Hi-Desert Medical Center

We can’t say enough good things about the emergency room staff at this hospital! We were camping at Joshua Tree park when our six year old fell and had a complete break of his forearm. We were scared and stressed out, and our son was terrified of course, and the staff here could not have been more compassionate and professional. They went out of their way to make us all feel cared for. They did an expert job, from x-​rays, to anesthesia, to setting the bone and placing it in a temporary open cast until we saw an orthopedic surgeon. I can’t remember everyone’s name, but James, Jesse, Dr. Than, (I think), everyone who helped throughout the whole process was so professional and just plain nice. Our orthopedic surgeon said that normally with this type of serious break that he always does surgery and puts pins in, but the doctors did such a great job setting the bone that he opted to just put the cast on and forego surgery! Would totally recommend this great hospital to anyone (and we have already!) Thank you so much Hi-​Desert Medical Center from the bottom of our hearts!

This place sucks. My son was in there yesterday. He was brought in by ambulance unconscious. He is diabetic and his blood sugar was really low. He was having trouble breathing too and said his chest hurts. When I went to see him he was laying on a gurney with no pillow. I asked for a pillow and 2 nurses argued over if he should have a pillow because last time a pillow was taken from the storage room it caused all kinds of trouble. Go figure??? My son was on oxygen, he said he was freezing and in pain. His blood pressure was ¹⁸⁴⁄₁₁₈. Very high. They gave him a shot of morphine at around 4:20 pm. He then fell asleep. I left at 4:32 pm. Found out later they discharged him at 5pm. Omg! He was in bad shape. 911 was called the next morning at 4am to take him back to this hospital because his blood sugar dropped dangerously low again and he couldn’t breathe. He should of never been discharged the night before. This story is the short version. Mad Mom. I was just told the paramedics who came AGAIN to get Jeremy were mad too. They couldn’t believe this hospital released him in his condition.

You need to pay attention to the reviews that mention HDMC’s failure to treat sick seniors as human beings. My mother had to call 911 because of weakness fatigue and nausea. She went into the emergency room where she was evaluated by a doctor, who later released her after tests showed that she had a urinary tract infection. Despite my mom begging them not to release her because she was very ill, they insisted that she get on a bus. The problem is, she was too weak to even stand up on her own. The rude nurse failed to ambulate her, meaning she ignored my mom’s weakness and inability to function. Well, she was helped into a cab despite my mom begging to stay until she felt better. Like mentioned in another review, she had to cover the cab fare herself.
The cab driver helps her into her apartment, where she immediately falls to the floor because she is too weak to stand on her own. Had she not had a cell phone, she most likely would have died. After a few hours, she was stuck on the floor vomiting blood. She was severely anemic, and had to go back to HDMC where they diagnosed her with a bleeding ulcer. She then had to be airlifted to a hospital in the Imperial Valley (oh, and that costs $ 60,000 if you were wondering).
Now, I will say that there were nice nurses in the ER. Unfortunately, the rude and condescending one was the one in charge of getting rid of my mom. This is very tragic, and I fear for anyone having to endure HDMC’s emergency department. Also, the follow-​up was less-​than-​stellar. The patient advocate seemed to have little power to do anything. It seems the whole incident was a whitewash.
I saw written here previously «this place really does kill people.» That comments seems to have been deleted, but I do not mind repeating it because it seems highly that this is the case. If you have any choice, avoid this medical center. Otherwise you may be sorry if you’re around to experience that sorrow.
And to the kind and helpful people during this event (you know who you are) Thank you!

I’m saddened by these reviews. They seem like singular experiences that went badly for one reason or another.
My brief stay here one morning was handled with compassion, care, and competence. I felt like I was heard, allowed to feel safe and cared for. Everyone of the nurses and the doctor I interacted with did what they could to make me feel like I’d be okay.
Thank you to all of them.

I came to the ER here in extreme pain. They treated me like a criminal who was seeking opiates to feed an addiction. They asked me all kinds of suspicious questions and were very condescending. Eventually they told me they would give me pain meds but they never did, despite the fact that my pain was so severe that it was causing me to vomit. After waiting 2.5 hours in complete misery in the waiting room I just left. 2 days later I had emergency surgery to remove my gall bladder (not at Hi-​Desert, or I probably would not have survived the operation) which was causing me the extreme pain. Hi-​Desert Medical Center didn’t just not treat me well, they just flat out didn’t treat me. Then Hi-​Desert charged my insurance $ 1200. Pathetic. Unless you’re dying, don’t come here.

I’m a little late to review as I haven’t been on Unilocal in a long time, but I had to come on here to RAVE about the services provided to me by HDMC Labor & Delivery. Dr. Kasko & his team were extremely friendly, patient, kind and outstanding! I was in labor with my first baby and they made my stay there very comfortable and they were so helpful! The nurses treat you with so much respect and they catered to my husband and I throughout the entire stay. After over 24 hours of being there, they delivered my beautiful baby boy and they just adored him!!! I was absolutely impressed with their service and for making this experience so wonderful. My husband was also impressed and he is a tough egg to crack! I thank the Labor & Delivery staff from the bottom of my heart, I wish I could give them a million stars!

This place is a piece of s**t my mother in law got X-​rays at 4:00pm it took them till 10pm to tell us it is just a bruise F#$k this place

I gave it one star because there was no option for no stars. My wife and I help an elderly friend because her family has abandoned her. She is 88. Has a heart condition, COPD, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Her knees are shot and they need to be replaced. She has degenerative disc disease in the lumbar area. She sits in her chair because the pain in her knees is so great she is immobile. The paramedics have taken her to HDMC four times this week, They keep her for a few hours and release her. She is ALONE. She can’t walk. She can’t feed herself. She can’t get to the bathroom. This morning we found her sitting in urine and feces because she can’t walk to the bathroom. The orthopedic surgeon wants to replace her knees but she needs tests before surgery. He can’t get her into continuing care. Her primary care physician can’t get her into continuing care. The ER doctor will not admit her so she can get into continuing care. I guess she needs to be at home and break a hip before any action can be taken. This is very frustrating. We are documenting everything and we will furnish everything to the family and any government organization or news outlet. No human being with Medicare and Anthum Blue Cross should be treated like this. I will drive many miles to avoid this pit for any medical problems my family has. I love them too much.
It is now 11:18. She was released from the hospital with no one to pick her up. They made her take a cab home. It cost her $ 30.00. She is stuck on the toilet. We are calling 911. We are not in the area and they have abandoned her.
UPDATE: Saturday 1÷17÷2015. Our friend called in the early morning in horrible pain. We called Morongo Basin Ambulance and requested that she be transported to Desert Regional. Her primary care physician told us that they are a more compassionate facility. They ran tests and x-​rays. They admitted her because of her broken back. She now has compassionate medical care, we just needed to get her away from HDMC to make it happen. If I get injured I will crawl on my hands and knees down the hill for my medical care.

Ok… This place SUX !! 3 Hours waiting to get a freaking ultrasound ?? Seriously folks !! Give me a break !! Waiting room empty !!

This place is second to none. I was admitted and had the best of care. Also sometime after, I volunteered in the No one Dies Alone program, and saw first hand how concerned the staff is.

Yikes! I can’t believe that this wonderful facility hasn’t been favorably reviewed numerous times. I have had extensive experience both as an EMT delivering patients to the ER, having been to the ER as a patient a number of times myself and most recently admitted from ER to the floor for surgery.
Both the staff and facility resources have been of the highest professional caliber. Come on folks, I know there are countless patients and family/​friends of patients that have had a positive experience here and should comment about them. After all, this is one the most important establishments in the Hi Desert and deal with the most precious matters we have… our lives.
The community needs to know that they can trust the institution and the personnel that staff it. These professionals are the best.

Xmas, ²⁰¹³⁄₁₄ I needed antibiotics for an oncoming bronchitis attack. I went to the very clean and friendly facility and didn’t wait an uncomfortably long time before getting completely checked in to an emergency bed WITH a gown! I though it a bit much but fine.
Long to short the Dr. was efficient and very fast, I saw him maybe 3 minutes and walked out with a prescription for a Z-​pack, 4 days, 4 pills.
Here’s why I am writing a review. I just got TWO bills, and this is with very good AETNA coverage; $ 75. for the hospital and a whopping $ 227. for Physicians INC!
I was never told there would be two bills.
I will never go there again. I should have gone down the hill to Palm Springs.