Franklin General Ambulance Svc

Pros

• Becky, Deanna, Jade, Desiree, Rhonda, and Sue are described as amazing by patients.
• New additions to the FGH provider family have really made a difference.
• Dr. Singh was knowledgeable and patient.
• Ally took wonderful care and got the patient in and out quickly.
• The staff is great, the facility is clean, and the doctors are great.
• A reviewer described the hospital as five-star and recommended it.

Cons

• The hospital failed to inform patients about potential insurance issues before treating and then sent the bill to collections despite coverage.
• A nurse named Deb was described as homophobic and lacking compassion, ignoring input from the patient and spouse.
• The facility reportedly did not contact the patient's insurer or attempt to coordinate billing with them.
• The nursing facility long-term care was criticized for staffing shortages and failing to keep clients happy and content.
• Care for a broken pinky was described as overpriced, with a very short visit, long wait times, and staff who could not provide adequate treatment and relied on Google.
• The ER was accused of misdiagnosing heart attacks, delaying CPR, and making a patient wait 45 minutes before proper intervention, leading to a transfer to another hospital.
• A reviewer warned to avoid the hospital, stating "Go there if you want to die" and calling the staff "a bunch of idiots."

Review

Franklin General Hospital (FGH) emerges in these accounts as a place that elicits intensely mixed feelings. On one hand, there are stories of life-saving care, grateful patients, and staff who are described as caring, knowledgeable, and capable. On the other hand, there are repeated complaints about insurance and billing practices, long waits, and episodes of perceived insensitivity or poor clinical judgment. Taken together, the reviews paint a complex picture: FGH can be a source of relief and gratitude for some, while for others it feels like a place where systems fail and certain interactions leave lasting frustration.

A prominent thread in the feedback is about billing, insurance, and communication. Several reviewers recount a troubling sequence: they brought a child or loved one to the ER or clinic with the expectation that their out-of-state insurance would be accepted, only to be told late in the process that the hospital might not be able to bill their insurer. One reviewer even notes that a staff member gave information that didn't seem grounded in policy or practice, and that the hospital did not inform them beforehand that billing might be an issue. The frustration escalates because, after treatment has begun, the family is left facing potential bills or collections, despite having sent insurance information and clarified coverage in advance. In one case, the insurer reportedly had no record of contact from FGH at all, which leads to the perception that the hospital "taked the easy road" and sent bills to collections rather than working with the insurance. The upshot is a sense that patients are being caught in a billing process that feels opaque and uncoordinated, with consequences that extend beyond the immediate medical encounter.

In parallel with billing concerns are serious criticisms of bedside care and communication. A nurse named Deb is singled out by one reviewer for negative conduct - allegations of homophobia and a lack of compassion, with the nurse addressing the patient's wife rather than the patient and reacting defensively to questions. This account emphasizes how a single staff interaction can color a family's entire perception of care, particularly in emotional moments tied to a child's pain. Yet other reviewers highlight the opposite experience: kindness, respect, and effective support from various team members. Names like Becky, Deanna, Jade, Desiree, Rhonda, and Sue are praised for their goodness and for making patients feel cared for. There are even explicit gratitude notes to specific providers, including physicians in the new provider family who are described as knowledgeable and patient, validating a caregiver's concerns and helping families navigate complex roles, especially in transitions of care.

The ER and acute care experiences themselves reveal a wide spectrum. Some reviews celebrate heroic, life-saving outcomes: a patient involved in a truck accident who credits the staff for saving their life and later expressing profound gratitude to particular team members. In stark contrast, other accounts are scathing: the ER is likened to "an overglorified vet clinic," misdiagnoses of serious conditions such as heart attacks, lengthy waits with little action, and a perception that staff defaulted to online searching rather than applying clinical knowledge. One story describes a 45-minute wait for a relative having a heart attack, followed by a transfer to another facility where proper diagnosis and care were eventually provided. Another speaker recounts being given a splint and a barely used roll of tape after a minor but painful injury, accompanied by questions about the patient's understanding of their own condition. Taken together, these remarks suggest that patient experiences in the ER range from life-affirming to deeply troubling, with concerns about clinical judgment, timeliness, and the handling of urgent situations.

Amid the strong opinions, there are also positive assessments that emphasize friendly staff, clean facilities, and capable doctors. One reviewer praises consistent, reliable care for a wide range of services - ER, clinic, and more - and expresses trust in the staff's abilities to care for their family. Another describes "great staff, friendly, clean, great doctors," underscoring that a high-quality experience is possible within the same institution. A patient who has become a caregiver for a parent notes the knowledge and patience of Dr. Singh and the seamless coordination that can occur when new providers join the team. These accounts portray FGH not merely as a place of contention, but as an environment where compassionate professionals can make a meaningful difference in a patient's life.

The overall tone across the collection is intensely divided. Some reviewers recommend the hospital and even claim it deserves praise for exceptional moments or outcomes, while others implore potential patients to reconsider, or to avoid the facility in critical health crises. There are explicit, stark statements urging readers to "go there if you want to die" and calling the ER experience "despicable" or akin to something far from a standard of medical care. Interwoven with these are affirmations of gratitude and trust, with patients thanking specific caregivers and recounting transformative experiences that leave lasting positive impressions.

For anyone evaluating FGH, these reviews suggest a few practical takeaways. First, if you have out-of-state insurance, verify coverage and billing expectations proactively, and seek explicit confirmation before or during the treatment process. Second, be prepared for variability in the patient experience - interactions with staff and clinicians can range from empathetic and effective to dismissive or procedural, depending on who you encounter. Third, when time-sensitive medical issues arise, consider seeking a second opinion or transferring to another facility if there is concern about diagnosis, treatment timing, or the adequacy of acute care. Finally, recognize that the hospital's strengths appear to lie in Dedicated, compassionate individuals and teams who can deliver exceptional care, but operational and interpersonal gaps in other areas can leave patients feeling frustrated and overwhelmed.

In sum, Franklin General Hospital appears to be a place of significant contrast. It can be a source of lifesaving care and profound gratitude, driven by dedicated staff and skilled clinicians, or a location of frustration where billing misunderstandings, communication failures, and uneven clinical experiences temper otherwise hopeful outcomes. The stories collectively underscore the importance of clear policies, consistent patient communication, timely and accurate clinical assessment, and a hospital culture that centers on compassion across every interaction, from the front desk to the bedside.

Pharmacies

• Medical Center Pharmacy (0.2 miles)
• Koerner-Whipple Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Rick's Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Mercy Family Pharmacy (10.2 miles)
• Clinic Pharmacy (15.6 miles)
• Rieber Clinic Pharmacy (15.8 miles)
• Good Neighbor Pharmacy (15.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Faith Baptist Church (0.2 miles)
• Church Of The Living Word (0.8 miles)
• General Conference Of Seventh-Day Adventists (0.9 miles)
• Gospel Hall (0.9 miles)
• Youth For Christ (0.9 miles)
• Lighthouse of Life (0.9 miles)
• St Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church (1 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.8 miles)
• 7 Stars Family Restaurant (1 miles)
• La Jarochita Family Restaurant (1.1 miles)
• Conconut Lounge (1.1 miles)
• B & C Kitchen (1.1 miles)
• Restaurant La Amiguita (1.2 miles)
• Tortilleria R US (1.2 miles)

Theaters

• Windsor Theatre (1.1 miles)
• Metropolitan Opera House (16 miles)

Physicians

• Hampton Clinic (1.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Hampton Health Care Center (1.1 miles)
• Franklin General Hospital (1.5 miles)
• Franklin Medical Center (9.3 miles)
• Ellsworth Municipal Hospital (14.8 miles)
• Presbyterian Village (15 miles)
• Scenic Living Communities (15.3 miles)
• Ackley Medical Center (15.5 miles)

Cafes

• Rustic Brew (1.2 miles)
• Block 10 at 1921 City Hall (10.4 miles)
• The Gathering Place at the Pine (15.2 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul (1.2 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (1.6 miles)
• Hampton Airport (2 miles)

Parks

• Progress Park (1.3 miles)
• Harriman Park (1.4 miles)
• Hampton City Park (1.6 miles)
• Beeds Lake State Park Officer (3.2 miles)
• Maynes Grove (4.8 miles)
• Mallory Memorial County Park (6.1 miles)
• Galvin Park (10.1 miles)