What's the best hospital?

[Chip]

You know, just in case. Like, for emergency stuff. "Ouch, I broke me arm, take me to _________."

Also, what's your reasoning?

-Chip

[Nick]

University Hospitals I'm told are usually the most reliable, but I have used the Mesonic one before and been fine.

[Crescent]

Rush and Northwestern. They are just the best. They are rated the best and just are. That's my only reason.

[Thousandth Member]

Having been to several over the last few years for minor emergencies...

Downtown, Northwestern is great... IF you're arriving by ambulance. Their waiting room gives lowest priority to walk-ins, even if you're holding a bloody bandage on one hand and something on ice in the other. I was rushed in front of the entire waiting room after fainting at work with no injuries beyond a minor cut (no stitches) and a small bruise above my eye after my coworkers called an ambulance. If you're hurt downtown, get an ambulance ride (even if you're across the street). You'll see a doctor faster.

Other than that, for the northside I can't say enough about Weiss. They treated me very quickly as a walk-in when I had a serious throat infection, did tests very quickly, and they followed up via phone calls and a letter to ask about how my treatment was.

The only place I've been I'll recommend actively avoiding is Methodist Hospital in Andersonville. It's the Weiner's Circle of hospitals. Rude, incompetent staff and it's not worth the wait when someone does finally acknowledge you. I went in with a suspected broken rib and had the x-ray operator push me onto my back while I was trying to get onto the table. Great job. Apply pressure and jerking movements to a patient who's complaining of severe chest pains and possible broken bones or strained muscles. After I got my results, the ER doctor just grunted insults at me for not coming in with a serious issue and wouldn't even give me an Advil, which I had to ask for at the check-out desk. They also were jerkwads to a friend who went with a much more serious issue, and they ended up just transferring that person to Weiss because they didn't have the resources to deal with it anyway.

[Hamer]

I usually end up getting hurt in ways that if I went to a major hospital, I'd still be waiting for like 7 hours.

Last Christmas - I was trying to get my shoes to leave for the airport to catch a flight home. I had a major walking malfunction. Fell *through* our big metal dog gate, and when I got up and dusted myself off, found I'd sliced my left big toe open, long-ways. It looked like my toe was wearing a bloody flesh sandal.

My fiancé put me in a cab to go to this place she'd recently been to.
Peterson Urgent Care (http://www.petersonurgentcare.com/).
I was stitched up in minutes, and we still made our flight!

My favorite part had to be the doctor seeing my injury, and going, "YIKES! That's pretty bad." Why thank you, Doctor Nick.

If I ever have to be taken somewhere by ambulance, I hope it's Rush or Northwestern. Those are definitely great hospitals. But I do enjoy Peterson Urgent Care for all my minor laceration needs.

[goody]

Chip,

There are free clinics all around on the north side where you can get tested.

[Fenstermaker]

Other than the horrific pain that prompted my visit, I was very pleased with my experience at Northwestern's ER (though I did not arrive by ambulance and did have to wait a while in said horrific pain--note to self for next time.)

Everyone was super nice and seemed generally concerned for my well-being, including a male nurse who had studied at SC, so we briefly chatted about improv.

Plus, like Crescent said, they simply have a great reputation. When I returned to work, someone said "Thank goodness you went to Northwestern instead of a neighborhood hospital!"

[IreneM]

I also love Peterson Urgent Care. Friendly, fast and great 70s lobby decor.

[Stacey]

I went to Illinois Masonic in an emergency due to the proximity - I thought I was going in for something minor and ended up with something major. Everyone was great there and my doctor was great.

However, I ended up at Northwestern with a specialist later and HOLY CRAP! Everyone is amazing, the place is immaculate. Hands down, where I would go if I had a choice.

But if time and proximity are an issue, and you've got to get somewhere fast, Illinois Masonic on Halsted ain't bad.

[jimfath]

Accorind to my RN GF who used to travel from hospital to hospital for Hospice care...

Top three (In order)

U of C, NorthWestern, and Rush. (These are all teaching hospitals... so are usually top notch)

Illinois Mesonic and Swedish Covenant are both decent.

Ultimatly it depends on your insurance... but any of the above are good for major stuff...

Check your insurance though... Urgent Care joints are typically cheaper on your wallet and there are traditionally shorter or no lines at those places... But don't go there if you are in need of trauma treatment... Stitches and what not... they can be great...

On a similar note she said to stay away from:
Trinity, St. Elizabeth, St. Joeseph...

She also was curious about Thoric because it suddenly appeared to her one day from Lakeshore drive and she's never seen it before. It might not be real... Any information about it would be appreaciated.

[Aardvark_Waffle]

I have to agree with Jimfath U of C is amazing my girlfriend's doctor is there and everyone there is so nice, and the hospital is always clean and nice. Pain in the ass to get to for us being Southsiders but shes worth it and so is the hospital.

[stetsko]

Yeah, I'm sure Northwestern is great and all from OUTSIDE of the system, but they're impossible to deal with and drive you crazy if you happen to be a student. I cannot WAIT until I no longer have to go through NMH for everything.

I'm sure my view has been tainted by my (then) rockstar insurance, but Masonic was great when I went to their ER with a broken ankle. And comparatively, NMH was awful in dealing with my best friend's broken thumb.

K.

[Thousandth Member]

Accorind to my RN GF who used to travel from hospital to hospital for Hospice care...

Top three (In order)

U of C, NorthWestern, and Rush. (These are all teaching hospitals... so are usually top notch)

Illinois Mesonic and Swedish Covenant are both decent.

Ultimatly it depends on your insurance... but any of the above are good for major stuff...

Check your insurance though... Urgent Care joints are typically cheaper on your wallet and there are traditionally shorter or no lines at those places... But don't go there if you are in need of trauma treatment... Stitches and what not... they can be great...

On a similar note she said to stay away from:
Trinity, St. Elizabeth, St. Joeseph...

She also was curious about Thoric because it suddenly appeared to her one day from Lakeshore drive and she's never seen it before. It might not be real... Any information about it would be appreaciated.


Thorek is a strange place. Their ER specialists are all private practitioners, so if you have anything beyond something a GP or nurse's grasp, you have to wait while they page doctors at home or at their office.

The staff is very friendly, and very patient. They manage to take care of everyone fairly quickly and are good at keeping you updated when there are delays.

The one weird thing about Thorek is, due to its location, it's a big destination for ODs, alcohol poisoning, and gunshot victims. And the people who accompany their friends being treated for ODs, alcohol poisoning, and gunshots. So the waiting room can be a bizarre place at 1am.

It's a not-for-profit operation, too, which is nice. If your insurance dollars are going to go somewhere, it's nice knowing they're going to a good cause.

[Stacey]

I think all hospitals are non-profit organizations...or most of them.

Believe it or not.