Seton Medical Center Austin

First of all, F@ck Cancer! In the last year I’ve been here with my wife for a double mastectomy and now for the reconstructive surgery. Thank God both surgeries were successful, but it’s the nurses that should get the High Five, too. They really took care of my wife and all of them through the multiple shifts seem to love their job, and it showed in their service and dedication to health care. Now, the building itself is a bit hard to maneuver as one has to go down one level in order to get to another section of the hospital. It must have been an aggie engineer that designed the complex. Valet service is available and the parking garage is cheap compared to others in the vicinity ($ 10/​day). Seton also offers rooms for rent just walking distance to the hospital. It’s priority for those with serious needs, but if available then it’s just $ 35/​day. The cafeteria is under renovation but it is still open with limited options, though. My prayers and positive thoughts go out to all that enter this building for Heath care and for work. Thank you for dedication.

This experience is for my emergency room visit. The reception staff member seemed incredibly disinterested in my questions and very offset by my mere presence. The nurses were fairly nice, but it never felt organically comfortable there. No direct eye contact, just constantly shuffling around and running procedures. My ER physician had great bedside manners and was very polite during the entire process. The somewhat fair genuine attitude of the physician is the only thing holding this review to 2-​stars. I have no idea how this hospital is ranked #1 in Austin. I can testify to Jessi M.‘s post about the loud conversations in the hallways. The restrooms were also a mess in the patient rooms (at least, mine was messy). I was sent home still in abdominal/​chest pain, which is what I was seen for. Lab work was done, but since nothing came back abnormal, they disregarded scans of any kinds. I’ll stick to Brakenridge (ranked #2 in Austin). I feel I was misdiagnosed, so I’ll probably be sharing a Brakenridge review soon. Thanks, SMCA.

This review is for Seton’s «pre operations testing» section. They are extremely slow and inefficient. A simple appointment to go over paperwork and draw blood for CBC should not take over 2.5 hours past your appointment time. It’s like they put you in a consult room and forget about you, until they randomly remember you again… and not like they are super busy because you see the nurses just chilling and goofing off. It’s been a very unpleasant experience!

After seeing Tony Mook’s response to bring up some of the issues I encountered so Seton could improve, I wrote him an email bringing up two specific issues. He didn’t respond (and there was no out-​of-​office message either), so I followed up with another message the next week, which he also didn’t answer. So much for their professed interest in improving, I thought — but as that irritated me I also wrote the CEO complaining. The CEO did respond, and THEN I got a response from Mr. Mook saying oh he’d read my message and forwarded it on but just hadn’t replied.
I will say that the Patient Advocate or Representative (I forget her exact title), unlike Mr. Mook, was responsive and helpful, so if you have any issues, she’s the one to contact.

If you’re thinking about birthing here, don’t.
I preregistered many months in advance yet I was left in the waiting room at midnight gushing amniotic fluid all over the floors and having wicked contractions for 50 minutes before they let me in a room. The first two nurses I saw were terrible, they were unprofessional, unpleasant, and didn’t wash their hands before checking inside of me. One of them was being so careless that she accidentally cut my vagina with a piece of paper to test if I was indeed leaking amniotic fluid. The jerks didn’t believe that my water had broken until it got all over one of their wrists (which she was very disgusted and upset by) despite the evidence upon the bed, my clothing, and hallways (my shoes were so filled with amniotic fluid that I audibly squeaked from the car to the delivery room). They were extremely rude about my not wanting any pain medication. I remember one of them made a very sharp remark «we’ll just see what your body can do.» They were rough and unkind to me, they genuinely scared me, and broke my spirit badly. It made me cry and writhe for hours which ultimately stalled my labor. Looking back, I regret submitting to being at their mercy. I wish I would have had the confidence to ignore them, the courage to leave, or at least speak up to them and demand the care I deserved.
Then there was the three day stay in a rather dark and dank room which I was tended to by two nurses that did not speak english very well. I have a memory of one of them laughing with a look of joy at my newborn child as she was loudly bawling and flailing around on the scale. That I did not tolerate.
There are many other places to give birth in Austin. Just avoid this place for your own good and if you wish to avoid trauma, ugly rooms, and bad hygiene. There are some great, genuine medical professionals here too, but the bad outweighs the good.

The review I had written was primarily meant for another medical center only and I do not know how to correct it. I will be writing a correct one for Seton Medical Center Austin.
My apologies.

I am posting this review in regards to their patient accounting. On three different occasions they collected considerably more in payment ahead of time than what was actually owed. All three times I had to call multiple times, escalate my calls, and still it took months to get my refunds. So much for «patient care», looks more like «our pocketbook care» instead. Sad way to run a supposedly not for profit hospital.

Heart hospital so awesome that is why I’ve been in medical field all my life. Now my second child is a nurseproud mother always of my girls

I had my son here on August 18, 2014 and it has taken me a long time to be able to share my experience. I was admitted at 29 weeks pregnant in severe pain from contractions and later found out I had a placenta abruption. They treated me HORRIBLE! I actually cried constantly because I felt like nobody would listen to me and they treated me like a drug seeker. I turned down narcotic patches for pain because I was too afraid of my baby getting sick from them, obviously it wasn’t drugs I was looking for. Nobody would listen to me and after weeks back and forth from antepartum to L&D, they told me I needed to get up to stretch and walk around since I had been in bed so long. I kept telling them the pressure and pain was too much… they still made me get up. GUESS WHAT? MY WATER BROKE!!! The second I got out of bed and took a step it was everywhere, I was alone and in intense pain. I couldn’t stand up and they kept saying I peed myself. Had they listened to me my son would have spent less time in the NICU. I had to have a C-​section that day because he was breach. During my emergency C-​section I told them half my body wasn’t numb but they cut me anyway. I was hurting and even told them where they were cutting so they’d believe me since you’re supposed to be completely numb, they finally believed me but it was too late. Giving birth should be a happy experience and still to this day I want to cry thinking of how I was treated. It was so humiliating and I wish they would have at least pretended to care or listen.
Post C-​section I was in terrible pain, I was given pain medication (oral & IV) and it wasn’t helping so my nurse said she would ask my doctor for an abdominal binder. The doctor storms in and says «I’m not giving you pain medication, there are other women here doing just fine!» When I explained I already had pain meds and needed the wrap she walked out. I understand there are a lot of drug seekers who ruin things for others but they saw the internal bleeding from my placenta along with my gallbladder function at 11%. It was obvious I was sick and in intense pain. I advise you to go to St. David’s, they at least treat you like a human being.
The anesthesiologist was amazing, I forget his name but he held my hand and helped soothe me through the process.
The only positive experience was Dr. Krishna R. Singh, she actually took the time to listen and helped me find ways to cope with the pain without narcotics. The student doctors constantly changed her orders and it caused more chaos. My son was born and NOT addicted to medication thanks to her taking the time to help me and listen. She was an angel in the midst of all the chaos. Her bedside manner was amazing and I wish I could give her a hug and thank her.

I am writing my review based on the maternity services and the NICU. I delivered my baby here in Aug. ’15. He was 5 weeks early and had to stay in the NICU for 10 days. I came here on a Sunday morning at 5am. The nurse and dr on duty when I arrived were nice, but they didn’t seem to listen to me when I was telling them my water broke. They didn’t believe me and were going to send me home until I got up from the bed and water was everywhere. By the time this happened, it was shift change (7:30a) and the new nurse and dr were absolutely amazing!!! My dr was Dr. Sally Grogono from The OB/​GYN Group of Austin. This is my practice but I usually see Dr. Michelle Gooch (she doesn’t deliver though) so I go lucky that a dr in that group was the delivery dr that day. Dr. Grogono was amazing. Being a first time pregnancy and early is scary, but she was professional and humorous (which you need when giving birth!!). I wish I could remember my nurses name, but she helped a lot and was very kind and understanding. I got full attention of my nurse and dr, I assume bc I was a high risk patient since I was only 34 weeks. After it was all said and done, my son had to go to the nicu. Once I was allowed to see him, I felt better. A lactation consultant came to see me in my room to help since my baby wasn’t there. My meals were free (rolled into my price I’m sure). Every nurse made sure to make sure I ordered room service. It was nice, they had a full menu and you just dial the cafeteria and you can order anything you want, as much as you want!!! I ordered a lot since I know it was billed to me some how! After being released, my husband and I got to stay in the brand new Ronald McDonald house. This place was AMAZING!!! We talked with a hospital social worker and they get you set up in either special rooms designated for nicu parents or if there is room at the Ronald McDonald house, get a room there! I don’t know what I would’ve done if I couldn’t stay at that place. It has a queen bed, shower, bathroom, kitchen, living room, computer, laundry and a tranquility room. All is shared with others who are staying there besides your bedroom. I am now a strong supporter of the Ronald McDonald house. The nicu nurses were amazing and Dr. Loyd (head of nicu) is seriously the best dr. He was personable, nice, knowledgeable and friendly. I would recommend Seton to anyone who needs to deliver.

I feel like I should get a discount punch care for as many times I’ve had to visit here. I’ve come in via the ER, schedule surgery, and direct admission by a few of my doctors. I been in and out at the ER, stayed in ICU for a while, had schedule surgeries, stayed for a month on the 5^th floor. EVERY hospital I go to I compare with Seton. I was blessed to have been taken here after going into anaphylactic shock at an infusion center. I wish I could name all the staff from the doctors down to the individuals who clean the room to the chaplains. I’ve had a few «bad» nurses, but the ratio of good ones to bad ones is WAY lower than other hospital I’ve had the «pleasure» of being taking to before. The doctors I’ve seen have good to awesome bedside manner. The nurses on the 5^th Floor, ICU, ER, and surgery are very kind and informative. They show how teamwork should be. They have literally saved my life on several occasions, from the shock, to the surgeries, to dehydration and malnutrition. The food is decent, but the kitchen staff will work with you on your options. My family says the cafeteria is better than others they have been to, which says a lot when my father is a minister who makes trips to visit members of the church who are ill. Only downside is the paid parking, but if you find a good case manager/​social worker, they can sometimes give you passes so you don’t have to pay.
I will always pick Seton Central over any other hospitals in the area, hands down.

I’ve been a patient twice. ICU the first time. Not a pleasant experience, but that was because of the problem, not the staff.
This last time I was there as an out-​patient in the Endoscopy Lab. Had an absolutely super experience with the staff there, particularly the young man who got me situated and «stuck». Wish I could remember his name — perfect combination of not-​too-​chipper, just chipper enough. Very pleasant. Very professional. [ hey, powers-​that-​be in Seton HS … he had just broken the bow on his glasses — find him; he’s a «keeper»! ].

my girlfriend was having an asthma attack at 4am on Saturday night of ACL 2015 Music Festival. after being rejected by a horrific excuse of an urgent care center (Neighbor’s Emergency Center– Mueller) because her mother wasn’t with us at the time. they were incredibly rude and incompetent, I left them a more detailed review if you are curious! we called Seton before coming and they said a phone call from the mother was the only thing necessary to get treatment for my girlfriend. when we arrived there were 8 tentative and kind nurses and doctors waiting for us that could not have been more helpful. she felt so much better in just 15 minutes. we love Seton!!!

I am completely shocked at the lack of care and concern my father in law received at this facility. After spending two weeks, he was sent home even weaker than before with a recommendation to follow up with his primary care physician DESPITE his continue weight loss, anemia and a MASS ON HIS PANCREAS!!! His diagnosis? Depression and anemia!!!
He was sent home to die with a prescription for an anti-​depressant!!!
So glad we brought him to San Antonio to be treated at a real hospital.

The sole factor that drew me to Seton Medical Center (SMC) was the fact that my OB/​GYN only delivered at this hospital. All in all my c section went well in the medical sense; however, when it came to the hospital’s promised amenities I left disappointed.
There is supposedly a nursery, but it was closed about 20 hours into my stay due to lack of staffing. Then there was a new room service method for meals. In theory one can call in an order from a menu during designated periods and receive a meal in 45 min. Most times my meal came three hours later and at one point I had to order and reorder five times… six hours later I received a meal that was kinda like what I had ordered.
The silver lining is that I had a beautiful and healthy baby boy, so I can’t complain too much. I would just recommend elsewhere for delivery.

I visited the ER with shortness of breath, difficulty breathing due to pain when taking a breath. While I was waiting for the Doctor to come see me, the nurse left my «room» door open but the curtain drawn and I heard her tell the doctor my symptoms to which he said, «this is probably just Costochondritis, people who smoke make us money.» I let it slide at the time because I was in too much pain to deal with getting in an argument, but now I wish I would have told him something then and there. How are you supposed to fell after hearing something like that? Well, I felt like they were only concerned about making money off of me rather than actually helping me, especially when the bill they sent me was about $ 5,000!
They also gave me Tramadol on an empty stomach. Before they gave it to me I told them I was sensitive to heavy duty pain killers like that and would prefer a bit to eat first but they said I would be fine. When I got home I was puking for the rest of the night.
I’ll be going to St. David’s from now on.

Since writing my initial review, the patient representative and social media manager have reached out to me. They were very kind and understanding to my issues, and I understand this is a very busy hospital and they are working on the issues I described. I’m very appreciative of being heard.
Still, I will likely make the choice to visit a different hospital but I look forward to Seton making improvements for quality of care for all patients.

Tara Hinze is the WORST Nurse at Seton Medical center. She curses at people, has no heart and no compassion for people. I can not believe she is allowed to be an RN. She cries when things do not go her way. She should have been a sailor with the mouth she has. If you go to Seton Medical Center request not to have Tara Hinze at your bed side.

Very good place, especially when your sick. Went there to help a friend with her broke foot, and saw some poor lady pass-​out from vomiting. I highly recommend this place, but always prepare yourself.
I put on a face mask when I visit this place.

I have to say, between St. Davids and Seton, I’m really at a loss. They’re both great.
The RNs at Seton are truly wonderful people. The food is on par, but I think St. Davids may have an edge over Seton.
The beds have this fun massage effect. Some say that it’s noisy, I say that it’s far too comfortable to care. I’d definitely return to Seton. The rooms are great, the beds are super comfortable, and the staff are on point.