad when I’ve got into ER, but hospital staff was amazing and helped me beat the disease. Also rooms and equipment looked like new, very good hospital. Not sure why its rating is so low here…

Seema M.

I was recently hospitalized and spent 2 nights. Everyone from all the nurses, specialists, hospitalists, technicians, and assistants were courteous and professional. The rooms and hospital was clean and well maintained. I would highly recommend this hospital and send my gratitude to the great staff that took care of me!

Puffin L.

They are the reason my mom is dead because they didn’t care to take proper care of her. My sister and I had a meeting with a CCO after my mother‘s death and they sent me a letter after the meeting saying sorry. They didn’t care to follow up with adult protective services or call the cops or even acknowledge that my mom was off her schizophrenic medicine one doctor when she first got there said she needed to be admitted and then after three days they released her. How can the first doctor say she needs to be admitted and isn’t mentally stable and then 3 days later the other doctor say she’s stable and they have no beds? She was mentally like a toddler and beaten up and scared. She needed help.Even though she was beaten up and airlifted, and the doctors could tell that she was not OK The nurses seemed to care more than the doctors and the CCO. Also before talking to the the Cco of the Hospital spoke to two of the head psychiatrist of Palomar Hospital and they were shifting the blame on other doctors. Stated that he wasn’t there and doesn’t know the situation and I told him that there are cameras in the hospital and I was showing the doctors the videos of how my mom was scared. They said that they didn’t have enough bed but later after her death, we found record showing that there were beds available during those three days. Even the higher ups of PH don’t care. Knowing that she was off her medicine and the doctor in the beginning, said that she needed to be admitted and wasn’t stable. The full medical records that we found showed the truth. this hospital could’ve prevented my mom‘s death. They did note that they called adult protective services and they were aware. My mom wasn’t safe and she was in danger because she was beaten up airlifted later she was killed. Because Palomar Hospital failed to treat my mom and they lied to us that there were no beds available. When I have the medical records that proved they had beds available and they could have treated her and kept her safe instead they released her.
She was later murdered in her home . Not to mention, Palomar Hospital didn’t even follow up with adult protective services to see if they even checked on her and didn’t even contact the police even though she was airlifted beaten up. all I know is that they did not want to help my mother except for the first doctor after my sister and I got the medical records were shocked that they lied to us and they just didn’t care to help our mother even though she had insurance.. they were treating her like she was a homeless person, and they didn’t want to help her. Anyone would know that she was in danger, even showing her the recordings of her saying she was scared and how someone got mad at her in her house which I cannot disclose. The person that beat her up they were allowing to keep calling her. We are trying to get her into a continuing care unit however, the continuing care unit said that she would need to be admitted into the hospital and stable on her schizophrenic medicine. And the result that they did not help my mom it ended her up in the morgue if they would’ve just done their job and helped our mom she would still be alive. I could post the medical records, but I think that after speaking with so many people at the hospital I’m just exhausted from everything and if they cared, they would’ve listened to the first doctor. Nobody is stable and safe mentally after three days of being in the hospital. The fact that they lied to us that they didn’t have any beds available for my mom and then later after her death, we were able to get her medical records. It’s clearly stated the nurse is calling and they did have beds available. They just wanted to send her back and we couldn’t take her to a continuing care unit without her being admitted into the hospital and stable on her medicine. I will post the letter that the COO sent me and my sister just apologizing for our loss and that they’re gonna make a new protocol when they call adult protective services to follow up with adult protective services.

Matthew H.

I've visited numerous hospitals and doctors' offices nationwide, but the care and bedside manner at this facility truly stand out. The doctors in this network collaborate seamlessly and display exceptional expertise. The entire Palomar Health system is highly professional, with staff who have such positive attitudes. It's comforting to know that some of my specialists here are familiar with my other specialists from out of state, and it's impressive that my pulmonary doctor of over 30 years has taught some of these current specialists.

The hospital maintains impeccable cleanliness and orderliness, even with the Emergency Room under construction. I am immensely grateful for the prompt response when they skillfully treated me after an altercation with three large dogs.

Starting anew with specialists after relocating could have been overwhelming, but they've been diligent in ensuring proper communication with my previous doctors. This facility truly excels in prioritizing patient health and well-being.

andrea S.

Terrible mean staff that give out false medical information. Nurse tried to tell me you don’t need antibiotics for strep throat. There are a handful of good people the rest need to find a new job. No compassion in the waiting room. They watched my daughter cry next to me while they gave me all my treatments when I signed her in first. And on top of all that you must pay to park even if you are dying. You are better off driving somewhere else, unless you want to wait 3 hours just to be brought to the back to wait three hours again.