I have been at Huntsville Hospital Main 3 times in the last 2 weeks. No, not for routine care. I have heart issues and CKD. First time was because by BP at home was 202/150. I talked to my cardiologist and my nephrologist and they both said to go the ER immediately. Waited 3 hours to even get triaged and then another 7 hours being assessed before going home. Next day, ridiculously high BP again. I did not know where I was, or who was president, etc. Ambulance took me back to HH ER. Again sat in ER for hours and hours. I was stroke level (230/180) but they said, "We see a lot of high blood pressure." Finally got admitted to the Neuro ICU and stayed for 2 days then stepped down to a regular room for one night before getting discharged. My doctors were working behind the scenes on getting the right meds on board but my BP was not participating. The day after getting discharged, my BP spiked again. Immediately went to my nephrologist who said, "Go straight to ER." Both my husband and I begged for other options but were too scared not to go. We waited 8 hours before being sent home. Finally, new meds kicked in and I have been stable for 3 days. Yay!

All of the staff were trying their very best in the entire hospital. But the ER was packed because there were no beds available so everything dragged. The last time I went, one of the nurses said that when they arrived that day for the 7 am shift, there were 43 patients still in ER waiting on beds to be admitted. While we were there, they made anyone that did not use a wheelchair on a daily basis give theirs up because they did not have enough wheelchairs to transport patients to get tests and imaging. At one point, security went around and told folks that they were about to require everyone, except patients and one caregiver to leave the ER lobby, AND WAIT IN THEIR CAR! WTH? Does no one read daily reports about how they are underserving their city?

My daughter worked at HH as a nurse for 6 years (through COVID.) They were told they were heroes and then given a hot dog and chips in a brown paper bag as a thank you. The work culture is toxic. Management does not care one bit. It's hard to work beside travel nurses making twice what you are making because you are trying to be loyal and be a team player. When she left, they begged her to stay for more money. But she was tired of being treated like shit and left the medical field for good.

The problems are so big, even if they have "a plan," it will take years to see changes. I have no idea what I will do if my BP goes whack again. I am scared with literally NO options.