Buffalo Hospital Emergency Department - Buffalo, Minnesota

Natalie C.

On 12/24/24 I brought my five year old son in to the ER presenting with a headache, fever and having seizures. The ER doctor ordered a limited CT scan and combo RSV/influenza/Covid test. When the CT came back negative, he told me I wasn’t seeing seizures (even after I produced a video of said seizures) and he’s sure he “just had a virus” as the swab was also negative. My son couldn’t even walk out of the ER himself by this point but it was clear the ER doctor felt I was over reacting. He told me they’re always open so I can bring him back in 48 hours if he’s not improved. Against my better judgement, I brought my son home where he proceeded to get even worse. Less than 12 hours later on 12/25, I took my son to Children’s ER where they immediately rushed him back to an exam room. There the staff was shocked that Buffalo ER didn’t even bother to do bloodwork and their epilepsy team confirmed these were in fact textbook absence and tonic-clonic seizures. Children’s ER sent for immediate bloodwork which most notably showed my five year olds WBC was OVER 50 k/uL, he had severe hyponatremia and hypophosphatemia. (Again, this was just the most notable issues resulted). Within two hours of his arrival, Children’s had completed bloodwork, MRI, X-rays, lumbar puncture, started him on IV fluids, antibiotics, supplemental care for the electrolytes imbalances and was admitted to the floor with an EEG. My son spent several days at Children’s recovering and to this day is still having complications. It took me weeks to even post a review, because I don’t even want to consider what could have happened had I not got a second opinion or waited 48 hours. I understand doctors are humans who made errors.. but choosing to assume a parent is overreacting about the “guess” of a virus without even the basics of bloodwork is completely unacceptable. I wouldn’t recommend this level of care for anyone.

Sarah P.

I am a young woman with a long and complex medical history as well as a long history of ER visits for chronic migraines. Although I’ve had a few positive experiences at the Buffalo ER, I’ve had far more negative ones. There have been many doctors and nurses who have been unkind and rude to me because they’ve already decided that I’m a drug seeker, even though I’m not. My last ER visit at Buffalo sent me over the edge. I had another bad migraine. The doctor came in and I told him that IV meds work better for me and he agreed to proceed with this treatment. He was very kind, and he put in the orders for IV Toradol and Benadryl, which will most often knock out the migraine or at least make it tolerable. Then the nurse came in to draw blood for some basic labs and I asked if she was going to put in the IV as well and she said no. Confused, I said that the doctor had ordered IV meds and she told me that he had changed his mind. I requested to speak with the doctor again and he said that he was thinking that we could try IM and oral meds first, but I was adamant that IV meds worked the best, and once again he agreed to proceed with giving the IV meds. I told him that after the nurse gave the meds, I’d be ready to go home. He agreed with this plan. When the nurse came back she handed me my discharge papers without giving me the meds. My belief is that this particular nurse went above the doctor’s orders because she didn’t think I should get the IV meds. She was very rude and unpleasant, very unprofessional and lacked compassion. I went home crying and spent the next day in bed with a migraine that was never treated. I will never go back to Buffalo’s ER for anything. If I could give negative stars I would. I wouldn’t recommend this ER to anyone.

Tory H.

Was in the ER for 5 hours (after one of THEIR triage nurses TOLD ME TO GO THERE!) and they were absolutely no help. All of the staff were extremely unempathetic. Acted like I was a drug seeker when I've never been on anything like that in my life and have no desire to be. Left in just as much pain as I came in as. Waste of time and money. Would give negative stars if I could. I will never come back here, and would encourage anyone to seek care anywhere else but here.

Ann H.

I went to the ER with extreme pain in my foot. The ER doctor blew me off and told me it was plantar fasciitis. Three times I told her I am very prone to blood clots. She said she could order an ultrasound but "it was not necessary." I insisted on the ultrasound. The ER doctor never gave me any pain relievers. I had to ask my husband to request some. When the tech did the ultrasound, she found a large and serious deep clot in my leg. When the doctor returned, NO apologies about her wrong diagnosis. She was in and out again without giving me a chance to ask a question. She prescribed blood thinners and a small amount of muscle spasm meds (for only for 4 days)--but again not any pain relief meds. I saw my regular doctor 3 days later and thankfully I received great information and presubscribed more helpful meds. If I or anyone I know needs to go to the Buffalo ER, I will tell them not to see this doctor!!

Ryan Q.

Went to this er at around 9:00 pm and got seen almost right away. I had brought my 10 week pregnant girlfriend in for severe abdominal pain. Waited in the room for an ultrasound to be told that everything is fine. She was given a very small amount of pain medication and was told that because nothing else obvious was going on that she should just go home. Asked about aftercare and was told nothing. Asked if there was anything else that could be going on was told nothing. I don’t have to be a doctor to know that if a pregnant lady is hunched over in pain for three days that somthing is going on. Will not be going back to this er and especially not going back to Dr Dillon in emergency. You don’t have to be a genius to know he just wanted to get her out of that bed.

Steve S.

Nothing whatsoever against the staff but damn this E.R. needs funding! Literally 3 patients being treated in the hallway by the back door when it's like -5 degrees outside is unacceptable! Nonetheless not giving prefered pain meds or fluids when requested probably because of supply shortages. Suck less Allina!

J W.

If I could give zero stars I would!
I could go into details but it'd take FOREVER! The most recent mistake,they punctured my left lung and I woke up at Abbott Northwest ICU Unit, that was last July. The staff except the receptionist are extremely rude and dismissive. I Do Not Recommend 💯

Derrick

There is only one emergency room worse than this place. I only give 2 stars due to the coupe of nursing staff that has treated my daughter kindly, otherwise the vast majority of staff here have been condescending, rude and at times appear to intentionally inflict wrong interpretations to create confusion and an uncomfortable stay.
One time my daughter (who is epileptic) was Seizing in the waiting room for over 2 hours!! She was having rapid fire 15 minutes seizures. She and we were completely ignored by staff. They were busy at the time, however I witnessed person after person who appeared much physically better than she be invited to be seen and treated.
When triage finally came and took her stats her heart rate was over 200 they tried blaming the equipment that according to them often times doesn’t work, however my daughters heart rate has frequently hit near 200 during or shortly after a seizure. Completely ignored the cardiac risk happening right in front of them. After the seizures subsided they invited her back and submitted a request for psych services due to my daughter having epilepsy? When someone has epileptic seizures that long and frequent there is a very high chance of that patient developing status epilepticus - which is very high risk for brain damage, cardiac arrest, and death. And guess what? A couple months later when she had an MRI there it was - brain damage…For full disclosure I can’t prove it happened during that instance , however she has evidence of being status epilepticus at some point, the most likely to me during this instance.

There are more stories related to my daughter. My wife is a home Nurse and brought her client in for an attempted suicide. Patient actually cut wrists and throat and said they would do it again and find another way soon as they returned home. The patient was even asking to have a hold placed and what did this place do? They flipping discharged this person because they said they deal with that type of mental health and do not reward patients who want help for it because in the hospitals opinion they feel the patient is trying to punish hospti staff. My wife informed them she had to leave at a certain time and a new staff would replace her. This hospital heard that they rushed a behavior specialist who also stated and I heard this on speaker phone as my wife called me for safety concerns “I know how to write a plan to get her back home and out of here so you take them with you “ - my mouth dropped open! Then they promised my wife they both leave at 5. Nope they didn’t discharge for half an hour making my wife late for chatting and having to stay another hour and a half alone with a patient 200 pounds larger than she and violent.

I could NOT believe they did not put a hold on this patient!!She cut her own throat and wrists!!’ I actually fear this place and most the staff…

update Immediately after this hospital released the suicidal patient, I watched the patient walk directly around the transport van and into the road trying to have a vehicle strike her. Luckily my wife genuinely cares about all people and stood in front of patient to redirect traffic and protect patient.

Having worked in Human Services in my past I KNOW this is not the appropriate way to handle nor treat suicidal patients. This person hurting from mental health should have had a hold placed for evaluation at least. What I have witnessed from this place is more than sad. Not to mentioned that if you question what they are doing some staff are clique and will lmean mug stare at you and walk you out like your are a criminal. Never seen anything like . Time for providers getting away with malpractice and poor patient treatment - needs to END!!!
thank you to the providers who treat with care and no bias and prejudice!