Mad River Community Hospital, Arcata CA

I like this hospital so much. Sometimes they are short staffed, but always friendly. It’s like shopping local for your health care. Thanks to the whole crew!

Incredible Hospital with caring staff.of course, overworked, welcome to todays Healthcare. As a retired nurse, receiving care as an inpatient upon several occasions I can personally attest to the fact this Hospital and staff literally saved my life. Alert and responsive from all Departments including diligent House Keepers.

Worst emergency room I've ever been to. Doctors got their license out of a cracker jack box.

Thankfully, my husband was admitted to the ER via ambulance. Other patients arriving on their own were left outside in the cold and occasional rain for significant amounts of time without being seen. Since I had to wait outside the ER with these incoming patients (no non-patients allowed inside), I saw this wait time and lack of treatment first hand. At one point, a woman with an obvious head injury was assisted to the ER door by her spouse and told to wait outside after pressing the button on the ER door to get service. No one came out, even though they indicated the woman had suffered a head injury. After about 45 minutes waiting with no service at all, they left, blood still streaming down her forehead. All the while, my husband was inside the ER listening to the doctors, nurses and assistants complaining every time the buzzer outside was pushed. He stated that every time, the staff grumbled and debated who had to "answer it this time". He also listened to the lead ER doctor repeatedly yelling at staff members. Additionally, there was NO bathroom available for patients and family members waiting outside the ER for assistance or word of their loved one. I had to wait over five hours for my husband and the only information I got about his condition/test results came from his texts/calls to me from inside the ER. When they finally decided he could be released (for which there was literally NO warning), they attempted to have him exit the ER door in the dark, even though he told them I'd just left the parking lot briefly to find a bathroom. He had to steadfastly refuse to leave until I returned ten minutes later. I have NEVER seen such poor treatment of patients. We were visiting in the area, but most of these patients were local community members. I feel tremendously sorry for them that their local community hospital is such a poor excuse for medical care.

Went to the E R, was in incredible pain, the doctor asked what I’m trying to get out of this visit, I said “i want to be in less pain” the doctor said “We don’t treat pain here”

Was in for a same day surgery and everyone involved was so wonderful to be around. And very comforting and supportive. 10/10. And they've answered all of my follow up questions and even called to check on me today. Wonderful staff. And such a quiet environment compared to the other local hospitals.

The hospital is very unprofessional. They don’t take responsibility for their mistakes and try to bill insurance for more than what they should because of mishandling. They don’t know what they are doing, medically and or with billing.

Don't bother going to this hospital it's a joke just take the extra time to go to St Joe's this place shouldn't even be in business our primary care physician couldn't believe what they said or how they did absolutely nothing and they get away with this stuff if I could if leave zero stars

Went to the ER feeling terrible, missed work that day so I asked for a doctors note, doctor accused me of going to the hospital to get out of work and did not give me a doctors note.

I am giving 3 stars for past experience, however would have been 5 stars before today.
Dr. Loo is unwilling to listen to patient history or needs. I have allergy to penicillin, and in this case with everything I read, it is common practice to do iv antibiotics to start the fight against infection, especially when it is oral, because of the high risk of blood poisoning entering through infection in the mouth.
Dr. LOO refused to listen, when I told him I have a high resistance to antibiotics, and without any testing, gave me a prescription and told me to go elsewhere if I didn't like his diagnosis.
This is the way he is, from what I've heard.
Poor bedside manners and does not consider variables with each patient. I told him I don't take pain meds, yet he still wrote script for them.
An antiinflammory would have been understandable, but when a patient says no pain meds, the doctor should realize they do not want them.

Due to the pandemic the hospital is not fully staffed yet.
The directional signage could be beefed up a bit and could be better.
There is plenty of parking.
The radiology staff is very friendly. The schedulers are always calling people to get them in if someone cancels their appointment.
Overall, it was a pleasant experience.

Went to this hospital on worker's comp due to a head injury, suspected to be a concussion as I was nausious, had a headache, blurry vision, extremely tired, and dizzy. I waited 5 hours just for the doctor to come in for a 2 minute check up and tell me, "it's been a while since I've been in school, and the definition of a concussion has changed, so I don't really know but you definitely hit your head. " Ended up going to a different doctor on my own dime and was told I absolutely had a CLEAR case of a concussion. At least Eureka was close by.

If it weren’t easy to mistake Mad River Hospital as Mad River Emergency Room, I’m certain they’d have a higher rating. Dr **** from the 6 Rivers Surgical Group came in on his day off to relieve me of serious pain, despite my ER doctor saying I did not need surgery yet. I feel a lot better now, and I want to thank the whole staff with the surgical division for having a strong conscience and being willing to save my butt from easily level 8+ pain. Thank you.

Check any room before you get undressed or before you child undresses. There was a camera in a room where my child changed into a hospital gown

I went to ER at midnight with severe pain.they were nice enough to give me a spot in a corner of a room that looked like an abandoned bomb shelter. (? !) mostly males but thankfully one female staff was there, helped me be more comfortable.while I was mostly happy with treatment, the place was very shabby and I would hesitate to return for myself or take my kids there if a need ever arrives and I had the option to go elsewhere.

In the ER they took excellent and respectful care of me and diagnosed and treated me correctly. A no frills facility except for an excellent tall doctor and 2 excellent nurses. Gave me important info for preventative care. Got my IV in first attempt and no bruising. I was as sick as a dog upon entry. 4 hours later I got discharged in much better shape. They were very good with my very ill roommate too, who had to be medivac'd. I am grateful for their expert no-nonsense care.

Check any room they tell you to undress in, especially if you have minor children. Camera located in room my daughter got changed in. EKG requires getting into a gown