Ochsner Baptist Medical Center

Do Not go to Ochsner Baptist Emergency Room if you value your privacy. After seeing the nurse and Physician Assistant, the nurse inserted an IV and drew blood in a private holding area. I then was told and escorted to an open waiting room which had 8 – 10 other patients whom had seen the doctor seated in a semi circle with 2 blaring TVs in the middle. So, I was there with this IV tube hanging from my arm when a nurse came and hooked me up to an IV infusion — all in the presence of the other patients, She also stuck my finger for blood glucose in the presence of the other patients. Many of the patients were discharged before me — their nurses came, gave them instructions on what to do at home — ALL in the presence of everyone. NO PRIVACY AT ALL. Sad.

I can not recommend this place, the wait was about 1.5 hours. Staff seemed overworked and frustrated. And the doctor kept wanting to do more and more tests, I just had kidney stones…

I was misdiagnosed with an «abnormal period» at this location. I had a miscarriage in Feb 2014. The doctor spent LITERALLY one minute with me after I patiently waited for many hours. He spouted off a check list in one breath and left. I didn’t expect a hug or anything but a small amount of empathy or compassion would have been nice. Alternatively, he came off as unprofessional and acted as though I was wasting his time. They forced me to do a pregnancy test amongst other unnecessary sex disease lab work so they could slap me with a bill of $ 500. Over the next week, I lost a significant amount of blood and I become severely anemic. I had to be treated because my white blood cell count was dangerous. I hemorrhaged for three weeks straight and lost work because of the extensive pain and emotional trauma. I later sought medical attention in Gretna at a health center for women. They treated me like a person and aided me on how to get through my miscarriage physically and emotionally. Regretfully, I paid this Ocshner bill but will never be back or recommend this hospital to anyone.

Ochsner Baptist is a hospital that is now part of the Ochsner health System juggernaut. I have been an Ochsner patient for years, but this was my first time as a patient at the Baptist campus. It was originally founded in 1926 as Southern Baptist Hospital. It seems like everyone was born at Baptist or knows someone who was born there. (except me of course)
Baptist has an emergency room, an ICU, and a recently renovated labor and delivery unit. They offer a huge variety of women’s services, in addition to their growing urology and orthopedics program. (There are signs about it scattered around the various buildings.)
The imaging center on the first floor is very modern with the newest imaging equipment. I had a mammogram here, and the people were outstanding. From the time I arrived to the time I left they tried to put me at ease. It wasn’t as horrible as I expected. I have been a couple times since to get labs drawn, and the people in the laboratory try to be professional and friendly.
The campus is very pretty and the staff seems to try hard to be friendly. I appreciate being treated like a person, not cattle to be herded. The maze of buildings can be a bit daunting at first, but the help and information desks help tremendously. There is a cafeteria, a spa, and even a concierge on site. It’s obvious that this hospital is trying to grow and is on a mission to provide world class services to New Orleans.

I can safely say that I had the best and most efficient doctors appointment of my life here. They took me early, everyone was incredibly friendly and I was in and out in less than 30 minutes. They even called my prescription in for me without me having to ask and signed me up for My Ocshner which apparently allows you to make your own future appointments and email the doctor. I wasn’t planning on establishing them as my current doctor but I certainly did before I left!

I really like all of their prenatal class offerings. Most of them are FREE and very informative. I also like their labor and delivery rooms, the baby is in the room with you, and they even have webcams for family out of town, they can see the baby.

This review is for the ER.
I cut the shit out of my leg when I dropped a beer bottle (wasn’t even drunk, I’m so lame). I have athletic calves and the skin that is tight over my calf split open in a way that I never would have predicted and that was thoroughly disgusting.
All of the urgent care places close at 6, so to the ER we rolled.
I used their awesome online system to see about wait time.
We were checked in after about 5 minutes. I saw a nurse and nurse practitioner within 20 minutes.
Everyone from the reception staff, to intake nurse, to nurse practitioner, to er nurse, to overseeing physician were awesome — friendly and reassuring. I felt like they were extremely thorough and that I got excellent care. My stitches were well done (my scars are minimal)’ and they provided me thorough written and verbal aftercare instructions.
Long story short, thoroughness and bedside manner really stood out here. Not one employee was anything less than caring.
The bill was effing terrifying (928.79) but the experience was as good as I’ve ever had at the doc. Thank god for HSA accounts.

My stepsister just had a baby here! Everyone was very nice and helpful. You can tell they recently remodeled the mother and child wing — there aren’t any scuff marks on the walls or wheelchair lines yet!
We brought flowers with out a vase (stepfather job was flowers), and they even brought her a vase!
The apple juice, milk, and cereal was continuously supplied at my stepsisters request. There hasn’t been a dull moment yet and there is always someone around to help her and answer her questions. Great experience so far. I bet it will be even better once the remodel is done!

No complaints. Friendly staff, great location, decent parking. Construction right now on the street makes it noisier than it could be, but that’s not the hospital’s fault. Easy to get lost driving around, but overall a fine place.

Worked here for my rotation on OBGYN the rooms and facilities are really too notch. While staying here you will think you’re on vacation because the rooms are huge it feels like a hotel resort. All the doctors are motivated and enjoy their work which translates to patients feeling more comfortable. More importantly for the staff that will be working here. The cafeteria here is great. They have a wide variety of hot lunches and it always lives up to the high standards of New Orleans cuisine.

Everyone was amazing!!! We had a free private lot which we could come and go as needed. The surgery nurse, Ramona, kept us updated as to my aunt’s progress during the her surgery. Talk about piece of mind. So, so very sweet. Loved them all! The food left something to be desired, but what hospital food doesn’t.

Avoid this ER if you are in a pain crisis! Unfortunately, I went to the ER at Ochsner Baptist because I had sudden and excruciating pain from a kidney stone and the ER was closest to my home. I expected to be treated quickly and kindly due to the intense pain I was experiencing but that was not the case. Trying to check in while doubled over in pain was miserable by itself, but the callous attitude of the staff made it more difficult. Barely able to stand up, I was made to walk without assistance to the back of the ER while the stone faced nurse watched me. When the doctor appeared, he was comforting and said he would order something for the pain and I was relieved that someone finally cared about helping me. However, the staff delayed providing the medication for nearly an hour while I was curled up in a fetal position shivering on the ER bed trying to endure the pain. Finally a male nurse took over my care and I was given relief — he even gave me a blanket for the bed! God bless him — the only staff to show compassion.

I’ve had a couple of ER trips in my life, mostly with other people but sometimes for myself. This time it was for my lovely girl who slipped in the rain and fell bad on her ankle and was unable to stand.
First thing I liked about Ochsner’s ER is that you can look on their website and see current wait times for an ER visit. Luckily for us the wait time was minimal. We pulled up and were greeting quickly with a wheelchair.
After filling out paper work and a brief wait we were scene by a PA. The exam room had a plush recliner for my girl rather than a bed. The make it easier, the PA and nurses brought a mobile x-​ray machine rather than try to move a patient in pain with limited mobility. Turns out the ankle is broken. :(
A short time later and one splinted ankle and some crutches we were on our way. The entire visit took a total of less than four hours, which is a record for an ER visit in my experience.

I came here about a week ago, because I had excruciating abdominal pain plus a low grade fever. I should preface by disclosing that I am a nurse, so I guess I naturally expected more. But, I think because I was a nurse, in this instance, I might have actually received «less».
I was checked in promptly and my vitals were taken. We were then tucked away in a room at the end of the hallway… with no bathroom. Trying to pee in the ER free– for –all –John was quite the experience. I would’ve felt better if I could’ve slathered myself in an antibacterial wash upon exiting. The bathroom «cleanliness» seriously called for full decon!
Since it’s painful to even write a review recounting the events of that evening, suffice it to say – Lynn from CT was awesome. My nurses were ok, when they were actually in my room with me, which was a rare event. At one point I called on the call bell to remind them we were there. The beds sucked, which is nothing new in hospital ERs, and there were no comfy chairs for the BF to sit in, either. It was also polar ice cap cold.
The ad says you will have less than 30 minute wait, guaranteed… please be advised, this does not mean you won’t wait greater than 2 – 3 hours to see the only physician working in the ER that evening.
My boyfriend and I arrived around 9, and we didn’t leave until 4 am. My diagnosis? Kidney stones. My real diagnosis? Who knows!

My boyfriend had knee surgery there. His surgery went excellent, however, the communication between the employees is lacking. The day before the scheduled operation we received a telephone call confirming that his surgery was to start at 7am, we arrived at 6am to prep. When admitted up to the surgery dept, the nurses told us his surgery wasn’t scheduled until 11am. You can imagine how upsetting this was. We sat for 5 hours waiting… I coulda been cozy in my bed for that crap. All in all nothing negative to say about the surgeon or his team of doctors they all performed above par and we’re happy with the results.

I was actually born in this hospital many many years ago. Aside from breaking and dislocating my elbow as a child, and having emergency surgery here, I had not been here for nearly two decades.
Unfortunately, this hospital still conjures up sad memories for me as my wife’s grandmother’s recently spent some of her last days here (may you rest in peace Granny).
Recently, a friend/​coworker was brought here to begin his recovery from a horrific automobile accident. He happens to be staying on the floor and same hallway as Granny, so it’s a little tough justy to walk down the hall.
The hospital is in my opinion, well above average. There is ample free parking for visitors and armed security throughout the hospital.
The rooms are mainly private rooms and they are furnished with quality furniture. But what’s most important here is the quality of care that a patient receives. I haven’t had too much interaction with the doctor’s here, but the nurses are awesome. Their level of attentiveness and genuine caring is amazing. Some people in life merely do what needs to be done in order to get the job done. However, the nurses here truly care about their patients, and it shows.

Had an interesting experience here the other day when, after being deathly ill for a week, I finally broke down and made a doctor’s appointment. I’m not a fan of the doctor, so it was very much against my will that I finally ended up here. But the overall bizarreness of my visit almost made up for the grievous unpleasantness of having to go to the doctor.
First of all, this particular hospital hasn’t been open for all that long. That is to say, it’s not been RE-​opened post-​Katrina for long. Maybe a year or two by now? Maybe longer. Either way, it was closed for quite some time. And you can tell.
Before I launch into the odd parts of my medical adventure, here are some useful things to know. When you walk in, it’s totally deserted, largely because the reception area is (I think) on the second floor. There’s no signage to indicate this, but you actually have to stop on that floor and check in before you can go see your doctor. Otherwise you’ll get to the doctor’s office and be turned away, sent back down to the second floor to check in. Which is, you may have guessed, exactly what happened to me.
So, I go inside, find the elevator, find my doctor’s suite, get sent back down to two, find the elevator again, go back down to two, check in with the not-​particularly-​easy-​to-​find receptionist desk, go back to the elevator, back upstairs, and check in again with the nurse behind the sliding glass window. I’m told to sit down, so I do. Spend maybe 5 – 10 minutes reading Cosmo circa 2008 (it’s amazing how they don’t change much, magazines), and my name is called. I go to the back, where a nurse asks me to step on a scale and then takes my blood pressure.
The staff, in general, is friendly, and this particular nurse is talkative, and launches into this very involved story about a patient she had recently who *loathed* the inflatable blood pressure cuff thingy (she’s telling me this as she’s taking my blood pressure). The gist of the story is that this patient hated it so much she would actually cry. Which, you know, is a little dramatic, because it may not be comfortable, but it’s not like you’re getting stabbed or anything. As would be the case if you were getting a shot. Now that is worth crying and throwing a tantrum over. (You’d be surprised how well this works, even in your mid-​twenties.) So I guess it was an interesting story, but I found it a little weird that a medical professional would be telling me so much about another patient, albeit anonymously. But whatever. I let it slide.
As it turned out, stories were the rule of the day, because when my doctor came in, he spent the majority of the 10 – 15 minutes talking to me about one of *his* previous patients, who apparently came into the hospital because of high blood pressure problems. The guy had been on medication but stopped taking it, so ended up at the doctor, and was expecting a shot of some sort to make him better. A shot for blood pressure? Pretty sure there’s no such thing. So did the doctor, and he told the guy so, I guess. This anecdote provided a segue into general observations about southern culture, where apparently people think that the doctor hasn’t fully done their job unless they give you a shot. (The doctor, incidentally, *offered* me a shot. For whatever was wrong with me. I said, «um, no thanks. If I don’t have to get a shot, then I’m sure as hell not going to let you give me one,» or something to that effect. He then told me that the shot wouldn’t do anything, anyway, and instead he was going to give me antibiotics strong enough to cure pneumonia.) Up North, this isn’t the case, but the farther South you get, the more people believe in the healing power of shots, and the more he finds himself administering them.
He went on to tell me about the cultural nuances involved with shots and treating visitors from out of the country. Apparently in some European countries it’s a *really big deal* if you have to get a shot, or take antibiotics, and one lady thought she was going to have to go to the hospital when he said he was going to have to give her a shot. And so on.
Is it just me, or do medical professionals normally devote so much of their time to storytelling? I mean, it was all interesting, and, again, they were all really nice. I just thought it was odd for someone to share so much detail about previous patients, and I wondered if I’d end up as a character in some future story. «I had this patient earlier today, and she was not aware of the miraculous healing power of shots. Can you believe it?»
So, yeah. An odd experience. Definitely not the most traumatizing of medical adventures, so that’s good. I’m pretty sure the antibiotics didn’t do anything, but I eventually recovered. And I learned a few things along the way.