Reviews of Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center (Hospital)

Justin Moos

The doctor there was all twitchy and most expensive hotel I spent there. People make you feel uncomfortable and they want you to hang around these people. Doctors and everyone alike treat you like crap and they want you to pay about 2000$ for this even though the service they give you is worth maybe 500$ tops.

Sue Wilcox

should be negative 98

Lori Williams Sheffey

I had my baby here some years ago. Amazing hospital, amazing staff.

Gail Johnson

Avera McKennan is by far the GREATEST healthcare system in the region! Staff are extremely competent and caring, physicians are the best in the nation, and the facility is welcoming and easy to get around. Patients feel like they are the only ones being cared for - not just a number or a source of revenue like at Sanford! Families are kept informed and are made to feel welcome. The mission and vision of Avera is guided by faith, and you can feel that when you walk through their doors - everyone is so kind and compassionate, and you can tell that Avera truly does care about patients and helping them become well. Thank you for the awesome job you do to care for patients each day at Avera!!!

Kaylie Egan

Do not recommend Avera McKennan or McGreevy Clinic in anyway, shape, or form. They should really be investigated for negligence and lack of qualifications by employees who clearly have no clue what they're doing. I would not send anyone here. So many major complaints that have risk lives and needs to be brought to the medical board. I would not send anyone to this so called, medical facility.

Erin Eiler

I had errors written on my medical records were refused to be corrected including a part that said i received a c-section when in fact i never have given birth to a child also had some other mistakes. My complaint was not on file a year later and i dont know that the records were ever corrected.

Li Li

My son was born there in 2014. Very good service!

Crystal Clear

Hospital is good but pay is horrible. $26 an hour for an RN. I have 60K school debt.

The Neck Beard Troll

$50 up front to have someone write a doctors note

Merrill Whirlwind soldier

Unfortunately I spent a week in the hospital. During my stay I would say that the staff was very friendly and kind especially the nurses they knew what was happening, and the physical therapy girls were great! Thank you people who took care of me

Donn Tisch

I just spent 2 days on the first floor east wing in the pulmonary unit. The nursing staff not only exceeded any expectations I had, they set a new standard! To tell you the truth, when I look back on my experience in this hospital I am AMAZED! (the doctor I got was great too - very smart/caring doc who was on top of my situation from beginning to end) I can not imagine what a better hospital would be like... If you have choice in which hospital you go too. You will not be disappointed in McKennan I'd give them my highest recommendation! (on a side note I read some bad reviews on here that are obviously from disgruntled former employee's - and given what they wrote, it's really not any secret why they are former employee's - they do not fit the model of McKennen caring professionalism :-)

Tina Meier

Horrible Horrible Horrible! I just left there with an open wound on my back. No idea how it happened except for maybe a spider or something. Waited for over an hour. There was an officer sitting at the front desk that laughed at me as I walked out. Like I was a joke. I NEVER go to the doctor. I was scared as hell. Now I'm just going home hoping it doesn't get worse. There was NO ONE in the waiting room. This was the worst experience ever, besides the time they turned my son away when they thought he had H1N1. It turned out to be pneumonia. He almost died.

Benjamin B

I come from a 5 time magnet health system in Colorado, Poudre Valley Hospital. After getting sub-standard care in Rapid City... we were transferred to Sioux Falls. The care at Avera is on point with Colorado. It was not surprising to find that Avera is a multi time Magnet Award winning hospital too, and it shows. The nursing staff cares. The doctors listen. Rooms are clean. Staff is responsive. And the care is EXCELLENT. In South Dakota, there is no other. PLEASE COME TO RAPID. BUILD IN RAPID. WE NEED THE COMPETITION.

Lisa Ladenburger

I have had many experiences at Avera through Cancer Treatment and Same Day Surgical experiences. From the housekeeping staff to the Doctors, I have had such compassionate care and treatment. The hospitalist and Specialized Physicians, Nurses, CNA's, Housekeeping, Lab, Food Services, I could not have better things to report. Always concerned about confidentiality, patient safety and patient care and compassion. I have a surgery coming up on June 18 and I have no concerns to be anxious about, I know I will be in good hands from check in to check out.

Amy Emerson

One of the best experiences so far and the staff was fantastic at the surgical center.

Gale Cunningham

Is there a ZERO mark for doctors...2/21/19 I was in the ER for Anaphylactic Sock due to being allergic to perfume which I was born with and the doctor wanted me to take a "drug test" since he didn't believe me. My lungs were burning my tongue was swollen and in hives and he was treating me like a drug addicted..my family has been going here for generations I was even born there AND I'm done with this place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wanda Willemssen

Wonderful care. Wonderful nursing and tech staff.

Brenda Curl

Quick and acknowledge serves

Josh Heath

I love love love love LOVE LOVE THIS HOSPITAL AND ER!!!!!! WE HAVE HAD ALL OF OUR CHILDREN THERE! We wouldn't go anywhere else, their Christian values are out of this world, they have an amazing staff and ER, THEY GENUINELY CARE and remember you when you come back!

Terri Larson

Plaza 1, sergury. great people.

D M

While Avera has many flaws as do most facilities one of the biggest issues they have results from truly negligent/lazy providers such as Dr Felicia Armstrong. I write this review to hopefully protect someone and/or loved ones from care that could cost them their life! Literally Dr. Armstrong is a poor excuse for a doctor and Avera should really evaluate having her associated with them in any capacity if they value their patients! (see other reviews from other patient and family members on the internet absolutely disgusting that this women has a license to care for people!). Her knowledge level is below optimal and she has absolutely poor bedside manner. When she documents and talks to patient she belittles them, as well as their family members. She doesn’t complete full assessments and documents otherwise. She doesn’t even evaluate before discharge and when nurses call her with concerns such as patient falls/fainting and issues with medications reactions she does not address them leading to the nursing staff having to call other providers and charge nurses to assist with issues that she as the provider should be handling. As a nurse myself I have never been around or witnessed such poor care by a provider absolutely no excuse for this doctor or her lack of knowledge and compassion for patients. In addition to this provider their hospitalist are lacking in pretty much every aspect! Seriously do yourself a favor and go to Sanford or another facility. Even with valid medical issues and concerns no interest is taken for patient care by hospital providers who want easy cases that don’t require work or thought absolutely no morals or ethics when it comes to patient care! After two months in and out of this hospital for weeks at a time of being admitted just sitting there with staff who don’t document any of your complaints or symptoms. I was finally transferred to another facility and within 24 hours had a diagnosis and treatment plan in place and was able to safely return home within a couple weeks of hospital treatment. New facility even reviewed images that avera marked as unremarkable and found multiple things missed! If you value your health or life or that of your family member go anywhere else!! The only thing avera is good for is making you question medical care! And don’t ask any questions related to your care of plan or you end up with a psych eval (that shows nothing mental related but instead multiple real physical medical issues and concerns and delaying proper care) is you ask questions regarding treatment plan you will also be told you can just leave since your refusing care despite requiring meds that keep you alive that cannot be done at home seriously horrible!

Jim Novak

Great hospital

Alex Neamy

Staff are very friendly but slow. Don’t give updates to family on patients... takes 15 minuets for a nurse to come if someone pulls the emergency cord in the bathroom. Not too pleased....

Steve

Pleasant & friendly staff.

David Garcia

Valet parking is timely. Hospital staff is friendly and helpful. The cafeteria food is actually good with a large selection.

Mary Turner

Shout out to Avera Surgical East!! Couldn’t have asked for better care! Thank you for being the best!!

matrika mishra

Wish I could give 0 If possible. I would never want go to Avera again in emergency room. I took my sick grandma there and they all acted nice infront of me and they’d rolled their eyes when we ask for certain things that were needed. My grandma lips were so dry and she was thirsty so I asked for a water and they literally made us wait 25 mins. 25 mins for water? Really? Everytime we press the button, they’d come and when they leave, “rolled eyes” it annoyed me how they come up with excuses saying “sir there were other patients dying” I understand.... But all I asked was a cup of water. I wouldn’t recommend anyone to go there. Honestly I was never dissatisfied and disappointed with Avera before.

Paris Meottyyh

amazing staff and hopistal

Seth Meyerink

I would give -5 stars If i could. They Killed my Grandma, took away her meds cold turkey so she suffered withdrawals. Wouldn't Treat her for her symptoms because she was to old. They admit their end goal was just to let her die. Horrible horrible Dr's and hospital. I wouldn't take my Dog there.

helen h

Among the worst hospitals in the US, and so ill-regarded by people in Sioux Falls that they prefer not to go there. A completely corrupt, self-interested administration rides roughshod over all employees, and has as its main objective the hiring of mediocre dunder-headed doctors who knuckle under to their abuse. The administration also abuses and underpays staff. This site's GI, kidney and liver programs are completely dangerous and to be avoided at all costs. Inane and inept care with the driving up of costs and the needless stringing along of patients as its main priority. A deliberately dysfunctional place that would be best served by a giant cleansing enema given on one of the administrative floors. If you want half-assed care by people interested in half-answers, half-solutions and deliberate avoidance of definitive interventions, Avera McKennan is your place. If you have half a brain, please go somewhere else!

John Kilene

Do yourself a favor and don't go to the ER's in Sioux Falls unless you have bones sticking out or bleeding profusely as they will just do everything in their power to get you to go home. If it takes a wheel chair and 3 nurses to put someone in the car to go home don't you think an overnight stay would have been appropriate?

Bernie Schoep

went to the hospital there march 2 having heart problems.stupid drs, said i just had heart burn.but i didnt have any heart burn problems. so went to sanford hospital got admitted found out i have to have heart surgery.so never go to a catholic hospital if you dont have good insurance they wont have nothing to do with you what soever.

Kaelee Haney

Yes If there were triple ZEROS Avera would be the Hero’s. I honestly don’t think they deserve that. I would never recommend Any Avera due to what our family has gone though there . Luckily my mom is still alive. Problem is I also think some Medicare fraud has been going on their also. My mom has tried to deny going there but they are the only ones that she can go to now. She has tried other places but now after trying to go elsewhere no nephrologist will accept her. For weeks now, she’s been unable to pick the health care that’s best for her. She found out Avera is saying she’s noncompliant with her medications and not cooperating doctors and their medical advice. I can’t imagine why, after receiving two Hernias and having two Major infections why she’s tried to leave...lol. She’s just upset that they won’t give her a referral outside of any Avera.So after all these problems ,other nephrologist but Avera will take her . So to save her own life she’s been forced back to Avera Now 3 times and has to Dialyze with them. She’s requested to everyone she speaks with about her concerns that something fishy is going on there and they won’t let her leave. They even discharged her saying she could have Dialyze at DaVita, recently then come to find out DaVita won’t take her . She had nowhere to go, and went a week before Being Dialyzed again. Which wasn’t good. They blamed her for this. She found out from another hospital that by them releasing her with no place to Dialyze was like them signing her death warrant. And was against the law . She never knew she had no place to Dialyze she was just following her discharge papers. At the time, she was was happy to finally start somewhere else. They had since set her up but of course it’s an Avera Dialysis Center that her husband found with one phone call. so as of to today still no other nephrologist in South Dakota or Nebraska nor Wyoming will take her. and she is stuck with Avera hoping to be given at least one chance with another hospital or DaVita. She’s never seen anyone but Avera. Either they are to lazy to make a Good referral. Or they are scared someone will actually find out something they’ve done to her and they won’t release her because then it my stir up some sort of trouble. I’m not sure, but all I know I I just want the best health care for my mother as does she and she knows Gregory Avera Hospital, in Gregory, SD and Avera McKennan in Sioux Fall, SD. Have been Horrible for their care and cleanliness. Certainly there has been no communication between doctors and nurses or surgeons. And twice now it has almost cost my mom her life. So please take this into consideration when choosing Any Avera

Joel Storey

Best care anyone could ever ask for!!!

Auhsoj Nalpak

My Son John is here and the Medical Staff, (Doctors and Nurses) are very Nice. They smart, and friendly. Clean Hospital.

Mairene Ramirez

I Loved this Place!

Dee Slinger

My husband goes there for his esophageal motility and they do not give up.

David Laughlin

Brought my dad here with heart issues they took him off all of his medications to find out why he was getting nausea and then he started to drown in his own fluids because of the diuretic they took him off.. My wife had to notice that he was gaining weight while he was not eating since they had not noticed this. Next they were marking on his paperwork that he was eating his meals when he wasn't we had to observe this visibly and Report the nurse to get this fixed We literally watched nurses bring in trays of food that he did not eat and then mark on his paperwork that he ate it and throw the food in the trash. He developed a bedsore in the hospital and they literally told us they couldn't find any antifungal cream for the bed sore that he never should have gotten in the hospital in the first place he came here from a house he walked in on his own and had to be taken out in an ambulance to go to the other Hospital in town where he later died Based on some numbers I don't know how long he would have lived otherwise but I know this Hospital made his last week's of Life absolutely miserable Hopefully it has gotten better since then

Savannah Murden

I've been in Sioux Falls and have gone to Avera different times. Sometimes I'll get answers, most of the time I waste my money and time. Im finding Sanford gives the best care. And has the best docs, in my opinion.

Chris B

I would not recommend this hospital to anyone. I have been there a couple of times and both times were horrible. Very bad patient care and more! Times where I didn't even have a call light to get help from someone. Waiting easily 30 minutes to over an hour for your nurse. Other nurses or aides may answer call light within that hour or more and tell you that they will let your nurse know even though your hand is swelling up and hurting a lot due to a IV no longer working, but had up to 3 staff members stop in and answer call light and said will let your nurse know. Waited for at least 40 minutes or more. Very common words by staff "Will let your nurse know" than the waiting game begins! Staff completely forgetting about what they needed to do for you after answering your call light. Doctors stating to the nurse that they will be up to see you by a certain time and end up waiting 2 or more hours after that time to talk to your doctor for about 2 minutes or less. Different doctors all the time take over. Staff tripping on pillows that fell off your bed and you could not reach and still leaving the pillow there. Hearing staff talk about their personal lives while the sounds of call lights are going off. Not their patient! Waiting for your meds, to use the bathroom, and more! First stay at hospital I had a pulmonology recheck appt back home after being discharged from hospital and they had no clue that I was even there and intubated. There is more, but I think it is understood why I only rated this hospital as a single star! I have worked in the medical field for years and still do. I get that there never seems to be enough staff because upper management or whoever else has absolutely no clue what it is like for their own employees working on the front lines and will usually not try to understand or state that they know what it is like cause they did it many years ago. Reality check to them-it has changed dramatically since then and is far more difficult now! I get things can change for staff in a blink of an eye each day as well. I get that staff might not even get a full lunch or really a lunch at all or could be very late. I get that you don't even have time to go to the bathroom until god knows when. I get you are exhausted mentally, physically, emotionally cause you may have worked several 12 hr shifts or longer in a row and the work is not easy! I get all of this and more. I know it very well and still work in this field, but until some things are changed from up above if they ever will. You have to figure out how to work together as a team even if it is not your patient or even if you don't work on that floor that includes majority of staff from housekeeping to dietary to whoever else. Anybody can refill a patient's water, give a message to the nurse, give them a blanket and more. Doesn't matter what title you have behind your name or the pecking order you are in which is ridiculous and sad by the way, but is true and how it works at most places. You all have to work together, help each other out, make sure the patient is taken care, find a way to do this for the patient and your team. Think about how your family member may be treated and how you would feel about it. Think about the patient and what they may be feeling. All of this is something you can do cause if you are waiting for upper management to do something. You could be waiting for a long time and people suffer! If the job is not for you or is not enjoyable, and whatever else than it may be a time for a change. Don't stay there for just the paycheck or for whatever reason that it is not working out. It does no justice for the patient, your co-workers, yourself, and your family! Be there for the right reasons and I truly hope that all of you can figure out how to do the best you can. I know I leave work better inside knowing I tried doing the best I could.

Christina Kates

Amazing staff they are very attentive and answered all of qiestiond. They explained everything vey well. Extreamly happy so far