Hallux rigidus surgery in 1 Orthopedic surgery clinic in Barranquilla

Malpractice. My grandmother was left to die. After an isquémic stroke. Proper measures were not taken within first 6 hours. Instead of ICU, she was put in a regular room. Nurses shifts had no records of prior shifts. Avoid at all costs.

I was supposed to have surgery in this clinic on 10/17/22. I arrived around 10:30 at the O.R floor, 4th floor in the building, and no one was there. The reception desk was dark with zero employees. While I sat waiting for someone to show up I looked at my paperwork handed to me at check-in, when I realized they had me as a Colombian citizen born in Barranquilla. I'm a U.S citizen. The address, phone number, and emergency contact provided by me earlier had been overlooked and ignored. I went downstairs and corrected it. Finally, the nurse showed up; she was a nice lady. There isn't anything negative to say about her. Around 3:30 a nurse assistant brings a wheelchair and wheels me into the OR. My surgeon, Dr. Carlos Cala was running late, she said. The O.R had a two way-in, bidirectional, restaurant style, swing door with small windows. At his point I had not been sedated, medicated, nor given a relaxant to prepared me for the cultural shock I was about to experience. There was, right in the middle of the room, an overwhelming sight of a surgical bed dressed in brown sheets ready for a bloodbath; and a dented, shallow bucket, right at my feet. The pan was wide enough for my feet to fit in. The N.A explained to me that she was going to bathe me with antiseptics and soap before surgery. I followed her with my gaze, noticing a disturbing sight of two soiled, worn out, filthy, and grotty, styrofoam coolers. There they kept the antiseptic and soap warm that she was about to use on me. She asked me to stand in the pan facing the door and those swinging doors started to open and close while medical staff came in and out. I was naked and a swing away to be seen by everyone sitting at the desk just outside the OR (recovery area). Then, as I’m looking around in dismay, I spotted a recording video camera IN the OR. All the feelings of humiliation, indignity, disrespect, and violation of privacy took over me at this point. I complained about this to the NA and she called the floor manager. The manager explained to me that the video was for liability reasons and to cover their backs, privacy wasn't a concern to them and video recording was a common practice. I requested an appointment with the clinic’s director and It seemed as if I threw a stone in a hornets nest. The floor manager called the anesthesiologist, Dr. Bernal, and he asked me what was the problem. All of this time I was still naked. I tried to explain to him that I felt my privacy was not being respected as I had never gone through anything like I was experiencing at that moment before and his replied was: “you should go back to the United States and get surgery there.” I don’t know what was more upsetting; the fact that this doctor represented COLOMBIA so poorly, not aspiring to anything beyond mediocrity as a professional, stepping over his Hippocratic Oath, and having a condescending tone towards a CUSTOMER (I’m a paying client in a private clinic, I reminded him), or the fact that his lack of character, dignity, and vulgar behavior, were an irrevocable proof of his unprofessionalism. When did lack of HYGIENE and violation of privacy became a common practice in healthcare?! Both, Dr. Bernal and the floor manager, proceeded to tell me to calm down and that if I wasn’t ready for surgery I could reschedule. I kept saying that I still was interested in an appt with the clinic’s manager. The floor manager kept hinting that there was not going to be a surgery if I insisted to see the director because that meant I was upset, while Dr. Bernal kept using my request as leverage pertaining to the final success and outcome of the surgery. Again, all of this time I was naked. Because I didn’t shut up and submissively obeyed, the surgery was canceled and I was scorted out of the OR while the nurse assistant was making signs behind me at everyone we were passing by (medical staff, patients, and their families around) that I was crazy. I did speak to the director days later. Even though he was nice, I opted to have my surgery elsewhere. Avoid at all cost unless you're dying.

Good service but they would have bigger watings rooms...

of the best clinics in Bogotá.

Design and sophistication for the Health of Colombians!!!

I found some english speaking doctors here and they have an international office to help you translate if you dont speak spanish. Thank you very much Carolina 🙏

Horrible! Dont go to this clinic. The most unfriendly employees I have experienced in this Hospital. Yes I do speak spanish but once I didnt understand smth the lady just ignored me! Errors start already in front of the Clinic. Apparently they don't know the difference between a Swiss flag and a medical (red!!!) cross. So my question: is this a Swiss Clinic??? Of course not...

My mom got a well planned surgery in this Clinic. Excellent outstanding service what a relief. Fast service, very diligent and well trained all staff. Great place to get well and get some recovery. If you get sick go there you will be fine quickly. Do not visit Los Nogales clinic or La Colina. Marly is the best! Thank you all for your service! Mom is doing great. The doctor was very profesional!

What a slow clinic! They make him come on time but he is late in his shifts, no one comes out to give a reason. The only redeemable thing is the girl at the reception, the rest is a terrible service, the air conditioning in the surgery waiting room does not work. If you can avoid using their services, almost 8 hours for a simple surgery. The worst thing is that EPS SURA has an agreement with them but it is horrible!! Better care has a neighborhood pharmacy than a private clinic

The waiting room is horrible. There are patients lying everywhere on the floor. The runners. There is no decent place for the elderly while they undergo examinations and remain under observation. There is one bathroom for many people. And they don't clean it. This is in the emergency room. It is a site where all rights are violated

I hae been there a few times, because my insurance has them as a provider. Once I managed to secure an appointment, all works; however setting up an appointment can be a formidable task, as they dont answer the phone and if they do they pass the buck to sumeone else, or worse they ask you to call a bunch of wrong numbers. The whatsup useless. Today I spent 4 hours trying to get an apointment without any luck. I will soon go in person with a spy camera and will publish my experience on all available social media. What a shame, good doctors and deplorable IT and customer service. Management is unreachable for some strange reason (NOT !!!)

Super-delayed patient care, I don't want to imagine where a calamity happens and more than 30 people arrive, they will die here, I have a pain in my stomach since 4 in the morning, diarrhea, vomiting, fever and chills, I arrived at 3:00 pm and it's 6:00 pm and they don't attend to me, I have to writhe in pain to be attended to.

God bless every health worker in this hospital, those in surveillance, those in cleaning, those in the nutrition department, and especially the ophthalmological doctors, the retinologist, and resident doctors, and Yenny at the reception. And social work. Excellent service, in care and procedures, hospital, and control. Thank you very much for the great service you provided us on the two occasions we came. Thanks to the timely intervention they gave my mom, she is doing very well. We didn't do well in the children's cardio, nor in the clinic at the national university. They have a long way to go to know that the patient deserves respect and timely attention. THANK YOU HOSPITAL SAMARITANA, FOR YOUR EXCELLENT SERVICE. VERY GOOD ADMINISTRATION OF THE HOSPITAL, AND VERY GOOD CARE AND DIAGNOSIS BY THE SPECIALISTS. Since you are admitted for emergencies, the attention is very fast and timely. GOD CONTINUE BLESSING YOU 🙏.

Good hospital services

Excellent...!

3 days waiting in que for gallbladder surgery to be scheduled! Why does the patient get to wait? And why doesn't the clinic approach and explain what's going on to the patient's children.?

Customer service people on their cell phones while helping zero people in the que. The pictures say it all. Look at the customer service people chatting on the phone and the video board showing zero people in the que.

Bad bad. The treatment is derogatory towards low-income people. If you want to receive good treatment, dress well and show that you are of good economic standing. And if the patients are "eps" things get worse.

I like how you treat me here at the clinic.

Good attention