St. Jude Medical Center Emergency Services - Fullerton, California

Lidia Yan

On 1/28, my mom was experiencing severe back and abdominal pain, so we went to St. Jude ER. The situation was chaotic, and despite her intense pain, we had to wait 3 hours before she was treated. During this time, she could barely sit still, yet Dr. Mi Song Kim prioritized ordering a CT scan, urine test, X-ray, and blood work instead of addressing her pain first. After repeatedly urging the nurse for relief, she was finally given morphine, only because the nurse couldn’t reach the doctor. Ironically, all test results came back normal, and instead of conducting further evaluation, the doctor simply prescribed painkillers and some muscle relaxing pills and sent her home.

By 1/30, my mom’s condition had not improved, and more
rashes appeared around her waist, raising concerns that it might be shingles. We returned to the ER at 3 AM and waited until 6 AM because there was only one doctor for 60 patients. When we finally saw Dr. Thien Nguyen, we explicitly voiced our concern about shingles, but after a brief glance, he dismissed it as hives and sent us home with more painkillers.

On 1/31, my mom’s rash developed water-filled blisters, so we went to our family doctor, who immediately diagnosed it as shingles. He emphasized that it was critical to start antiviral treatment within 72 hours, meaning we had lost valuable treatment time due to misdiagnosis at the ER.

It’s unacceptable that St. Jude’s ER is staffed with inexperienced doctors who not only failed to diagnose something as common as shingles but also neglected to manage severe pain properly. People go to the ER for urgent care, yet this experience showed a complete lack of prioritization and competence. We have supported and donated to St. Jude in the past, but after this experience, we will never return to their ER. It’s a shame to see such poor operations at a hospital we once trusted.

Meg G

If I could give 0, I would. My son was injured at 8:30 PM. We arrived in the ER at 9 PM. It’s now after 5 AM the following day. We have now been here without being seen by an actual doctor for 8 hours. X-rays werent taken until we’d already been here for 4 hours, and ANOTHER 4 hours later, still nothing because apparently Providence thinks good patient care is having ONE radiologist for the entire hospital and “storing” overflow patients in the basement (I wish I was joking) while there are empty beds upstairs. And one of the nurses (whom we never spoke to) wrote in the chart that we chose to leave WITHOUT BEING SEEN. Everyone is apparently too busy to check on patients, but they've got plenty of time to sit around chatting about their weekend plans. This ER used to be excellent — now, it’s an understaffed clown show. I will never set foot in the mismanaged circus that is the St Jude ER ever again.

Shelby Just

You're better off dying then going here. You might even die waiting in a 6 hr wait with staff that don't care. The nurses here don't care for their patients. Maybe once upon a time they joined the medical field to help people but they definitely don't have that dream anymore. The facility lacks cleanliness, care and is way under staffed.

Amy Lahr

My mom has been sitting in the hall of the ER for 6 hours now. They have ran her blood tests, performed her X-ray, ultrasound and CT scan. All results are available in her “My Chart” except the CT scan. Not one person (Doctor, nurse, CNA, any staff in ER) have checked on her since she arrived 6 hours ago. They are sitting around laughing and joking while people are waiting for their results. This is the worst experience I have ever had in an ER with my mother. Btw…she came into the emergency room with severe upper right abdominal pain and no one has asked her what her pain level is since the paramedics picked her up. The doctor is sitting right in front of us and has not acknowledged my mom even when my mom tried to get her attention. The doctor “managing” her care is Dr. Kim. I say “managing” loosely because she just took a look at my mom, ordered tests and has not checked in at all. The nurse hasn’t checked on her either. I’m highly disappointed in the treatment and care that St. Jude ER provides. St. Joseph ER is by far a better ER with kind compassionate people who care.

Jordan Jenks

Had to wait 6 hours for my wife to be admitted into the ER, where we were taken to a different room to wait even longer with zero explanation. The entirety of the hospital was unclean. Apparently once you check in, you can’t even decide to leave without being charged, even if nobody sees or treats you. You are also not allowed to leave as you await test results, no matter how benign your symptoms are or how minor the tests being run. I’m not sure what the point of mychart is and why everyone wants you to use it if you can’t just view the results and prescriptions later. Obviously for serious cases it’s understandable, but some people go to the ER because something happens during off hours and urgent cares aren’t open. I might give them the benefit of the doubt and explain the wait time by being understaffed, but nobody was helpful or friendly. If you need to come here, get brought in an ambulance.

Claudia Nanez

Emergency department at St Judes is horrible. My husband didn’t get seen until close to two hours after they brought him in to hall way room. Then finally after he was seen by Dr Lin he ordered labs, pain meds, IVF and CT. After I went looking for the nurse about his pain meds we still waited two more hours to get a RN to get the IV and meds. All this time and my husband still hadn’t gotten a gown and we are still waiting for the IVF and pain meds. When they took him to an ER room that room wasn’t stripped or clean. The previous patient used canister was left behind and the room was gross. We are now starting the six hour and still no IVF, meds or a gown, no one (MD and RN) have come in to start the IVF, meds or given results of the labs or CT scan. And still no gown. No IVF and No Meds. Literally people can die at this ER. Please do not go to ST Jude ER go anywhere else !!!!!

Star P

This place sucks and just don't care about the patience!! They put you in a basement that smells like mold and I go to tell them the smell is making me sick and all the lady did was hand me some alcohol pads and tell me to wave them in the air. And the guy that took us to the basement seen me limping and barley could walk and didn't bother to ask if I need a wheelchair. I am so sick of the BS and the uncaring people they have working there. Such NASTY attitudes and all they seem to do is talk talk talk to each as if the money our insurance pays isn't going to pay for their salary 🙄
I am dreading coming here and hate that I have to encounter such NASTY workers.

Frank Gonzales

A lot of the staff here have attitude for no reason.The hospital staff did not make me feel comfortable or in good hands for my care. Felt like a lot of the staff here hate there jobs and patients.

Once I was seen by a doctor,I felt more comfortable.
The Doctor was really nice and super professional.