Advocate Health Care review: Lutheran Hospital - Park Ridge, IL

I ended up in the Emergency Room at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL on Feb. 19. 2025 where I was for nearly 7 hours for a possible heart attack. The E.R. Staff and RNs and front desk ER personnel were all excellent. Unfortunately, I was there for cardiac tests. Upon entering the hospital, a person is asked to empty his or her pockets. A search of one's wallet and/or purse is conducted (similar to going through security at an airport but without x-ray body scan machine). If you leave the E.R. for any reason and re-enter the hospital a wand is placed all over your body and in between legs. I was exhausted after having test after test after test. The staff at the chest x-ray department and chest scan departments were very professional and compassionate. They ARE truly the best. After being at the hospital for nearly 7 hours I was at the point of no return. I was exhausted, dizzy, hungry, thirsty. I was feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. I was extremely agitated and exasperated. The ordeal began when I was waiting for my ride to go home. Overdrive exhaustion so I placed my wallet, discharge papers and North Face gloves at the end of a table where tiny cheap plastic baskets are kept by security guards. The guard told me "Miss, you cannot put those there." I took my 3 belongings and, without thinking, tossed them on the floor. Then, I was told "I could NOT STAND there because the doors were sliding open." I said, "I will stand back here" (away from the automatic sliding doors -- nowhere near them). That wasn't GOOD enough for the 3 security guards (one in particular was a major A**hole). The guard said I need to go back inside the ER and stand INSIDE instead. I said under my breath "A**hole" and walked inside. As the door was sliding open one of the out-of-shape security guards heard what I said -- I said the word A**hole. He said, "What did you say?" I didn't answer him. I ignored him. He asked a 2nd time with a tone of anger and sarcasm, "What did you say?" I responded with "You heard exactly what I said and I'm not repeating it." From that point forward this out-of-shape security guard proceeded to stare me down. He never took his eyes off me for the 15 minutes I stayed standing waiting for my ride to go home. I wasn't intimidated by this out-of-shape gun carrying man. I stared right back at him. I rolled my eyes several times in disgust. As my niece showed up a 4th security showed up whereupon this particular out-of-shape security guard was telling him "what happened" (as if though I committed a crime by using the word "A**hole"). I heard him complaining to HIS Supervisor, I assume, about me. An elderly security guard (thin with white hair) bent down to pick up my wallet, thick discharge papers and gloves to hand them to me. The out-of-shape security guard that stared me down for 15 minutes said, "Don't pick up her stuff. Don't pick it up. Don't give it to her." The elderly security guard, who showed me kindness, was courteous, and professional picked up my belongings and handed them to me. I replied, "Thank you. I appreciate your kindness." The Security Guards at Lutheran General need ADDITIONAL TRAINING in how to be compassionate, professional and HOW TO TREAT patients who are exiting and entering the E.R. This particular security guard was confrontational. He was sarcastic. He was unprofessional. He was rude. My experience occurred Feb. 19, 2025 at 7:50 p.m.