Our local hospitals

dustygardener25 said:There’s simply no budget for plasma TVs or decent cafeterias serving quality meals in public hospitals. If you expect those kinds of amenities, you need to have the kind of capital that comes from the very capitalist system your peers voted for. Next time you find yourself sitting in a waiting room, just bring a book and read. I’d actually recommend some spiritual, calming literature on Eastern philosophies—it might help you learn a bit of patience and a sense of reality. And if there are rats running around the local fast-food joints, go ahead and call the health inspector. There are also grievance forms available at the hospitals where you can express your dissatisfaction or even specify the exact dimensions of the TV you're dreaming of. Otherwise, you might want to just stay quiet and stop agitating yourself by chasing after luxuries and unrealistic expectations.

Yet, somehow, there is always plenty of money to cover salaries reaching tens of thousands of dollars for professors and similar bureaucratic types. Oh, there's the money, my dear; it just happens to be distributed quite poorly.😉
Personally, I believe my requests are entirely legitimate and far from excessive. Having a plasma screen in a waiting area is standard practice everywhere, and in any properly functioning facility, the waiting area is physically separated from the emergency ward, whether by a glass partition or a solid wall.
When I say "plasma," I am referring to modern television technology; having a small or medium-sized screen isn't some extravagant luxury these days.
As for the cafeteria... well, if they served the same quality of food to staff as they do to the patients, it would serve its purpose perfectly.☕
Instead of those little grease traps surrounding every hospital, the only thing we can really thank them for is being located near the facility.☕

Daniel Bailey39 said:What about the salaries? We’re talking tens of thousands of dollars for professors and similar high-level staff. Is there money for that? There is plenty of money, my dear. It is just distributed incredibly poorly.😉
I maintain that my demands are entirely legitimate and far from excessive. Plasma stations exist everywhere. In any standard facility, the waiting area is physically separated from the emergency department, whether by a glass partition or a solid wall. Is that really too much to ask?
When I mention plasma, I’m talking about the television. What happened to those old plasma sets? Today, having a small or mid-sized screen isn't exactly a luxury anymore. Is anyone actually missing them?
A cafeteria? If they served the same bland sludge they give the patients, at least it would be honest.☕
Instead of those cheap, greasy takeout joints that cluster around every hospital, we should probably just be thankful the facility itself is nearby. Is it too much to ask for decent food within a reasonable distance?☕

There is an outdoor food stall right next to the Mayo Clinic that doesn't even have a connection to the water supply. The staff cleans their hands with nothing but wet wipes. They don't even have drinking water on site; they just drink sparkling water. Is this how we handle hygiene now?
That was how things stood back in 2009.
The entire perimeter of the hospital is covered in human waste and overflowing trash cans. Mosquito larvae are breeding in the filth of the broken fountains. God help us.
San Francisco picked up some tourism award back in 2010. Does anyone actually care? 😲
You endure this entire list every single time you show up for a checkup, an exam, or some medical catastrophe. Why does it always happen this way?
It turns out it's the same inside as it is out there. Fortunately, it isn't always like this. Sometimes, enough is enough.

It’s the exact same story over in Seattle... (the hospital is split between two sites), one of which is housed in this older building. The structure itself is fine, I suppose, but they lack basic things like benches or even enough chairs. You have these hallways that are at least 15 feet wide, yet people are still packed in there, waiting an hour or more just to see a doctor. And the park right in front of the building? It's a total disaster. There’s this single fountain where the basin is being used as a planter, the trees are completely overgrown, and the grass is practically swallowed up by all the cars parked everywhere. Honestly, I can't help but wonder if any of the doctors have ever considered commuting without a car—like actually taking public transit once in a while.
The worst part is that there are several neglected buildings on-site that could easily be repurposed—maybe for that cafeteria we discussed or something similar—but honestly, it might be better to leave them alone because whenever you walk past them, the stench is absolutely hellish...
As for those recycling centers, I believe there are three within the hospital grounds, and there's a large facility right next to the other site, but the real nuisance is that you have to leave the hospital campus entirely, scout out the street, and trek a few hundred yards on foot...

Since I've been spending more time in hospitals lately, I figured I'd jump into this discussion...
I'm still pretty young, but my experiences with doctors have been anything but easy.
It seems like physicians in Washington, D.C. are much more accessible than those in smaller towns (like Des Moines or Pittsburgh, for instance). In my case, I was given a completely wrong diagnosis, which is incredibly frustrating.
I noticed some thickening in my lower leg, so I went to see a specialist in Pittsburgh, and he just dismissed it as a simple hematoma.
He checked the box, called it, and told me there was no need for a follow-up because it was nothing to worry about.
Following the advice of my primary care doctor, I spent a month and a half wrapping my leg in an elastic bandage. While that was happening, my muscle weakened, but the thickening stayed right where it was. I reached out to an orthopedist in Washington, D.C., who, after a brief phone call, identified it as a Becker cyst. When I went back to my GP, he actually scolded me and told me I was talking nonsense. After a bit of an argument, he finally gave me the referral I needed to see the specialist.
To make a long story short, I'm headed to Palm Springs on December 2nd for surgery. I need to operate on both my knee and my lower leg to remove the cyst. If I had actually listened to that GP, I would’ve just sat at home thinking everything was fine—and I might be looking at a TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT by now. I'm only 26 years old; I really don't need that.

Just wanted to share a cautionary tale about what happened to an acquaintance of mine recently. She went to a hospital in Pittsburgh for a routine wisdom tooth extraction. Instead, the surgeons pulled the wrong tooth—a molar—and even sliced her tongue during the procedure. They had to stitch her tongue up, and now she’s stuck unable to speak or eat properly. It’s been a week of living off nothing but a straw. To make matters worse, she has a little baby at home who needs constant care, which is incredibly difficult right now. I really hope she pursues legal action against the hospital.

A buddy of mine is a doctor—man, the grind is brutal, 6 years of school plus a year of residency. Right now he’s deep in his specialty training and pulling $3.50 in salary.
His base pay is $6,800, but he makes most of it working overtime shifts. He’s clocking something like 400 hours a month. On his official paycheck, though, it says he only worked 184 hours—which is what goes toward his Social Security. Between that massive salary and the insane taxes, he barely sees any of it. When he finally gets home, there's no rest, just more studying. He’s getting maybe 6 hours of sleep a day. Family life? Forget about it—he says he just doesn't have the time.

He tells me his quota in the clinic is supposed to be 35 patients, but he ends up seeing 120. They only pay him for those 35, yet he still signs off on all the others and takes full responsibility for them. Nobody ever asks him about following the legal quotas when things are running smoothly, but if he makes one mistake, suddenly everyone’s asking why he was working so hard in the first place.
People complain about the wait times, but I can't do anything to help them. I'm terrified of making a mistake, and then I have to listen to everyone whining about how the healthcare system is totally trashed. And I'm hearing this after working 20 hours straight without even grabbing a sip of water. It sucks that they have to wait, but honestly, I haven't even had time to eat or use the bathroom.
He says his engineer buddies are making like $100k a year while working standard business hours and not having to study half as much. He asked me, "Do you know what it feels like when someone dies right in front of you?" There aren't enough doctors, and there'll be even fewer because the news media loves to crucify them for things out of their control. During his shifts, he barely sleeps, and his schedule is $7.00 hours long. Being an on-call surgeon is $43, and often for that money, he's operating on a dying patient for five hours straight—and he says it's not just about the surgery; you have to look after them afterward, too.

He says people always complain, even though he saves lives every single day...

I believe him—I know him too well!

placidmason12 said:A close buddy of mine is a doctor. He slogged through six years of grueling medical school followed by a year of residency. Now he’s deep in his specialty training, which is even more brutal, all while pulling in $3.50 a paycheck.
His base salary sits at $6,800, but the rest comes from those endless overnight shifts. He pulls about 400 hours a month. On paper, his pay stub shows him working 184 hours—which is what counts toward his Social Security—but the reality is much heavier. Between the massive tax hits on his high income and the fact that he has to study the second he gets home, he’s barely getting six hours of sleep a night. He doesn't even think about starting a family yet because there's simply zero time for it.

He tells me his official quota in the clinic is 35 patients, but he actually sees 120. He only gets paid for the 35, yet he puts his signature on all 120, taking full legal responsibility for every single one. Nobody asks him about the legal quotas set by the state until he makes a mistake, then suddenly everyone's wondering why he was working so hard.
People complain about the wait times, but how am I supposed to help them when I'm exhausted? I'm terrified of making a mistake, and meanwhile, everyone is shouting that the American healthcare system is a complete disaster. And I have to sit there and take it after working 20 hours straight without even a sip of water. I don't give a damn if they have to wait; I haven't even had time to eat or use the bathroom.
He mentions his engineer buddies make $100,000 a year working standard business hours without half the studying or stress. He asked me, "Do you know how it feels when someone dies right in front of you?" There are so few doctors left, and that number is only going down because the news media loves to crucify them regardless of whether they're innocent or not. During an overnight shift, he won't get a wink of sleep, and his schedule is $7.00 hours long. Being a surgeon requires being on call $43, and for that money, he’ll spend five hours operating on a dying patient, but he insists surgery isn't just about the procedure—you have to care for the patient long after they leave the OR.

He says everyone complains constantly, yet they save countless lives every single day...

And I believe him, because I know the guy inside and out!

I believe him too. It's the same story with the doctors I work with. Half the time, these professionals can't stand each other; they're too busy looking for opportunities to stab one another in the back. They are completely fractured—they don't collaborate, they don't communicate with each other, and they certainly don't communicate with their patients.
When are they finally going to unite and stand together?
Like I said, not even a single word from Jane Doe is allowed to be spoken!

placidmason12 said:A close friend of mine is a physician. His training was incredibly grueling—six years of medical school followed by a year of residency. Right now, he’s navigating a specialty that is even more demanding, all while pulling in $3.50 a specific salary.
His base pay is around $6,800, but most of his income actually comes from overtime during shifts. He clocks roughly 400 hours every month. Curiously, his official payroll only reflects 184 hours, which is the figure used for his retirement contributions. Because his actual earnings are so high, he pays massive amounts in taxes. When he finally gets home, he doesn't rest; he has to study. He averages about six hours of sleep a day. As for starting a family? He says he simply doesn't have the time.

He tells me the standard quota in the clinic is 35 patients, yet he sees closer to 120. He only gets paid for those first 35, but here is the kicker: he signs off on the remaining patients too, taking full legal responsibility for them. No one ever asks him about the legal quotas set by law, but the moment a mistake happens, they’ll be right there asking why he was working such long hours.
People complain about the wait times, but I can't help them, and I live in constant fear of making a mistake. Everyone complains that the American healthcare system is a total disaster. And I have to sit there and listen to that after working 20 hours straight without even a sip of water. Honestly, I don't care if they have to wait; I haven't even had a chance to eat or use the restroom.
He mentions that his friends who work as engineers make something like $100,000 a year, work strictly Monday through Friday, and don't have to deal with this level of constant studying. He asked me, "Do you know what it feels like when someone dies right in front of you?" He believes doctors are becoming a vanishing breed, and the media just loves to crucify them regardless of whether they are at fault or not. During a shift, he barely closes his eyes, and his schedule is $7.00 hours long. A surgeon's readiness is $43, and quite often for that money, he is performing surgery on a dying patient for five hours straight. He insists that being a surgeon isn't just about the procedure; you have to provide continuous care long after the operation is over.

He says everyone complains, yet they save countless lives every single day...

I believe him because I know him very well!

Oh sure, our healthcare system is just wonderful and all these doctors are nothing but martyrs. 🤣🤣

I suppose that might actually be the reality, but based on my own interactions with them, the picture looks completely different. 🤷

Once we actually start valuing hard work in this country, everything else will just fall into place.

Don't get all offended with me now—but paying doctors $7.00 by the hour is literally just proof of how much we care about them—or rather, how much the government cares. Seriously, in New York City, getting a basic checkup feels like $13 nothing more than a quick haircut. It takes three years of med school for that! That’s exactly why people resort to under-the-table payments. These folks aren't idiots, and they aren't morons who are going to sacrifice their entire lives for you—they have lives too. They aren't Gods or walking encyclopedias; they're just people, and honestly, pretty overworked ones at that. We actually have a great healthcare system because of how much we invest in people and what we pay for it. In the US, the average doctor count is 220 in Washington, D.C., compared to maybe 150 per 100,000 in the Midwest. Just look at the stats from other countries. If an American pays $600 for healthcare, they aren't going to get the same service as someone in Switzerland paying $3,000 or more. Not to mention, we’re short on doctors. According to the data, we need to hire about 50% more nurses to hit United Nations standards. In Germany, the norm for general practice is 700 people, but our family doctor is stuck with 2,800 patients—it’s a miracle they can do anything right. Mistakes happen in a system like this, and hey, they happen in America too.
Stop being so ungrateful; that's just how the system works. Blame the politicians who couldn't care less about doctors... Honestly, once we fully integrate, you'll be waiting at least 30% longer for an appointment because everyone's going to head abroad. These professionals aren't stupid, and I truly believe they're better people than most of us. But that typical American jealousy and envy? You just can't shake it—instead of being proud, people just bitter. Look at how others handle it.

It’s always "me, me, me"... only my problems matter, only I am important... as long as I'm healthy while everyone else can go to hell...
That doctor isn't just thinking about you—he probably has 30 people like you stuck in his head, but you think you're better than everyone else... just me... me, me, and me... who cares about the doctor...
as long as I'm okay... he's paid for it... let him do his job... the government sucks... doctors don't know anything... just me and my problems...
It honestly makes me sick... but that's just the USA for you.

Until we start respecting doctors, nothing is going to change—and I don't just mean doctors, but everyone!

Doctors aren't to blame for the systemic failures in healthcare organization. They are already drowning under workloads that triple what the law actually mandates.
As Angela Wright pointed out, it is baffling that no medical association has attempted to advocate for interests that would also benefit patients—for instance, through political engagement.
Instead, we see physicians who once ascended to high-level politics suddenly developing amnesia, choosing to cater to the established political status quo.
Medical associations need to be significantly stronger and more accountable. They should protect doctors who find themselves caught in the crosshairs simply because they are overworked and genuinely care about advancing their profession for the patient's sake.
There is so much that needs transparency regarding specializations, doctoral programs, and other areas where favoritism dictates outcomes. All of this rests in the hands of people whose management of institutions like the Mayo Clinic follows archaic, ancient patterns—people you can only get rid of once they are gone.
It is pathetic.
Everyone stays silent. Their lives slip away while they work; despite all the effort, the training, the studies, and the patients, their priorities become so skewed that they view life outside the hospital as an obligation, while the grind within the facility becomes their only reality.
I admire them. But I wouldn't want my son enrolling in med school. In America, obviously.

placidmason12 said:Once we actually start valuing hard work and genuine effort in this country, everything will naturally fall into place.

I hope nobody takes offense, but paying doctors $7.00 by the hour is simply a testament to how much we care about them—or rather, how much the government cares. Honestly, getting a basic consultation in New York City feels like nothing more than $13 a quick haircut after three years of medical school. That’s precisely why those "under-the-table" payments exist. These professionals aren't idiots; they aren't fools who are expected to sacrifice every aspect of their lives just for you. They have lives too. They aren't Gods or all-knowing sages; they are just people, often incredibly overworked people. We actually have a very solid healthcare system because of how much we invest in people and how much we pay for it. In the USA, the average physician count is 220 in Washington, D.C., compared to 150 per 100,000 people in the Midwest. Just look at the statistics from other nations. If an American pays 600 dollars for healthcare and can't receive the same level of service as someone in Switzerland paying 3,000 dollars or more, there's a clear gap. Not to mention, we are short on doctors. According to the data, we need to hire about 50% more nurses to meet United Nations standards. In Germany, the standard for general practice is one doctor per 700 people, whereas our family physician is handling a load of 2,800. It’s a mathematical certainty that they can't provide perfect care under those conditions. Mistakes are bound to happen in such a system, and frankly, they happen in America too.
Don't be ungrateful; this is just how the system functions. Blame the politicians who couldn't care less about doctors. Once we fully integrate into the union, you'll likely find yourself waiting at least 30% longer for appointments because many professionals will move abroad. These people aren't idiots, nor are they bad people; I truly believe they are better than most of us. But the jealousy and envy inherent in the American psyche is something that seems impossible to uproot. Instead of being proud, we tear things down. Just look at certain other groups.

It's always "me, me, me"... only my problems matter, only I am important... as long as I'm healthy, who cares about anyone else?
That doctor isn't thinking only about you; they might have thirty patients just like you on their mind, yet you still act as if you are superior to everyone else... just me... me, me, and me... I don't give a damn about the doctor...
as long as I'm okay... he gets paid, so he should just do his job... the government is failing... doctors don't know anything... it's all about me and my problems. .....
It honestly disgusts me... but that's just the USA for you.

As long as we fail to value doctors, nothing will change—and I don't just mean doctors, I mean everyone!

Well, sorry, but either our doctors need to step up (the whole healthcare system needs to step up), or the whole thing should just be scrapped so we know where we stand. If that happens, I won't even bother going to the doctor; I'll just die at home. I'd rather do that than go to a hospital only to realize halfway through that it would have been smarter to just stay in bed. ☕

Daniel Bailey39 said:Look, I’m sorry, but our doctors seriously need to get their act together—our entire healthcare system needs a massive shake-up. Either they step up and actually do their jobs, or we should just scrap the whole thing so we know exactly where we stand. As it stands, there’s no point in me even bothering to see a physician if I'm just going to waste my time. Why bother making the trip to the hospital only to realize you would have been much smarter staying home in the first place?☕

Look, you’re the textbook definition of how the average American thinks. It’s always about waiting for "someone else" to make the first move, because the problem is never actually within yourself—it's always someone else's fault.
Everyone needs to step up and be the first one to break ranks, because this mess is on all of us.

If there’s already a thread covering this—I couldn't seem to find one—then thanks for letting me join the conversation.

Mayo Clinic, Endocrinology and Metabolic Disorders Department

For about a decade now, I’ve been accompanying an older family member to appointments every six months—someone dealing with diabetes, partial vision loss, and significant mobility issues.
Over the last two and a half years of waiting around, I've noticed so many senseless, unnecessary changes during every visit; they serve little purpose other than disorienting the elderly patients who primarily seek care there.
-The reception desks: one time they were organized by zip code, the next they weren't.
-There simply aren't enough chairs for everyone sitting in the waiting area.
-The layout is incredibly confusing, especially when the crowds pick up.
-Regarding lab work: once you get your tests done, scheduling a follow-up—or rather, getting someone to actually interpret the results—is never available sooner than four weeks out, and sometimes it stretches to eight. One has to wonder how relevant those results even remain for determining a treatment plan after such a long delay.
-The doctors and nurses show evident frustration and burnout—it seems from our conversations that this is a byproduct of merging with Johns Hopkins Hospital and subsequent staffing cuts. It results in these rushed, perfuncthest conversations with patients, where a "real" exam only happens if the patient specifically complains about a particular symptom.
-As the sole companion (and a relative), I'm there to assist with things like dressing and undressing—given the patient has a very stiff hip—yet I've encountered outright refusals to be present during the exam. Some of the nurses working with certain specialists showed absolutely no willingness to assist the patient at all.
That said, I must admit there are exceptionally kind and competent professionals among the staff; they just seem completely overwhelmed by the sheer volume of work.

Since we all eventually face the reality of visiting some major American hospital (or any facility in any city, really), what has your experience been like for those of you currently receiving treatment in them?

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The hospitals here are honestly a joke—the conditions are terrible—but I gotta give credit to the nurses because they really went above and beyond. They were the only ones actually trying. The doctors aren't half bad, but let’s be real: the whole system is just completely broken.
Take my experience at the local community clinic, for example. In just eighteen months, they’ve cycled me through three different primary care doctors. The worst part is that the second one was actually great, and now I'm back to square one with someone mediocre. On top of that, the hours are all over the place—it used to be morning shifts, but now it's hit or miss between mornings and afternoons, and soon they'll probably switch to afternoon hours on Mondays and Wednesdays and mornings for the rest. And don't even get me started on having to make appointments now.🤦
Back when that second doctor was still there, the clinic stayed open until 1 PM and you could get everything done lightning fast. You’d just walk in, tell the doctor what was going on, and boom—done. No annoying appointment needed, no messing around with the nurse, just easy. It sucks that they ruined such a good setup.😢

Welcome to the American healthcare system. 😢

Lately, I’ve been bouncing around doctors' offices more than I’d like, and honestly, I don’t have much to say about the staff itself. I haven't had any bad run-ins with them. If anything, it's obvious they aren't just busy—they’re completely overwhelmed. I can't even find it in me to blame them.

What actually gets under my skin and drives me up the wall is the sheer organization of the whole thing. Even with centralized scheduling, I still have to physically show up at the hospital just to book a follow-up. The crowds are insane; you end up waiting two or three months just for a routine check-up. Unless things are bad enough to land you in the ER—and god, I could write an entire essay on the horror stories I hear from other people that make my hair stand on end—you’re stuck waiting months for tests, specialists, and basic follow-ups.

Don't even get me started on how nauseating it is to think about heading back to the hospital for blood work, or worse, seeing an immunologist. In our facilities, everything from hematology and immunology to cardiology and the main labs is crammed into these cramped basement clinics. Between the lack of space and the suffocating crowds in those hallways, I feel lightheaded every single time. It’s like there’s zero oxygen. At the very least, they should put some damn windows in the waiting rooms that actually open. Since there are never enough chairs anyway, you’re forced to stand for hours just waiting for your name to be called.

Oh, and here’s another "gem" of our system: if you need to go in for a check-up, you literally have to take sick leave or use a vacation day because you'll be sitting there for hours. You’d think it wouldn't be too hard to give people a rough time slot once they're scheduled, but apparently, that's asking too much.

It’s like we don't have enough to deal with just managing our own illnesses. They could at least make the logistics easier. Instead, everyone shows up to their appointments with a knot in their stomach—not even because they're scared of the results or what the doctor might say, but just from the pure stress of navigating this mess to even get the appointment in the first place.