Kathy Gragnano

Review of HCA - Blake Medical Center

I was sent to Blake ER from pinnacle urgent care t...

I was sent to Blake ER from pinnacle urgent care to get a CT scan. When I arrived they had a tent set up outside to screen for COVID-19, they took my temperature, asked me a couple of questions and offered me a mask, I had my own mask so I did not need theirs. That was a good first step for preventing the spread of COVID-19. However, once I got inside all bets were off. Most of the seats were taped off so that people could sit 6 feet apart, however there were more people then chairs so the additional people were moving about and getting close to the people sitting and each other. I was there over three hours and not once did I see anyone come out to sanitize the waiting area, overall the area was pretty dirty( blankets left in chairs from previous patients, tissues etc.) There was a police officer there that I did see wipe down a wheelchair but other than that the staff did nothing to sanitize the area. As far as the rest of my experience I as well as three other patients ended up leaving before getting any care because because of the long wait and the fact that we were left there sitting in the waiting room without getting any service. After about 2 hours I asked if they had any idea when someone might see me since I was in a tremendous amount of pain and sitting in the hard chair was very difficult. The nurse told me they had one person ahead of me waiting to get blood work and then I was next. I inquired an hour later and I was told they really didn t have anyone to even take my blood because they were backed up and short staffed.(I as well as everyone else would ve appreciated knowing why we were left waiting so long. I understand waiting in an ER is normal but a little information would ve been helpful) I ended up leaving and got all my paperwork I brought with me as well as copies of my tests that were done at urgent care. I went to Lakewood Ranch medical and experience was entirely different. There appeared to be the same amount of patients waiting however unlike Blake I couldn t see who was coming in via ambulance so they actually could have had more patients then we re at Blake. The place was very clean and they updated everyone as to what was going with delays. I have lived in the same county my entire life I had both my children at Blake and I ve been hospitalized at Blake in the past and it used to be a really great hospital, not sure what happened but will never go there again and recommend anyone that has any COVID-19 concerns to stay far away because the place in my opinion is not taking enough precautions to keep people safe.