ComplaintsforSwedish Medical Center

• Initial Complaint

  08/05/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  7/31/2024 @ 10pm I was brought into Swedish Medical Center. I was uncontrollably vomiting Wednesday 7/30/24 until the time I had went in. There was a serious concern for a ruptured esophagus by the time my friend dropped me to the hospital. I had left the hospital 8/3/24 around noon.During my stay, the sanitary conditions they had kept me in, and way they had treated me were unacceptable. From my time entering the emergency room until a few hours before I had left, the staff didn't provide me with a hospital gown. I was left in my clothes that I had come in with, covered in vomit, bile, blood, and defecation. During my episode, I was having severe gastric issues that had caused me to defecate the bed, bathroom, and underwear. The staff was aware of this issue, they had seen the defecation on my bed that I was lying in while they were taking my vitals, and they had seen the mess that was left in the bathroom. They ignored this, and continued on. My mother who was visiting had to take the liberty to clean the restroom. She did not come until 2 days later, as they did not ask for an emergency contact.I had suffered from a serious panic attack in my stay there and was screaming for help. The only person by my side was my mom. No staff came to help, it was only after a long while that they had decided to come in to do anything. Had my mom not been there, the hospital could of left me dead or in an even worse condition.SMC made a false claim that I had brought in street drugs to the *** The staff had given me 3 potassium pills to help with my electrolytes. This made me vomit, and I threw one of the pills on the ground. Staff lied to my mother, and said that pill on the ground was the street drugs I had brought in. After my mom confronted another nurse on this, that new nurse confirmed it is a potassium pill they give at the hospital, and the Doctor put it in my report that I had brought in street drugs. Charges will be pressed on SMC. I have **************** proof.

  Business response

  08/06/2024

  Hello, this is **********, the Patient Advocate, at Swedish Medical Center. I am very sorry to hear about your difficulties in our ********************* I will be giving you a phone by 8/7/24 to further hear about your experiences. I will also be filing a formal in-house grievance on your behalf. I look forward to speaking with you soon and you can also feel free to give me a call at ************.  

  Talk with you soon, *********;

• Initial Complaint

  11/13/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Swedish billed me $209 unauthorized charge to my **** 2023 XXXX **** credit card even though I did not see any provider at any Swedish ******* location. Previous requests to contact Swedish at ************ to send me the explanation of benefits were ignored and they were never able to locate what the charge was. I demand the unauthorized $209 charge to be refunded.

  Business response

  11/14/2023

  This complaint has been routed in error to a Swedish Medical Center in *********, ********. We have no affiliation whatsoever with the Swedish Hosptial in *******, **. Kindly re-route the complaint to the Swedish Hospital in *******, **. Thank you, The ***********    

• Initial Complaint

  08/31/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I scheduled a surgery with this office. I showed up, checked in, and waited two hours until I was approached by a nurses and told that my surgery had been rescheduled by the doctor. I was not asked about the rescheduling nor was I informed. It was all done within about an hour of my scheduled surgery. I had taken off work and organized a ride home. I lost about $500 in wages and screwed up my Moms schedule so she could give me a ride home from surgery. I then get a bill from the surgeons office and continued to receive bills from them. I didnt have any surgery and dont believe Im responsible for any bills relating to the disaster of a day that this company gave me.

  Business response

  08/31/2023

  Dear Sirs,

  We believe this concern has been sent to Providence ****** and Services/Swedish ****** Services in error.  Our representative spoke to the complainant earlier today, 8/31/2023. During the conversation, we learned this concern is for services provided by Swedish Medical Center located in ********.  Providence ****** and Services/Swedish Medical Center is a separate health organization with no connection to the Medical provider mentioned in the complaint.

  We respectfully ask that you forward this complaint to your BBB contact at that organization and remove this issue from your files for Providence ****** and Services.

   

  Sincerely,

   

  *********************

  Customer Experience Manager

  Providence ****** and Services

   

   

  Customer response

  08/31/2023

  They are correct. Swedish Medical Center in ********* ******** would be the correct business to address. Specifically Healthone Burn and Reconstruction is the business that I am talking about. They are a part of the Swedish Medical Center in ********* ********. They are at ******************************************************. They can be reached at **************. ********* burn and reconstruction is at **********************************************************************. They can be reached at **************. Thank you. 

  Business response

  09/01/2023

  We are very sorry for your experience with our surgery department at Swedish Medical Center.  Please accept our apologies. Also, please call the ************************* at Swedish to file a formal grievance and initiate correctional action. The phone number to the ************************* is ************. We look forward to hearing from you.  The best to you and your family, ****, the Patient Advocate

  Customer response

  09/01/2023

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

• Initial Complaint

  03/29/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I have called - several times - to get my bill fixed - as I went to the ** and nothing happened. I waited 4 hours. was billed for some medicine I did not recieve and finally received credit for that - but due to my waiting 4 hours - alone - in a room - my issue ended up finally remedying itself due to the antibiotics I had started taking. Yet after paying a co-pay - the insurance company paying over $1000 for services that I did not recieve - I'm still dealing with mistakes being made in my initial complaint (when I recently called - I was told there was an incorrect code/issue put in and it would be resubmitted). This NEEDS to be remedied - and I don't know how else to get the mistakes fixed.

  Business response

  04/13/2023

  We have received your complaint and are very sorry that this has happened.  We will look into this matter and respond to you in writing within the next 7 business days.  

   

  Thank you very much,

  ************

  Swedish Medical Center

  Patient Advocate

  Ph. ************

  Customer response

  04/17/2023

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

• Initial Complaint

  02/27/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 11/8/2022 my husband entered the ** for pain and had a urine sample taken and a quick wand ultrasound (total time spent being seen ~20 mins). He was diagnosed with a UTI and was given antibiotics but we then received a bill for $17,497.22 which came out to $3,415.96. When we did the math with how much time was spent in the ** (majority waiting time), it comes out to over $850 an hour which seems like highway robbery for the little time my husband was seen and treated. We have tried endlessly to call and get through to someone at the hospital to discuss how our bill could possibly be this high (ex/ how and why this was considered a high severity case if my husband was left waiting for 4 hrs and was quickly basely seen by a dr) and have not been able to reach anyone who could or would discuss the bill with us. We did speak with someone from which we requested an itemized bill be sent but weeks later have received nothing. We are frustrated that no one is helping us resolve this issue and we are being charged such an absurd amount.

  Business response

  03/09/2023

  Please contact the Patient Advocate regarding your concerns at ************ for an investigation of your concerns.

• Initial Complaint

  01/03/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My experience with Swedish Hospital was absolutely unacceptable, embarrassing and traumatizing. I have been in the hospital more times than I can count just this year alone due to reproductive issues and Ive had some pretty bad experiences, but this one goes far and beyond anything I or my husband have ever witnessed or experienced and he has been with me through every visit. The complete lack of compassion and care at all was appalling. I have never experienced such disregard for another person in my entire life. I was told by several clinics in the area that if I came to the emergency room they could do an ultrasound for me. So I did. I waited for 4 hours. I was forthcoming from time I got there about not having symptoms and truly just needing an ultrasound and blood test, yet no one said anything about not being able to be treated without symptoms until I was being basically harassed into leaving because it wasnt medically necessary. Im not sure why I had to wait 4 hours for nothing and was quite literally sent home and belittled by their entire staff for simply wanting an ultrasound to see if my pregnancy was still viable. Especially someone (and they knew this) who has been through 2 extremely traumatizing miscarriages that needed medical intervention in 2022 and stage 4 endometriosis with a history of extreme bleeding and silent miscarriage both times. If this is how pregnant people are being treated daily in this emergency room, Something needs to be done immediately. This visit took place on January 2nd 2023 between 12pm-6pm at Swedish Hospital in ********, **********.

  Business response

  01/03/2023

  Please note this is for Swedish Medical Center in ****************, not ********.

• Initial Complaint

  06/05/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Date of service 3/29/22 Went to the emergency room for UTI and waited about 2 hours in a room and only took a urine test.My **** came out to ******* That's absurd charge for so little time.

  Business response

  06/08/2022

  
  Hello,
  
  Thank you for submitting your concerns to the BBB.  Your post prompts contact with the Patient Advocate for Swedish Medical Center. As you have submitted a request that does not fall under my purview, I have forwarded this request on to the appropriate person to assist you.
  
  You should hear from our *************************** in 2-3 business days. Should you have additional concerns of questions feel free to call me at ************.
  
  Kind Regards,
  
  **********************-A.
  
  Patient Advocate
  
  Swedish Medical Center
  501 **************.
  *********, ** 80113
  Office: ************ |Fax: ************
  SwedishHospital.com | HealthONEStrong.com

  Customer response

  06/08/2022

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

• Initial Complaint

  04/05/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Date of transaction is March 9, 2022 Swedish ************** located at *********************************************************************** / Affiliated with and billing from Swedish Hospital Swedish ************** in ********** charged $155 repeatedly even though $162 was the amount my insurance billed. I clarified that $162 is what I needed to pay and paid it in office the day of service. My bank details that transaction. Even though I paid in office the larger amount in full, the amount I had to tell the front desk was owed, I was sent a **** for $162. When I called the location to resolve the billing issue, I was not given someone I could speak to, but was told to told to leave a message and they will get back after an undefined period of time.

  Business response

  04/06/2022

  
  Hello,
  
  Thank you for submitting to the BBB. Your complaint prompts contact with the Patient Advocate for Swedish Medical Center. As you have submitted a request that does not fall under my purview, I have forwarded this request on to the appropriate person to assist you.
  
  You should hear from that person in 2-3 business days. Should you have additional concerns of questions feel free to call me at ************ or you may contact our *************************** directly at ************.
  
  

  Kind Regards,
  
  **********************-A.
  
  Patient Advocate
  
  Swedish Medical Center
  501 **************.
  *********, ** 80113
  Office: ************ |Fax: ************
  SwedishHospital.com |HealthONEStrong.com
  
  Tell us why here...

  Customer response

  04/18/2022

  Swedish Medical Oncological Therapy has not addressed the complaint. Currently my paid account is not marked paid, as my funds were misappropriated into the wrong account by the office, and the account is not counted as paid. My account will not be considered paid until Swedish determines how to **** my account paid and put the funds paid into the proper account. My complaint has not been resolved.

   

  Please reopen my complaint.

   

  Thank you for the helping encourage Swedish to correct my account.

   

  Sincerely,

  Hannah

  Business response

  04/22/2022

  
  Hello,
  
  You complaint submitted to the BBB prompts contact with the Patient Advocate for Swedish Medical Center. As you have submitted a request that does not fall under my purview, I have forwarded this request on to the appropriate person to assist you.
  
  You should hear from someone in our ***************************  in 2-3 business days. Should you have additional concerns of questions feel free to call me at ************.
  
  Kind Regards,
  
  **********************-A.
  
  Patient Advocate
  
  Swedish Medical Center
  501 **************.
  *********, ** 80113
  Office: ************ |Fax: ************
  SwedishHospital.com | HealthONEStrong.com

• Initial Complaint

  12/27/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  on 10/7/2021, I went to the ** due to COVID breathing issues. I asked how much, at each phase of my visit, each and every item would cost. Nobody would answer me. I asked for a specific anxiety med, and the doctor gave me the wrong one. After all said and done, anxiety med, a chest X-Ray, and some blood work was billed for over $10,000. How is this not robbery?

  Business response

  12/28/2021

  Thank you for contacting the Patient Advocate for Swedish Medical Center (SMC). I have identified in your submission that you have a care concern regarding a medication you were prescribed. Should you want to pursue a Level I grievance, I will am happy to submit it on your behalf. 
  The results of the investigation to your Level I grievance will be submitted to you in writing after seven (7) business days of your submission.  If for some reason the investigation is not completed within the seven (7) business day timeframe, we will provide in writing an estimated date of completion for the investigation to be fully resolved. This will only pertain to your care concerns. Should you want to pursue a level I grievance or questions related to the grievance process, you may contact me the Patient Advocate by calling ************ or via email at ***************************************.  Your  inquiry regarding your billing statement and cost for care can be addressed by calling our *************************** at **************. 
  
  Kind Regards,
  
  **********************-A.
  
  Patient Advocate
  
  Swedish Medical Center
  ******************************************
  Office: ************ |Fax: ************
  SwedishHospital.com | HealthONEStrong.com
  
  
  

  Customer response

  12/28/2021

   
  Complaint: 16403059
  
  I am rejecting this response because the included business in the response has only submitted a grievance on my behalf. This does not mean any resolution has been made. I would like to keep pushing this subject until I believe that Swedish Medical Center discontinues their fraudulent and abusive billing to the general public. Especially to those with insurance. I am aware of how the medical center treats people with insurance. They **** about 5-6 times too high to compensate for the customers without insurance, and they do this on purpose because they know that I HAVE insurance, and that my insurance will negotiate a price. The higher they initially ****,the higher the negotiated cost will be. And I end up being the victim. I hope the price will go down to below $600, otherwise this will be a matter in court. This is not a threat, just simply a resolution attempt recommended my by medical **** lawyer who is guiding me in this. No action of litigation has been taken at this point.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  Geoshua *********

  Business response

  01/06/2022

  You can pursue a formal complaint regarding the quality of care you received at Swedish Medical Center by contacting the Patient Advocate at ************ or via email at **************************************** Should you have any billing questions, related to the cost for services rendered,  Please contact ******* Services at **************. 

   

   

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩