Saint Francis Emergency Department

I first want to recognize that I walked into an emergency room during a rampant flu season. It was very full. I had just picked up my son from school because he had tripped and fallen outside and landed in a branch. There was a gash on the side of his chin that deep and left skin sort of “flapping” open. He had it covered the whole time with gauze, but it was actively bleeding, albeit mildly (somehow). I dreaded the scene in the waiting room. However, we went straight back to triage, and then from there, they took us straight back to be seen. Their normal rooms were completely full. Nonetheless, they used a large shower (just as large as a room would have been) that had access from the hall. They wheeled a bed in there, after asking if I was okay with that situation. Clearly the nursing staff was working hard trying to juggle the patients. The only real “wait time” we had was for the numbing medication to set. A Physicians Assistant is the one who tended to my son. She told me most of the doctors were on another floor because they were overwhelmed with admitted patients. She came in promptly after the promised 20 minutes after medication. She had a small rolling table, and she brought everything in there on the table and was careful to keep it all sterile. She gave him six stitches. After she was finished, it took only about five minutes to get discharge paperwork. As we were walking out, my son said, “If anything like this ever happens again, I want to come here.” We left in less than an hour and a half. I understand that many people in the waiting room had been there for hours (as I was told the generic wait time was 7 hours when I arrived). However, I want to applaud the staff because they recognized that they could properly handle our situation without the need of a doctor and created a space in which they could do what was needed. I assume most of the other patients waiting were in need of a physicians assessment/care and other tests and longer procedures, which would require a real room with access to other equipment and accommodations. Unfortunately, due to the influx of patients, those accommodations were not available. I am grateful that the staff didn’t make us wait “in order” of arrival because they saw how they could help us. I actually saw it as a great way to get as many patients seen as possible. I understand others waiting may not see it that way, but the staff really was trying to figure out and prioritize what they could, as I overheard some conversations in them prepping our room.

Ryan and kyliegh were the best I have had. They were very personable and made a great experience

Informative. Very good service. Thank you.

Cox and ER staff were so good. The most difficult thing was time spent in ER waiting with no knowledge of when I would be seen. No updates offered. No compassion from registration staff. I recognize they were busy, but that part was definitely not healthcare to the Higher power

Explained things to me clearly and learned more than before about issues I was having or have had

It was great speedy service

Great experience all the way around, even though I broke my leg!

Great care! Was there on July 4th with a broken ankle. My nurse was amazing and everyone else I came in contact with! They took great care of me!