ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. — There are six HCA hospitals in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast and patients are expressing concerns about the quality of care at the medical facilities following a recent report by NBC News.
"It all seems very fishy, and not OK," Morgan Bentley said. "I have left reviews. I have reached out to multiple lines of people to try to figure out something."
The St. Lucie County resident said she wasn't surprised when she saw the story on NBC Nightly News and said she has a similar one.
Bentley said when she went to HCA Florida St. Lucie for a hysterectomy in October, she was told at the last minute an emergency room doctor would do the procedure instead of an OBGYN.
"So, I left, because I felt very uncomfortable with the situation at HCA. The charge nurse, he seemed baffled at the situation," she said. "He said the situation seemed odd to him. It felt off, so I left."
Reading hospital reviews afterward, she wasn't as surprised at her experience.
"Similar people who had the same experiences, where it seemed like they were just trying to make money," Bentley said.
An HCA intensive care unit nurse, who did not want to go on camera, wasn't shocked at her story. The nurse told WPTV that doctors are assigned more patients than they can handle, and that money is prioritized over care.
WPTV contacted HCA directly to address all of the allegations. The spokesperson for the company denied an on-camera interview but sent the following statement, reading in part:
“Our patients can be assured they are receiving quality healthcare through the many accolades we have received for our quality performance by independent third party organizations.”
According to the Center For Medicare and Medicaid, two HCA hospitals in Palm Beach County have rated only two stars for overall quality, while HCA Lawnwood in Fort Pierce received just one star — all far below the national average.
According to Leapfrog, a federally recognized nonprofit, four out of the six South Florida HCAs got an "A" grade for overall quality, while HCA Florida JFK in Atlantis scored a "C."
"I'm glad someone finally noticed because like I said, I tried finding lawyers," Bentley said.
Bentley just hopes her story warns someone else, fearing what would have happened had she not walked out of that procedure.
"I hope maybe the healthcare system changes," she said. "I just feel like they take advantage of the situation."
According to the Agency for Health Care Administration, HCA Florida JFK in Atlantis received 11 complaints, six citations and seven sanctions within the past two years, and scored well below average on the federal government’s overall provider assessment.
Again, WPTV contacted this specific hospital about this, as well as the overall organization, but was told a statement is all WPTV would get.
