Doctors at Mayo Clinic (Drašković Trauma Hospital)

I don't even know where to start, other than calling this an absolute CATASTROPHE!

I honestly cannot believe that out of three different doctors, it took until the very last one—the third person to actually look at the X-ray—to realize there was an avulsion fracture in the foot. HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE????

The first guy we saw at the ER that night told us it was just a minor sprain and nothing to worry about. He put a splint on one leg, did nothing for the other, applied some local ice, and told us to check back in a week. In my opinion, he didn't even bother looking at the imaging.

Then there was the second one. We wasted five hours at the follow-up because their organization is non-existent. He seemed puzzled as to why the pain was still there or why I couldn't stand on my feet; he just poked at the tendon with his finger and sent us for an ultrasound. The ultrasound came back fine, we went back to him, and he insisted everything was okay—only then did he finally deign to look at the X-ray. Even then, he still claimed everything was fine, suggested more ice, and told us to wait another week.

So, I go up to the ward and find a third doctor. He reviews everything properly and tells me right away that there’s an avulsion fracture and that we need more testing. We ended up going to another hospital, where they confirmed it and said it's either surgery or a cast, depending on what further tests show.

So, WHO IS THE IDIOT HERE??

Trauma is absolute rock bottom.
I had this lady kick me out of an ultrasound appointment—right after I’d finished up there following my car accident—just because I didn't say "good morning" when I walked in. 🙏
"You might be injured, but basic manners still matter," she tells me. 🙏 🙏 🙏
Then, to top it all off, this "distinguished" doctor refused to even look at my head. I was practically begging him like a dog because I had this horrific headache and dizziness, but he just brushed me off. He told me it's perfectly normal after a wreck and that I should just go home and take some Tylenol. 😁
When we finally got into it with him, he started shouting about how he's a top-tier surgeon. 😍

🤮

I actually attended an event there just a few months ago!
My daughter took a hard hit to the foot during her soccer practice, and she couldn't even put any weight on it—her whole foot just went numb.
She’s had surgery on both legs before, so you can definitely tell by looking at them.
But honestly, that’s not even the main point of this story.
Anyway, the guy on duty—this supposed humanist—asks her, "Does it hurt?" and she tells him straight up that it hurts so much she can't even stand.
And his response? He basically goes, "Well, then just die if it hurts so much."
I ended up having a little "chat" with him about that. 😈 🙂

A few years back, I had a nasty wreck that absolutely wrecked my arm. It was stuck up in this awkward position—kind of like when you’re raising your hand in class to answer a question—and the pain was just unreal. I couldn't move it an inch. I sat there for an hour just waiting to be seen. Then, a janitor actually tried to straighten my arm out because apparently, they wouldn't see me unless it looked "normal." After that, I finally got an X-ray, and they told me it was a broken, dislocated shoulder and I needed to get back to the doctor immediately. But instead of helping, the staff just wandered off for coffee. Some guy from the ER comes over, glances at the scan, tells me "nothing serious, we'll fix you up," and then heads right back out for his latte while I'm sitting there in agony and nobody is doing a damn thing. Eventually, things calmed down, a nurse brought me back, and when I asked if she could give me anything for the pain, she basically said she was going to *try* to reset it without any meds. Like, are you kidding me? Are we just going to "see how it goes" by twisting it? I was skeptical, but fine.

She grabbed it, gave it one good pull, and *pop*—it clicked right back into place. The pain vanished instantly. Just like that. They threw a cast on me, and I was out the door! Honestly, the best part was realizing that while I was the one in pain, they were the ones acting like they didn't care. So, I figured, why not? I went out for coffee too!

Man, it’s just awful... people there are moving around like they're stuck on a conveyor belt...
Last year, around May, I tumbled down a flight of stairs and ended up at the Trauma center. I walked into the clinic, and the doctor just stared at me and asked if I could talk—that was it. No follow-up, nothing. He scribbled some notes, sent me off to disability, and handed me a brace. Fast forward to my follow-up appointment, and they tell me my ligaments are strained, plus there's heavy bruising and swelling. My brace actually snapped from all the pressure. And then? Nothing. A whole year later, my ankle is still swollen (even though my regular doctor insisted I have flat feet), so I finally lost my cool and went to a private orthopedist. That specialist gave me a real diagnosis and referred me to physical therapy. So, I head back to the Trauma department to see a physical therapist, who turns out to be practically deaf and blind. She tells me nothing is wrong! She looks at my ankle and acts like she can't even see the swelling. She couldn't believe it was possible for me to have pain on both the left and right sides—she thought it was "weird"—and when she looked at the report from my orthopedist, she basically just brushed it off like it didn't matter.
Seriously, some people are just completely out of it. She asked me ten different times which leg it was, and ten times I told her it was the right one. Then I lie down on the table, and she asks me again, "Which leg?" I was honestly this close to telling her to get lost, but she just kept going. She’s writing up the report, asking me again if it's left or right, I say right, and then this old lady actually writes down *left*. You just want to scream.

I am staying far away from that Trauma unit from now on.

I had a total blast! 😲

So they get me checked in, I sit down—well, actually, I fall and sprain my ankle right then and there—and we just sit there waiting for like an hour. It was a circus, honestly, and absolutely nothing was moving. When they call names, they basically just crack the door open, stay seated at their desks, and zone out. You can’t hear a thing in the waiting room, and if you actually want to sit down, you have to grab a seat way in the back because there’s zero space near the front.

Finally, I limp in on my good leg, hopping along, and the nurse asks me, "What brings you in?" I just say, "My leg," and gesture toward it with my head. She looks at me and goes, "Which one?"

I mean, obviously the one I'm currently hobbling on.

She gives me this look, the doctor dictates to her that it's swollen and tender to the touch (which, let me tell you, it definitely 🙄 ) and writes down "sprained right leg." 😲 .

Then I spent another hour waiting for X-rays before they finally took the pictures, and *another* hour sitting outside again. In the end, lucky me, it was just a torn ligament, but it makes me wonder how people with actual serious injuries cope with this mess.

It reminds me of a few years ago when I sliced my fingers pretty bad and had to get stitches. I was using paper towels to try and stop the bleeding, and the nurse just ripped those papers right off my hand, dumped alcohol on a piece of gauze, and scrubbed my fingers like crazy 😱—I'm talking an open wound, raw meat, stuff like that. And they stitched me up completely wide awake. 😱

God, they're just wonderful. 😍

Not. 🙄

Look, I don't want to get this wrong—Lord knows I’ve made enough mistakes—but about a month ago, right near the Capitol Center, some guy collapsed. They were on him before you could even blink—literally, within seconds—and they spent a good thirty minutes, maybe longer, fighting to bring him back. Sadly, he didn't make it, but we spent days talking about how those medics were absolute legends for trying everything they could.

I mean, come on, stuff happens.div>

It’s almost like we’re talking about a completely different hospital here. 😲 My own experience was actually pretty great... after my car accident, they rushed me straight to the Mayo Clinic. Since it was an emergency, I didn't spend much time waiting downstairs; they checked me out immediately, and the staff even cracked jokes to calm me down because I was a complete nervous wreck. Up on the ward, the nurses were wonderful, and there was this one male nurse who really stuck in my mind. They did absolutely everything they could—whenever my cast was chafing, a nurse would be right there stuffing cotton in to soothe it, checking on me constantly, especially right after surgery. And honestly, I owe my life to the surgeon who operated on me (I don't know if they allow you to write names here), because my fracture was such a bizarre mess that I should have needed multiple surgeries. Instead, he handled it all in one go, and he did it so perfectly that I'll never have to deal with having a screw pulled out of my leg. I'm just eternally grateful to him. 🙏 🙏I’ll never forget that man... even during follow-up appointments later on, he always recognized me. He’s truly a remarkable human being.

The only real downside was the follow-up visits after I was discharged. The waiting lines downstairs are just a disaster. It’s fine while you're still on crutches—people are usually kind enough to let you sit—but once you ditch the crutches, people act like you’re perfectly healthy and leave you to fend for yourself... and then you end up waiting hours for an exam. I’ve sat there from 7 AM until 1 PM before. But look, it’s always packed, so I can’t really blame them; sometimes it feels like those folks are just spinning in circles trying to figure out which way is up.

Haha, honestly, I'm just glad someone actually felt okay...
And that whole thing about sitting down? It felt so weird to me. I was actually feeling pretty shaky myself, but I didn't even think to sit until I started practically sliding down the wall because my head was spinning so bad. Some woman actually had the nerve to tell this guy—who wasn't even doing anything, just standing there waiting for someone—that he needed to get up...

I guess maybe there’s just one sane person for every ten crazy ones out there.

jadeskipper18 said:It’s almost like we’re talking about a completely different hospital here. 😲 My own experience was actually pretty great... after my car accident, they rushed me straight to the Mayo Clinic. Since it was an emergency, I didn't spend much time waiting downstairs; they checked me out immediately, and the staff even cracked jokes to calm me down because I was a complete nervous wreck. Up on the ward, the nurses were wonderful, and there was this one male nurse who really stuck in my mind. They did absolutely everything they could—whenever my cast was chafing, a nurse would be right there stuffing cotton in to soothe it, checking on me constantly, especially right after surgery. And honestly, I owe my life to the surgeon who operated on me (I don't know if they allow you to write names here), because my fracture was such a bizarre mess that I should have needed multiple surgeries. Instead, he handled it all in one go, and he did it so perfectly that I'll never have to deal with having a screw pulled out of my leg. I'm just eternally grateful to him. 🙏 🙏I’ll never forget that man... even during follow-up appointments later on, he always recognized me. He’s truly a remarkable human being.

The only real downside was the follow-up visits after I was discharged. The waiting lines downstairs are just a disaster. It’s fine while you're still on crutches—people are usually kind enough to let you sit—but once you ditch the crutches, people act like you’re perfectly healthy and leave you to fend for yourself... and then you end up waiting hours for an exam. I’ve sat there from 7 AM until 1 PM before. But look, it’s always packed, so I can’t really blame them; sometimes it feels like those folks are just spinning in circles trying to figure out which way is up.

Ugh, tell me about it. We were literally just joking about how insane it is that the ER intake and the follow-up clinic are basically sharing the same space. Like, seriously? Yesterday, like 80% of the crowd was just there for minor things—getting bandages changed, cast removals, pulling stitches, basic check-ins—and there I am, hobbling around with a wrecked leg, waiting almost three hours.😲

Sam Hughes5 said:Haha, honestly, I'm just glad someone actually felt okay...
And that whole thing about sitting down? It felt so weird to me. I was actually feeling pretty shaky myself, but I didn't even think to sit until I started practically sliding down the wall because my head was spinning so bad. Some woman actually had the nerve to tell this guy—who wasn't even doing anything, just standing there waiting for someone—that he needed to get up...

I guess maybe there’s just one sane person for every ten crazy ones out there.

In my experience, they always let me sit down while I was on crutches and wearing that leg brace, but things have definitely changed lately...🙂

Hey everyone, I was just sitting here wondering if anything has actually changed at that Trauma center since everything went down. Is there even any reason to trust them anymore?

My dad underwent shoulder surgery at Drašković Trauma Hospital about eight years ago, and honestly, they did an incredible job. Even with a total shoulder replacement, his range of motion is still great today. He needed the artificial joint because he had such a nasty fracture after a bad fall. The nurses were really sweet, too—they were right there whenever I called for help. And Dr. B was so kind; I felt like I could actually sit down and talk to him whenever we had questions.

Sent from my iPhone 13 using Reddit

I’ve been stuck here at the Mayo Clinic for eight days now
The thing is, they honestly don't even know their own schedule an hour in advance... it's just total chaos
People are basically camping out in hospital beds for seven whole days just waiting around for their surgeries

And don't even get me started on the nurses. They're honestly the worst—rude, lazy, dismissive, and they've even handed out the wrong meds
In my opinion, they should all just be fired. Period. They need to hire a fresh crew and make it crystal clear from day one that if they act like this, they're gone just like the last group

There are all these rumors floating around about myths and conspiracies, and looking at how "organized" this place is, I can see why people believe them. It’s fertile ground for that kind of stuff

The lines are absolutely insane too; you end up waiting for hours just for a simple check-up
Long story short—it’s a complete disgrace

I’m honestly not so sure... I had a pretty complicated shoulder surgery just before the summer, and my experience was nothing but positive. From the initial diagnostics and the doctors to the nursing staff and the actual procedure itself, everything felt seamless. Even the physical therapy seems top-tier, especially when I hear stories from people who went somewhere else for rehab and then transferred back here... As for the crowds, you hit the nail on the head. Every time I showed up for a follow-up, I’d be sitting there waiting for at least two or three hours, only for the actual appointment to last about a minute.

You probably worked here before all the "reforms" started
if things keep going the way they are (and honestly, I don't see any reason why they wouldn't), this whole healthcare system won't even exist in two years

with all these massive "cost-cutting measures" and "reforms," we've hit a breaking point. We used to have seven operating rooms—which, by the way, the U.S. government spent a fortune equipping and paying for—but now only three are actually running because there’s been a total exodus of anesthesiologists
every single nurse I know has a plan to pack up and head to Germany or Austria, regardless of how old they are

It’s getting ridiculous. They're "saving" so much money that they actually told a woman she was being discharged because there weren't enough funds for her surgery. She was right there in the bed next to me! And she’d already been lying there for ten days for nothing, just taking up a hospital bed (I have no clue what the daily cost for that is, really)
It's basically pure chaos, total disorganization, and just general dissatisfaction everywhere
Being a patient right now is the absolute worst

Patrick Castillo4, I’m wishing you a really speedy recovery and hoping you can get out of there as soon as possible.

I haven’t actually been admitted to the Trauma unit myself, though I have spent some time in the ER. I picked up a bacterial infection that ended up causing the cartilage in my knee to start breaking down. The first time it happened, I felt this intense pressure just trying to stand up, so they rushed me over to Trauma.

I sat in the ER for about two hours on one of those gurneys, just crying and groaning in pain, but nobody really seemed to notice or care. Eventually, they took me for imaging, where the doctor managed to spot a dislocation despite the X-ray looking perfectly fine. Later on, the physical therapist was absolutely stunned when she saw the scan and his findings. They put me in a cast for three weeks. After that, I had a follow-up appointment where I think the nurse accidentally put her full weight on my bad leg. I mean, I’m sure she didn't do it on purpose, I truly believe that, but the pain was so sharp I swear I saw stars. Naturally, I ended up getting a lecture and a bit of a scolding for being "difficult."

The second time it flared up, the ER sent me straight back to Trauma again. I was lying there on the gurney, completely unable to move, when a nurse came by and told me there wasn't a doctor available and that I just needed to stay put and wait right there. 🤣 Then I finally made it to imaging—it was some kind of ultrasound—and the doctor told me he had a meeting in ten minutes and asked if I could please hurry up and get dressed. He basically pushed me out into the hallway while I was still exposed.

Ever since then, I try to avoid even thinking about that hospital. I guess the sooner I can stay far away from there, the better.

I feel like the topic is a bit too broad—maybe it needs some refining.

It’s honestly not really fair to generalize like that—especially when talking about the entire hospital.

So, I spent three whole weeks dealing with this tiny little pinky toe issue, and honestly? It was a total circus. Every single time I went in for an exam, I’d end up passing out on them. Then you've got some young doctor who insists on running X-rays twice, only to tell me—with a straight face—that not only was there a small fracture in the pinky, but three other toes were busted too. And the way they talked down to me... like, seriously? Acting like I’m just falling apart over a freaking pinky toe. It took them three full weeks just to actually wrap their heads around what was going on. No explanation, nothing. Just silence.

Ronald Green31 said:I feel like the topic is a bit too broad—maybe it needs some refining.

It’s honestly not really fair to generalize like that—especially when talking about the entire hospital.

No, I think it's totally fair to say this
because I'm finally back home now, though all I got was a discharge summary that was basically two sentences long.
I have a seriously nasty fracture in my right lower leg
and now I'm just struggling to even track down a physiatrist.
I've been calling various info lines for Mercy Hospital (which is actually the same facility now)
and the lady at the info desk tells me I might be waiting until May? But then she gives me a number to call Drašković Trauma Hospital directly
so I call that number, but instead of reaching Drašković, I get transferred back to Mercy... so I'm begging this second woman to please, please just give me the actual number for Drašković
and she doesn't even know it..?..
then I try calling Drašković directly, and somehow the info desk there hangs up on me twice in a row

I mean, look, I'll probably just end up paying for private care in the end, but it just hurts that I'm forced to pay extra on top of everything else for this so-called "healthcare" that provides absolutely zero service.
If I'm paying a monthly premium of $667 for health insurance instead of this useless "health" tax, I don't think I'd be dealing with these headaches or being treated like a second-class citizen.

Stuff like this doesn't help anyone, and honestly, it's not helping anyone either, unfortunately.