Qhc Madison Square LLC

Pros

• They were impressed with how well their mother's care was handled by Dr. Elkin and the health system staff.
• They described the doctor appointment as the best they've ever had, noting the doctor put them at ease, listened, and provided great care along with education.
• Dr. Teri Formanek and the staff were the best, delivering amazing care for hand surgery with exceptional results.
• The hospital's surgery staff and professionals were attentive and professional from arrival to discharge.
• The clinic staff were professional and polite, with clear explanations and thorough follow-up questions.
• The cardiac rehab program was top notch, with the staff being very attentive and well informed.
• They described the hospital as a tremendous team of professionals who truly care about the community.
• The vaccine experience was very positive, with professional staff making them feel at ease and the process being easy and well-organized.
• The online Covid-19 vaccination sign-up was easy to complete, and the appointment experience was excellent.

Cons

• The hospital was perceived as very unprofessional, prompting the reviewer to suggest trying another hospital.
• They received inaccurate information about insurance network participation, resulting in a $700 bill.
• The billing department advised double-checking with insurance in the future, implying unreliability in providing accurate information.
• The hospital was described as a for-profit business.
• Jennifer at reception was not respectful; she was rude and spoke over the reviewer.
• Virginia Hawthorne and her ER staff were described as horrible, not listening to patients and fabricating narratives, causing distress to the daughter.
• The reviewer has been billed monthly for a free COVID-19 test despite providing SSN and insurance, with non-existent customer service and harassing letters.

Review

A diverse set of experiences shapes the impression of this regional health system, where patients repeatedly praise the professional care and attentive staff in many departments, while also reporting frustrations with the hospital's administration, billing practices, and some frontline interactions. Across reviews, the overall message is that the clinics and individual clinicians often deliver high-quality medical care and a compassionate, patient-centered approach, but the hospital environment can sometimes feel impersonal, profit-driven, or poorly coordinated when it comes to insurance information, reception etiquette, and certain ER experiences.

Several reviewers highlight exceptionally positive care from physicians and hospital teams. One patient lauds the care their mother received at the hands of Dr. Elkin and the broader health system staff, noting a strong sense of professionalism and support. In another case, a patient describes an outstanding doctor appointment with Dr. John - an experience that put them at ease, allowed for meaningful conversation, and combined excellent clinical care with clear, helpful education. Orthopedic care is similarly commended: Dr. Teri Formanek is described as a standout practitioner whose hand surgery resulted in exceptional outcomes, with a long-standing recommendation from a primary care physician that has persisted for about 11 years. These messages collectively paint a picture of clinicians who take the time to listen, explain, and involve patients in their own care.

The hospital's performance in routine and inpatient settings is also widely praised. A reviewer who spent a month as an inpatient commends the nursing attentiveness and notes the cafeteria food was excellent, while Dr. Suddarth is singled out for taking the time to ensure appropriate treatment. Another patient highlights their experiences with surgical and post-operative care as highly positive, and many describe staff as professional, courteous, and thorough in follow-up, with nurses and doctors alike providing explanations that were easy to understand. The hospital is portrayed as a place where a patient can feel they are in capable hands, with a general sense of trust in the expertise of the medical team.

Community and facility-wide touches also appear in the reviews, emphasizing not just medical skill but the human warmth of the hospital ecosystem. Gift shop volunteers describe enjoyable, supportive roles, and patients who had outpatient surgery emphasize the personable, caring environment. There is a consistent note of appreciation for the accessibility of cardiac rehab programs, with cardiology staff like Lisa, Nancy, and Aaron described as highly attentive and dedicated, consistently going the extra mile to address patient needs. A small but meaningful thread runs through the accounts of the hospital being a backbone of local healthcare - an institution that families rely on for both everyday health needs and more complex medical journeys.

Yet the praise is tempered by credible concerns about administration and patient-facing processes. A recurring theme is the frustration with inconsistent information about insurance participation and resulting bills, including a notable instance where a patient incurred a $700 charge after an interaction that supposedly confirmed coverage. The assistant's guidance to double-check insurance in the future - an attempt to avoid further mistakes - left the patient feeling unsure about the hospital's reliability and trustworthiness when it comes to billing. This tension between excellent clinical care and less reliable administrative practices creates a mixed overall impression for some patients.

Other reviews point to unkind or unhelpful experiences in non-clinical interactions. A patient reports an unpleasant encounter with a receptionist who was perceived as disrespectful, and another notes a perception that the hospital, or at least some departments, operates more like a for-profit enterprise than a community-centered facility. In the ER, one patient described a negative experience with a specific ARNP and staff member, expressing a sense that their concerns were not listened to and that staff created misinterpretations of events. These points underscore that the patient experience is not uniform and can hinge on individual staff interactions at the front desk and in the emergency department.

billing challenges and customer service gaps also appear in multiple reviews. A recurring complaint is the experience of being billed for a free COVID-19 test after repeatedly providing personal information and insurance details, accompanied by ongoing harassing letters and little-to-no responsive customer service. This specific issue highlights a disconnect between the hospital's public health initiatives and the administrative machinery that handles billing and communications, contributing to patient frustration even when clinical care is excellent.

Looking across the full spectrum of reviews, the hospital and health system emerge as a place of high clinical capability and genuine compassion in many instances, paired with meaningful opportunities for improvement in administration, front-d desk respect, and patient communications. The stories of care - from the detailed explanations of diagnoses and procedures to the careful attention given to post-discharge follow-up - reflect a system that admins and providers alike should be proud of in terms of medical skill and patient support. At the same time, the negative anecdotes remind management and staff that consistent experiences at the administrative level are essential to maintaining trust, ensuring patients feel valued, and preserving the overall reputation of the health system in the community.

For families and individuals navigating this hospital and its related clinics, the core takeaway is clear: you can encounter outstanding clinical care, dedicated physicians, and a team that treats patients with kindness and respect, especially in areas like orthopedics, general surgery, and chronic care. However, if you are dealing with billing, reception, or ER encounters, you may experience frustration unless those administrative processes are handled with the same precision and empathy that define the clinical side. In a community hospital setting, this blend of excellence in care and room for improvement in administration is not uncommon, and it highlights the importance of ongoing efforts to align every touchpoint - from the exam room to the billing desk - with the high standards patients already associate with the medical professionals who practice there.

This part of Winterset, Iowa, offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to the needs of seniors. With several places of worship within walking distance, individuals can easily access spiritual support and community. Additionally, there are multiple restaurants and cafes nearby for convenient dining options. For healthcare needs, there are pharmacies and physician offices in close proximity, along with Madison County Health Care System and Memorial Hospital for more comprehensive medical services. The parks in the area provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Overall, this neighborhood offers a mix of convenience, healthcare options, and recreational activities that may appeal to seniors looking for a vibrant community to call home.

Places of Worship

• First United Presbyterian Church (0 miles)
• Road To Freedom Biker Church (0.2 miles)
• Saint Paul Lutheran Church (0.2 miles)
• St Joseph Church (0.2 miles)
• Foursquare Gospel Church (0.3 miles)
• Winterset United Methodist Church, Pastor's Study (0.3 miles)
• First United Methodist Church (0.3 miles)

Restaurants

• The Drift (0.1 miles)
• China Cafe (0.1 miles)
• Subway (0.1 miles)
• Bakery Unlimited (0.2 miles)
• Frostee's (0.2 miles)
• Mi Pueblito Mexican Restaurant (0.2 miles)
• Rudy's Restaurant (0.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Montross Pharmacy (0.1 miles)
• Medicap (0.5 miles)
• Pamida Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Montross Pharmacy (11.4 miles)
• Montross Pharmacy (12.1 miles)
• Sumpter Pharmacy and Wellness (19 miles)
• Medicap Pharmacy (19 miles)

Physicians

• Bluebird Integrative Health (0.1 miles)
• Madison County Medical Associates (0.2 miles)
• Winterset Medical Clinic (0.2 miles)
• Earlham Medical Clinic (12.1 miles)
• Mercy Clinic Adel (19.3 miles)
• Adair County Medical Clinic (19.3 miles)
• Gch Family Medicine (19.6 miles)

Parks

• Winterset Parks & Recreation (0.1 miles)
• Whistle Stop Park (0.2 miles)
• George Washington Carver Memorial Park (0.2 miles)
• Memory Lane Park (0.6 miles)
• City Park Hedge Maze (0.7 miles)
• Giffin Fields (0.8 miles)
• Winterset City Park (0.8 miles)

Cafes

• Northside Cafe (0.1 miles)
• The Cellar (0.1 miles)
• Anything Sweet & More Cafe (0.1 miles)
• Cabin Coffee Co. (0.7 miles)
• Starbucks (19.4 miles)
• The Cup on 2nd (19.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Madison County Health Care System (0.5 miles)
• Health Trust Physicians Clinic (0.5 miles)
• Madison County Memorial Hospital (0.5 miles)

Theaters

• Stuart Fremont Theatre (19.5 miles)
• Century Theatre (19.5 miles)