Banner Desert Medical Center

Banner Mesa Desert Hospital

I want to share my personal experience of having heart valve and root replacement surgery at Banner Mesa Desert Hospital. This is an honest and clear review about my experience in Post OP Cardio Vascular ICU on October 9, 2023. First and foremost, I want to acknowledge the nursing staff, do the best job overall under current conditions. However, it is important to address some issues that I encountered during my time in the hospital CV ICU that greatly effect the patients stay.

The hospital claims to have a one nurse per patient ratio in the CV ICU, but that was not always the case for me. There were many instances where two to three nurses were needed for certain procedures or conditions on other patients, and as a result, there were times when I needed a nurse and none were available. This was clearly noticed by my daughter and sever times she had to personally look for a nurse for me. The exception to this was my first day.

Most important is the fact the facilities in the CV ICU are extremely outdated and not suitable for longer than two day stays. It is clear that this ICU was not designed for extended periods of time, and it should not be used as such. This fact was acknowledged by upper management to me.

Let me explain the CV ICU layout. As you enter, the nurses' station is on the right, patient stations are on the left, and then start again on the right after the nurses' station. The separation {hall} between the left and right areas is approximately six feet, and the patient enclosures are separated from the hallway by curtains. The entire length of this area is around sixty to seventy feet.

Now, let's address the issues that I faced:

ISSUE ONE: LACK OF RESTROOMS. It is somewhat acceptable to not have restrooms within the ICU for the FIRST day, but that should not be the case beyond that. Unfortunately, for the remaining days of my five-day stay, I had to walk through the main waiting room for the CV ICU, practically half-naked, with numerous people waiting, just to get to a restroom. This was undignified and the only option available, not just for me, but also for all others. It felt humiliating and inhumane.

ISSUE TWO: LACK OF PRIVACY. I believe this issue speaks for itself. It was clear that there was NO privacy in the CV ICU, which only added to the already challenging situation.

ISSUE THREE: NOISE LEVELS. Throughout the day and night, there was a constant high level of noise from certain patients, beeping monitors, loud televisions, and more. The patient across from me frequently suffered from night terrors and would scream every few minutes at times. As you can imagine, this made my stay even more difficult and unbearable putting extream pressure on my well-being. Despite repeatedly asking when I could be moved to a regular room, I was always told that none were available, even though I was told that it was a priority. Some priority! The nurses Even promised my daughter on the evening of October 12 that I would have a room, which did not happen. Even my doctor expressed confusion as to why I was still in the ICU when he visited on a Friday morning, stating " why the hell is he still here." It was the lowest point of my life, and this is not an experience anyone should have to endure.

This was not just my experience. On Wednesday another patient adamantly demanded to be removed from this agonizing situation and was taken to a new room at 1am Thursday morning.

After being discharged on Friday October 13th, 2023 I I had to go to the ER on Monday with extreme abdominal pain. My bladder was found to be markedly distended. This was a result of not doing a bladder scan before being released on Friday October 13th 2023. This caused me extreme pain from my release on Friday all the way until Monday. Again unnecessary pain and agony resulting from the CV ICU.

I feel compelled to write this to warn others about potentially having a similar undignified experience and shed light on the reality of what is happening, all driven by the pursuit of money. This was an incredibly inhumane experience which no one should have to endure.

This a horrible hospital I was lied to and they stole my support dog also I just had a baby 2 days ago prior to me and my son being cleared for discharge the girls there called dogs and filed a report on me that wasn't and waited until I had my child also swore up and down they were there to help. Kirk and Sandra hester are pathetic humane being for the child safety act he lied and did not investigate nor ask my living situation regarding my child and safety if you need and help do not go to this hospital they are horrible evil people they will lie and convince you otherwise Kirk is the supervisor who will take your child do not trust him or get any help from a social worker there do not look for help from Sandra hester she is a horrible black woman and will lie on you and take your child they will lie and say they are there to help you. Also do not believe them when they say they have someone that will help you with your animals you bring there the lady cherise is a liar do not believe medical Dr Mendez nurses Cynthia Laura or Kathryn they call her kps the woman in labor and delivery are horrible girls they WILK go behind your back and call dcfs for no reason and file reports on you do not have your baby at this hospital they will ruin your life and call the police playing like there scared.