Community Memorial Hospital: Emergency Room - Ventura, California

Katie A.

Gave an extra star for getting me in fairly quickly. Another terrible experience here. Made me question where these doctors get their medical licenses from. I went in after midnight two nights ago with a double ear infection. I was in excruciating pain. Tylenol and Advil weren’t helping at all. I hate prescription pain meds but this level of pain was unbearable. Those who know me know that if I’m wanting help with pain, it must be really bad because I am normally very anti prescription meds… the doctor didn’t even check my ears. He held the thing up to my ears but didn’t even really look. Said I have a double ear infection and just need some drops and mild pain relief shot (this shot didn’t do anything for my pain). Sent me home and I was up all night literally screaming in pain. They didn’t even give me anything for the pain aside from the shot so I was on my own. My entire face was swollen and they didn’t even give me something to help the inflammation. Just the antibiotic ear drops. My dad had to drive me to the ER again in the morning. Finally I got a doctor who actually checked my ears and saw how severe the infection was AND that my ears were swollen shut so the drops wouldn’t be able to reach the infection anyway so he put wicks in both ears to wedge them open so the antibiotic drops could get in. He gave me two prescriptions, one was for THREE Tylenol with codeine. Something I hate taking but was so relieved to have because I needed some relief. They should have given me two days worth because I woke
Up this morning in pain still but slightly less so it would have been nice to have some relief today too. Two days worth would have been enough to get me through this until the drops kick in. The other prescription is for Naproxen. He then told me when I’m out of the Tylenol with codeine to just take regular Advil. Unbelievable, I started taking Advil when my mom discovered that you aren’t supposed to take Advil while on naproxen, that it’s actually highly dangerous to do so. So why did the doctor tell me to take Advil?! UNBELIEVABLE. Where do these doctors go to med school?! I’ve heard bad things about cmh ER but it’s what my insurance is linked to so it’s where I needed to go. This is why I’m afraid to go to the doctor. Shitty doctors giving shitty advice, incorrectly diagnosing, not doing a thorough job, and leaving someone in excruciating pain because they suddenly decided that they’re too lazy to monitor pain pill usage so they’d rather not prescribe them at all. Nobody gets addicted to pain meds after taking them for two days, especially someone who has verbalized multiple times that they don’t like taking prescription pain meds because they upset my stomach and make me feel weird. That should tell you how desperate I was for relief. I’ve never experienced this much pain in my life and to be treated like an addict was beyond insulting. These new doctors need to do better by their patients, start exhibiting compassion and empathy, and put in a little effort to find a treatment plan that works for their patient so that patients leave feeling heard and respected and cared for instead of like an inconvenience.

ashley G.

I came in yesterday due to a knee injury. I already knew it was not a fracture but it was a possible tear or strain. They only did x-rays told me they don’t do MRI’s when I requested one due to the fact that they only have one machine and they will only do it if it’s life threatening. I understood. I was told by the RN that they were going to prescribe medication and asked what pharmacy. I called the pharmacy and they said they didn’t receive the order. I called CMH ER back was transferred and told me that, that was never recorded and i can just buy it over the counter and was so rude on the phone, and one of the nurses who was there was not the friendliest. I have had good experiences there which is why I went. I will def not go back.

Rhonda P.

The ER was crowded. My son has congestive heart failure couldn't walk slurred talking and they wanted to send him home! Because rhe ER was over crowded. Nurse's are rude, over worked, under staffed and human lives are at risk. I told them if he went home and died they'd have one hell of a lawsuit on their hands. Miraculously they were able to admit him finally!

Terry L.

I'm disabled. I was able to get a thin blanket but still trying to find a place to sit without the a/c blowing on me as it causes extreme pain. I had a couple people coughing on me or near me. So I found a comfortable place even tho the cold had settled in my bones and muscles. An employee said I was fine and let me stay but a female came over and I explained to her that I am disabled, there are 6 empty spaces, but was met with not only a nasty sharp flippant answer I had security called on me and taken outside. ✨️READ THE OTHER REVIEWS✨️ about how much they care; most don't.

Paul M.

Omg, can not belive how incredibly unprofessional these people are. I thought I was on MTV punked it was that much of a joke. Always full of criminals and cops. By far one of the worst experiences with a hospital. I'm calling a attorney the neglect was so bad. I sat for 5 hours no one even approached me when they did the rudest most disrespectful group of bitter women on the planet. Horrible energy, atmosphere and zero care for people. Idk maybe cause they deal w criminals all day they just stopped caring.

John T.

The care and level of patient service here is abysmal. I came in on a Saturday morning, and the emergency room was almost empty. No patients were waiting and very few were in the examination rooms. They put you in a room and leave you there indefinitely. No one responds to the call button. And if you look for anyone or ask anyone for help, you are met with short, terse replies, and no one ever comes as promised. I had a relatively simple issue and I waited for hours for treatment while the staff was engaging in superficial conversation right outside my room. If there were any other viable options in this area, I would go there. This is the primary example of everything that is wrong with our healthcare system. For the amount of money we spend as a country, we get very mediocre care at best. And at worst you get this.

Festie W.

I had a wonderful experience when I took myself to the ER for chest pains. I was seen right away and had all the necessary tests completed quickly, no erroneous testing. My doctor and nurses were patient, caring, and I received amazing care.

Jae C.

Zero stars.  Don't go to this hospital unless you want to die! The whole ER should be fired! Dr. Andrea Gonzalez has no care or concern for patient care, no concerns for patient pain, and has disregarded all my requests until I got loud, at which point all of a sudden they found pain medication. This hospital is horrible! I have never in my life been treated so wrong. My life was literally in danger, and they didn't care. The entire ER needs retraining in all areas of care! They do not know what they are doing, and they do not know how to treat people. The whole department had an attitude, and the whole department was fully staffed, yet it took forever for me to get assistance. I pressed the call button several times. They were laughing and joking amongst one another, but when it came to my care, that stopped at the door. They were unprofessional and ultra-rude to the 20th power! RN Leslie in the ER is horrible and had a terrible attitude for no reason. RN Kristen was the only one who showed some type of concern, but she did not have a smile on her face or in her voice.

It must be a horrible place to work! Nobody was happy to be doing their job. It didn't seem like they even liked people.

I went to the hospital in the morning for a treatment, and they did not do that correctly, which caused me to return in the afternoon with the same symptoms and an elevated blood pressure. The treat was horrible in the PM with Mr. Ross Levin. Long story short, I walked out of the hospital with no care. They do not introduce themselves; they just come in and do not explain what's going on or what's going to take place next. I had to ask all the questions to get an answer. Unacceptable.  Simple communication would have solved a lot of the issues. I spoke with the ER director, Bret, and the patient care advocate, who promised they would handle the situation and get some more work done. I guess he meant training. After the patient advocate and chief left, I was treated horribly. My life was in danger. None of the doctors or nurses who assisted me deserve the title of doctor or nurse in their names; they all need to rethink their profession! I had to leave this hospital and drive an hour away to Kaiser Hospital to get appropriate and adequate care. I was treated at CMH Ventura as if I did not have insurance, and they didn't want to treat me. Everyone from Thursday to Friday should be fired! If you value your life, don't go here! They need to get training from Kaiser doctors and employees; they provided me with exceptional care. Above and beyond perfection, each person was attentive and courteous. from doctors, nurses, check-in, and CT. Don't go to CMH!