Long Beach Memorial Medical Center

I went to visit my friend who recently gave birth and they did not let me visit her. From 3 to 5pm it’s bonding time for mother and child. Unfortunately, my friend was not informed about this rule and we arrive at 3:15pm.We drove over an hour to visit her and her newborn baby but they did not let us visit. The front desk person said the nurse can make an exception. My friend wanted us to go up and visit but the nurse did not allow it. My friend had been a lone all day. But the nurse said no without any explanation. We drove over an hour with my 9 month old who hates the car seat. We couldn’t wait until 5pm because we would hit traffic coming back home. I understand the importance of bonding time but does it really have to be scheduled? Like I said I have a 9 month old so I just went through all this. Trust we had time to bond. THere is no need to block 2 hours. Especially when the mom had not had visitor all day. She needed someone to be there for her!
I am so glad I delivered at Hoag and not this unfriendly place. I am surprise the mom does not have the freedom to choose when she wants visitors.

If you are dying on the streets outside of Long Beach Memorial, you should still go to another hospital.
My surgeon offered to do my surgery here, because he is in Orange County and I am in LA, so we could split the difference. What a mistake.
I was in the hospital for two days recovering. First off, I was to be on a liquid diet, but this hospital basically declined to feed me, because I don’t eat meat or dairy. They brought me beef broth and milk as my meal every time. Even when it was sent back, the nurses just said «the food here is pretty bad» with no other recompense. I had to have my family trek out to find a food supplement for me themselves or I would have had nothing.
I was in a lot of pain. They were supposed to come back every four hours to give me more meds, but only came when, after being buzzed repeatedly, my mother finally went to get someone, and then we waited longer after that.
They transfered my room three times on the same wing, within one day. Not that they were busy, they just had messed up their own room schedule so badly that I was apparently in the «wrong room» over and over.
The TVs do not turn off. You can get it to a sort of black screen with a screen saver, but all the light and buzzing it emits will still keep you awake. My mother ended up covering the screen with a towel, and then being told to take it down. Friendly people here.
And then for bill pay. They sent the bill incorrectly to my insurance several times. I had to fight them for months to get it to go through my insurance properly, all the while receiving letters threatening to send me to collections, even after telling them (over and over) that it’s pending and they need to stop sending me letters until they can get their own info correct on a form so insurance will pay.
These people were so terrible on the phone. I was put on hold by hostile service reps so many times, waiting for 45 minutes or more just to be sent to a voicemail or hung up on. Every time someone finally promised to investigate and call me back, I never heard from them again. When I would call back myself to follow up, no records of my calls and concerns had even been kept.
FINALLY when it was all figured out and I had a normal copay, I tried to call to pay and they still overcharged me, and sent me to other departments who said nothing was wrong and sent back to be told it was wrong again. I just can’t with this place anymore.

Bad reviews should be the norm only because Long Beach really needs another hospital. Wait times in the ER can take forever, parking always sucks on the weekdays and the nurses in triage can be hit or miss due to being somewhat understaffed along with the security who operate and act as if they’re trying to be real police men/​women.
That being said, this place saved my life when my own doctor from an outside medical group misdiagnosed me with a stomach tumor and hepatitus because I also had severe jaundice.
Then one day I came here with unbearable pain in my stomach with meds not working at all a nurse quickly told me that I probably had an inflamed gall bladder and needed to be treated immediately.
Long story short, I had my gall bladder removed. I was in the hospital here for about a month as their doctors and surgeons tried their best to save it. If not for my primary doc blunder I probably would have been able to.
And in the month I was here their nurses and medical staff treated me well and made the month go by pretty fast. their surgeon was really caring and docs were as well and never treated me like a number

I reluctantly showed up to the Emergency Room after I found out the urgent care doesn’t accept my insurance. I was fortunate in that there was only 1 patient before me in the waiting room so I was seen in 15 mins and immediately looked at for my severe strep throat and assigned to a room. The nurses were very nice and friendly and very good at their jobs, they were also checking on me all the time just to ask how everything was going. The doctor was quick and thorough with his exam and offered me options to how I could go about recovering from this awful sickness and gave me his suggestion, which I chose. Needless to say I had a 102 – 105 degree fever and a throat in such pain that I couldn’t swallow for 3 days, visited the ER for 3.5 hours, and am now sitting at home feeling almost as good as new! Couldn’t have been happier with my visit I highly recommend this ER to anybody.

Seriously I hate this hospital, we came here because my boyfriends insurance plan change from
Kaiser to a PPO and this is the one that was recommended in our area. Worst place ever, I come from going to HOAG often and can really see the difference between a great hospital and what that needs some serious improvements, bedside manner is horrible, little to no communication, long weight times and doctors walking around having private conversations and finishing there coffee before seeing there patients. Don’t come here!!!

It is super sad reading all these negative comments. I wish the public was more educated and aware of how difficult it is to provide the best care for their loved ones, how a hospital runs, how not every single thing is within their control.
People mentioned earlier they got mad their nurse went to the bathroom, and the patient is always right… Oh my goodness. I’m sorry that nurses are humans too, that they do not see all the work that goes into caring for someone, how nurses are in the background advocating and making sure things get done for their patients.
Overall this is a great organization, and people need to understand in an emergency department setting… YES it is for emergencies. so if you are waiting for 5+ hours be happy you get to live another day!

Husband fell at home… horrible shoulder pain. Got to ED at 1 am, got X-ray’s, CT, pain meds, a diagnosis, an immobilizer and discharge meds and out the door at 5 am. Pain meds as soon as the IV was in, thank you. All with kindness, humor and courtesy. They made a bad situation less awful. Thank you Stephanie and Dr Jeff and all the other names I can’t remember. From a grateful patient’s wife.

I had my baby here in March 2016. We were transferred from another hospital because I had to deliver my baby via unplanned C-​section, six weeks early. I hadn’t researched this hospital at all so I had no idea what to expect.
The doctors and nurses were all AMAZING! I felt so comforted before my C-​section and very well taken care of after the surgery. The only complaint I have is that some of the rooms are a bit outdated and a little dirty.

I wish I could give this hospital 1 star, they’re service is terrible all the employees were rude to everyone that asked any question, not only that but their staff was definitely giving wrong information to patients and scaring them
When my mom was in triage the nurse asked me to step aside, afterwards my mom told me the nurse told her since my mom said her pain was ⁸⁄₁₀ she would have to be intubated. EXCUSE ME?! I don’t know what type of nursing school she went to or how she got her license but that is definitely not the case, they will be getting a complaint from me! Also been here for 5 hours and have not been even admitted, ridiculous

I had to come here for an emergency with my son. We arrived at 1:31 pm and were discharged at 6:38 pm. The waiting room was packed, but I kinda expected that, especially after a holiday. The seating was limited at best, most all seats were taken, and so my 6 year old was forced to sit on my lap. After about 30 min we were triaged (vitals, lab work requested) and sent back out to the waiting room. Wishing about 25 min, the insurance guy came out and verified all our info, then again, back out to the waiting room. Finally, since my sons case was serious, we were called for an ultrasound, then placed into the pediatric emergency room. I was happy with the wait time, and that immedialty following the ultrasound that we were placed in a room. From there it was your standard E. R visit, labs, waiting, exam, waiting, more waiting, final exam, waiting and finally discharge. The pediatric E. R room had free wifi fi (the whole hospital does), a tv with lots of channels, 2 chairs and or course a bed. We had a visit my a patient service coordinator who brought my son a coloring book and crayons, which was very nice.
From check in, to ultrasound, a urinalysis, 2 doctors exams, and another visit to go over mess from the nurse and the doctor, we were there for a total of 5 ½ hours.
I was happy with the level of service we received, however it was a pretty long day, but I would expect that at the ER. Be prepared for lots of waiting so if you have kids, take he tablets, games, coloring books and chargers! Parents and adults, take your phones, snacks, magazines and chargers! Be prepared to wait, to see ghetto people’s, homelessness, and all sorts of things.

My mom is currently in intensive care and she was in an lower floor I can’t remember the name of it but anyways the people here are really nice. So far she has been treated decently and with respect. I like how the nurses are on top of their game ²⁴⁄₇.
Just wanted to add that Kevin is the night person taking care of my mom. I could probably say he’s one of the best that has been taking care of my mom. I have to say he takes his job serious I think this guy should get a raise he comes constantly and checking up to see how my mom is. I wish all the nurses were like Kevin best nurse to trust.

The ER staff was extremely rude to me when I called to find out the status of my husband. They said «I have 9 lines I have to answer. You have to wait your turn.» Clearly the hospitals fault. Train your employees to be nicer since our family members are sick in you hospital. Wish the paramedics could have taken him to Kaiser. They know how to treat people.

Pharmacy only had two weeks notice but failed to have needed medication on had.
The idiots planned not to provide it or tell anyone it would not be available

I liked the hospital. But a lot these young nurses don’t seem to care much about the patients, it would seem that they them selfs come first. We were suppose to get our new room after them performing c section. Our RN (older lady) Teresa great RN by the way! She was working with another nurse. We were ready to leave and go to our room so the next person can get C section (rooms were all full) this bitch of a nurse, leaves us to go to the restroom. Everything was ready, remind you that there was another patient that needed to get C section asap! She takes so long to come back. Our RN Teresa and this young nurse was having a bit of a arguement because of this unnecessary delay, patients always come first!
They also seem to do a lot of c section! There was only 1 person that seem to give birth normal! 4 others were getting c section! And seems like everyone was getting c section for anything! A lot of other moms were also agreeing and skeptical as to why they had c section. Maybe the love of money! The hospital wasn’t all bad but SOME of the staff was just horrible and didn’t seem to have a passion for healing but were working simply because it is a lucrative profession!

While I understand that most ER’s are horrible… but damn, this one is by far the worst.
— Crowded: Lobby was full of people with no space to sit. There were quite a few people sitting on the floor. Was very unsanitary and wreaked with different odors through out the place.
I wasn’t the one who was sick but god… I thought I was going to hurl.
— Honestly after reading through the reviews here on my phone, I wasn’t even going to stick around long enough to find out that we’d have to wait for a few hours. Because well… we could already tell it was not going to be quick.
Let’s just say within the amount of time it took to even to get past a few paperworks here… Urgent Care Plus (Read my other review for it) had us checked in and checked out and put this place to shame.
— But the big one is right here. We decided to leave because we had realized it was going to be a mistake getting anything done here. Especially after reading the reviews right there and then. We figured we should not have a problem not being charged since all we did was sign a few paper work and just waited.
WRONG. I asked them if we were going to be charged and they said yes and they wouldn’t be able to tell us how much just yet. I was so pissed that it almost felt like a downright scam.
We have yet to see the bill yet, but you can bet we’re going to dispute it.
Be warned.

The ER is the worst. No communication at all. We were told my mother in-​law would be admitted to the hospital and they were waiting for one more test. Then there was a nursing shift change. 5 hours later, the nurse tells us there is an insurance issue, so she will be transferred to another hospital. There was nothing for us to do there, we could have gone to eat dinner or gone home instead of just waiting for her to get admitted.
In addition, the waiting room was dirty and noisy. The bathrooms were filthy. It was like being in a 3^rd world country. We regret bringing her to this ER.

Update: on 1−24−16, mom, 87, was weak, not eating, bed bound for a week with congestive cough and UTI. She was transported by ambulance to ER and arrived at 2:30pm. ER lobby not swamped. Mom sat on an ambulance gurney in ER for 1.5 hours and soiled her diaper. The ambulance drivers tried repeatedly to get the station nurse to get someone to change mom because mom was getting completely uncooperative sitting in a soiled diaper, and already not feeling well. No compliance by hospital staff. The ambulance drivers found me in th waiting room to tell me what was happening. No visitors allowed in ER until mom was assigned a room. Front desk lobby employees excellent. I got to ER and tried to keep mom calm.
I personally asked the station nurse, identified in a green top, female, black, short hair, wearing glasses, medium thick build, no name tag that I could see. If I could take mom to the several vacant rooms on that ER floor and change her myself? The answer was no, and I could not change her until she was assigned a room. She said she would get someone to come help us. Time passed. At 4:30pm, I went back again asking for help. It wasn’t what she said but how it was said: non caring, no eye contact, engaged in light conversation with another employee during our interaction. My perception of her communication verbal, and body was uncaring, uninvolved, did not care to help me or help my mom. It was a regular technician that walked past me and saw distress in my mother and stopped to talk. (The station nurse just stared at us talking).
Though the tech could not authorize anything she was surprised and disappointed that no options were given to me so I could help my mom. On my own I found a large enough bathroom to fit the gurney and the ambulance drivers were more than willing to navigate it into the restroom so I could take care of my mom. As we navigated the Gurney, a room became available, and they would change her then. Mom was is a soiled diaper for one hour.
I was frustrated how one person whose job it was making those decisions is not more companionate. Not giving suggestions for a way that I could have solved this problem. Please have a plan for situations like this, so we can problem solve. If you have plans then track down this employee and RETRAIN HER. I removed a star from my last visit based on her lack of professional performance. Mom got out of there at 8:30pm. Thank you to the nurse and others who treated my mom and family with professionalism.

I came in at 12:30 pm and we have now 7:30pm… I am waiting for my CAT in the ER. Wait time is horrible but the doctors, nurses and techs are really really nice. I csme to
This facility three years ago and it improved a lot! Steven the tech went even out to look for my husband at the parking lot (I did not have my phone charged), he brought me a charger as well. The nurses are very nice, bringing me warm
blankets and updating me on my results. Really the only bad thing is this loooong wait time… it is just horrible!

2010. I got to Long Beach Memorial ER and was check in was easy. «Have you been a patient here before?» I was asked. «Does being born here count?» Yes, it does. Even though the waiting room was packed, I was seen relatively quickly (might be my white male priviledge, my Persian female friend keeps telling me about).
They had to take a series of tests. First, wisecracking Trish (who reminded me of Dame Edna) did my EKG reading in a tiny room packed crowded room of medical equipment that she said looked like «Fibber McGee’s closet” — and I didn’t get the reference. I would have gone with Fred Sanford’s truck, but tried to limit the conversation, as this was not a haircut. Not yet, at least. She did a monologue of bad jokes that wouldn’t end (I halfway expected her to that «laugh-​meter» with her arms like Robin Williams). The EKG reading was a little bad (I sneaked a look at it said «possible lateral damage»).
Once in my ER bed, the pain got worse, unbearable in moments, from my chest to my shoulder and my neck. They kept asking me what number my pain was on a scale from 1 to 10. I answered 3. 4. 8. I felt like I was in the LOST hatch. I elevated to 9– the next time I was asked what number, I seriously answered in cuss words. I got some nitroglycerin sprays to the mouth (like Binaca, but explosive), which helped for a bit, and then I required a nitro patch, which was tough to stick to my torso where there wasn’t any hair. I think they finally rolled it up and stuck it in my belly button.
The blood tests took a long time because my first blood test hemalyzed (?), meaning the blood was drawn too fast and the cells burst. The second drawing of blood was so slow it almost clotted. Too fast, too slow, it was like the Goldilocks story. Only with impending death.
I started getting the chills and was shivering and chattering, though my Dad said it wasn’t cold in the room. I spooned my pee jug for warmth. Finally, with the pain at the worst, some dude dripped something in my IV that I’m pretty sure was delicious hot chocolate because I felt instantly warm and carefree. It didn’t make the pain go away– it made me not care that it hurt. Like how I imagine giving birth to a unicorn feels. It felt like a mixture of being stoned and love and that moment you crawling back into a warm bed after an early morning pee run.
I told my Dad to leave, that as long as they kept giving me that stuff, everything was fine. I had him take a photo real quick– I rolled my eyes back for effect to freak out my sisters later. (Photoshopped blue skin and red eyes, below). He left my Coachella sweatshirt which would become my teddy bear for the night, albeit a Teddy bear that smelled like Ziggy Marley.
Dr. Nguyen, finally came in with «Mr. Nesbitt, have you ever had a heart attack before?». I said, no. He said that a certain enzyme was present that is indicitive of a heart attack. Of course, I was worried about the cost the whole time… plus everything was extra: the aspirin, the blanket, he asked if I wanted flower five dolla more.
I needed to go to Cath Lab, and I was finally left alone, sleeping with my eyes open, watching two TVs in silence, one an endless montage of Haiti earthquake news, the other a crazy Mexican soap opera with a fat toothless lady with too much lipstick. I think it was called Dude Donde Estan mis Dientes.
Around 3am, I asked for the bed I was promised. After switching me to a bed, they had to switch me to a gurney. The amount of logic required to switch me twice was mind-​boggling, like a convoluted riddle. They had to take me to the bed first with the bag of corn, then leave the corn and come back for the fox, and so on.
I got gurneyed though the hospital, through so many doors I felt I was going to see Agent 99, and I just stuck my arm out like a kid out a car window, up and down, waving to custodians like I was a teen paegant winner in a convertible. (Again).
In the Cath Lab, it was very different. Lots of machines. People in blue gowns now and recently paged doctors in golf sweaters treated me like a car in a pit stop. I was given some Valium, had random spots of my groin area shaved by Dr. Johnny Knoxville, and before I knew it, they were done. I give Valium five stars. They ripped the monitors off my chest and I yelled «Kelly Clarkson». But then I asked if everyone does that and they said yes. The rest was a little blurry.
I was given a bed in CCU for the rest of the morning with awesome nurses (especially Carol H). Long story long, I had myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, requiring only Advil and rest!
I was there about 17 hours, and my bill without insurance was $ 30,501.00
That’s about $ 1800 an hour.
So if you don’t have insurance, just take some Advil and rest.

The facility on the whole is a-​ok. It’s the best hospital in Long Beach for sure but the quality of services varies widely depending on the department you’re in.
We’ll start with the good:
–Valet parking. Parking still costs you a flat $ 5 per visit, but they’ll valet park your car at no extra charge from the main entrance.
–The restaurant upstairs and the cafeteria are decent. Nothing gourmet or anything, but definitely edible and with a variety of options. Beats a vending machine every single time.
–The ER/​Trauma center is the best around. I’m talking quality of medical services, not necessarily bedside manner or wait time.
–Free wifi in the hospital.
–Decently comfortable waiting area in the main hospital. Couches, coffee tables, good proximity to the restaurant.
The mediocre:
–The NICU. 95% of the staff is just rude and mean and unpleasant to deal with. The facility itself is ok, newly renovated, clean, etc.
–Surgical pavilion is ok. The staff at the desk is short tempered, the waiting area is always crowded and a little odd smelling. Pre op area is hustling and bustling and while everyone is nice, they’re too busy to be helpful.
–Surgical recovery really depends on the nursing staff on duty at the time. Hit or miss at best.
–Birthing center also hit or miss. Desk staff utterly disinterested in customer service. Triage and waiting areas miserably uncomfortable. Nursing staff also hit or miss.
–Womens hospital — also hit or miss. Totally dependent on the nursing staff on duty.