St Gabriel's Hospital

Pros

• The staff, nurses, and doctors were caring, knowledgeable, and highly helpful.
• The nurses went above and beyond to meet patients' needs, and the doctors took time to answer questions.
• The hospital is described as having phenomenal bedside manner.
• Drs. Zellmer, Quigley, and Moe, along with the entire staff, provided prompt, highly professional care delivered with respect and kindness.
• The care received during an emergency abdominal surgery was impressive.
• The ER team, including Dr. Fraser and nurse Shelly, delivered care that made the patient feel very comfortable.
• The kitchen staff were exceptional, delivering meals with friendliness and consideration.

Cons

• The reviewer states their elderly mother waited five and a half hours in the ER and calls the place horrible.
• The reviewer says they were hung up on when asking about wait times.
• The reviewer notes blood spots in the ER rooms and calls it disgusting.
• The reviewer asserts the best treatment is thoughts and prayers and recommends going elsewhere.
• The reviewer alleges near-malpractice and describes the ER as an absolute joke.
• The reviewer reports their wife, a stroke patient, waiting four hours in the ER and being ignored.
• The reviewer describes hours-long waits and a rude front desk, calling the care the worst.
• The reviewer was charged $2,000 for a poor stitch job and would rate 0 stars.
• The reviewer claims an ear infection was misdiagnosed with minimal doctor contact and poor care.
• The reviewer states they cannot trust the doctors there.

Review

What emerges from these many patient voices is a complex, often turbulent portrait of CHI St. Gabriel's Hospital, particularly its emergency department. The stories swing from genuine appreciation for caring hands and skilled professionals to sharp accusations of neglect, misdiagnosis, and a system that leaves people waiting far too long in distress. Taken together, they create a picture of a place where excellent moments of bedside compassion sit beside frustrating experiences of delays, confusion, and perceived lapses in safety and quality.

A central thread through many accounts is the experience of waiting. Several reviewers describe hours-long waits in the ER, sometimes with a family member who is seriously ill or in distress. One account recalls a five-hour stretch in the waiting room with a stroke patient, another notes a similar timeframe while a child with a deep head laceration and others waited nearby. A recurring sentiment is that the waiting room feels quiet and understaffed, with staff and patients alike acknowledging the tension between high demand and limited capacity. The wait times are framed not merely as an inconvenience but as a potential risk to health, with frustrations amplified when admissions, tests, or treatments seem slow to start and questions about what happens next go unanswered for long stretches.

Safety and cleanliness surface as another source of concern in these reviews. There are pointed remarks about not seeing masks in certain ER spaces, and more stark descriptions about the physical environment - blood spots in rooms, described as "disgusting" by some and creating a sense of unease about standards of cleanliness and infection control. These factors compound the anxiety of patients who already feel vulnerable, especially in an emergency setting where the stakes feel immediately high.

Yet the mosaic of experiences is not uniformly negative. A notable portion of the feedback highlights moments of outstanding care. Several nurses and physicians are praised for their empathy, attentiveness, and clear communication. Specific names recur: nurses and doctors who "went above and beyond," explained plans of care thoughtfully, or made time to answer questions with patience and respect. Positive remarks often center on doctors who listened, offered explanations, and involved patients and families in decision-making. In these instances, reviewers describe feeling heard, respected, and supported, with gratitude directed toward clinicians who provided reassurance alongside practical treatment.

The contrast between praise and criticism can feel stark, sometimes within the same patient's narrative. There are repeat accusations that certain care experiences were rushed or inattentive: a sense that certain clinicians dismissed concerns or spoke in ways that felt dismissive rather than collaborative. Other reviews recount near-misses or genuine harm, including claims of misdiagnoses, medication errors, or incomplete evaluations that left patients needing a second visit elsewhere to obtain what they believed should have been addressed the first time. One dramatic thread involves a patient who felt their arm was broken but says the initial X-ray view didn't reveal it, only to discover the truth after seeking orthopedic care elsewhere. There are also stories of alleged "drug-seeking" judgments and dismissive attitudes toward patients presenting with serious symptoms, which critics say undermine trust and safety.

Billing, pricing, and the transparency of care costs appear as a distinct theme in several reviews. Some reviewers describe pre-appointment discussions that led to quoted prices and then fear that the final bill would be higher or less predictable than anticipated. The process around out-of-pocket visits, meetings with billing, and the clarity of what services will cost is described as opaque or unsatisfactory by those who felt they were left guessing about charges. One account highlights disappointment with a "meet and greet" that led to a billed amount after a short encounter, raising questions about what customers should expect to pay for initial assessments.

Amid the tension, there are voices that reflect hope for system-level improvement, with callers urging that the hospital be observed or investigated for broader issues in the ER. Some reviewers acknowledge that the hospital has real strengths in clinical knowledge and procedural care, while others argue that the same place often fails in organization, communication, and consistent safety practices. The calls for accountability span patients who want thorough reviews of patient experiences to families who worry about loved ones who rely on this facility in emergencies.

In the end, the volume of voices makes clear that experiences at CHI St. Gabriel's Hospital are not monolithic. For some, the staff's kindness, expertise, and bedside manner offer moments of relief and trust during what is often one of the most stressful times in life. For others, the same environment feels slow, frustrating, and dangerously insufficient, with long waits, questionable cleanliness, poor communication, and doubts about safety and quality. The spectrum speaks to systemic challenges that can overshadow even the best intentions of thoughtful clinicians, and it underscores the need for ongoing attention to ER operations, patient safety, and transparent, compassionate care.

For prospective patients and families, the takeaway is nuanced. If you are facing an urgent medical issue, you may encounter both compassionate, competent care and significant delays or communication gaps. If you can, seek out conversations with staff about expected wait times, diagnostic plans, and discharge processes, and consider how to advocate for yourself or a loved one when complex symptoms are involved. The stories collectively argue for a hospital environment where excellence in medical knowledge is matched by meticulous attention to safety, cleanliness, patient rights, and clear, respectful communication.

This part of Little Falls, Minnesota offers a convenient and welcoming environment for senior living. With several hospitals and clinics in close proximity, residents have access to quality healthcare services. There are also various places of worship for spiritual fulfillment, as well as parks for outdoor recreational activities. The area boasts a variety of cafes and restaurants, providing ample dining options for seniors. Additionally, the proximity to pharmacies ensures easy access to medications and healthcare needs. Overall, this neighborhood provides a well-rounded community with essential amenities for comfortable senior living.

Hospitals

• St Gabriel's Hospital (0 miles)
• CHI St. Gabriel's Health (0 miles)
• Centracare Clinic (0 miles)
• St Cloud Hospital (0.1 miles)
• Pierz Family Clinic (12.4 miles)
• Community Medical Center (12.5 miles)

Physicians

• Asnis, Maxine S, Md - Family Medical Center (0 miles)
• Family Medical Center - Little Falls (0.1 miles)
• Little Falls Orthopedics (0.3 miles)
• St Camillus Place (0.3 miles)
• Vision Cents Optical (0.6 miles)
• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (0.7 miles)
• Northern Pines Mental Health Center (1.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Franciscan Sisters (0.1 miles)
• First United Church (0.2 miles)
• St Mary's Church (0.5 miles)
• St Mary's-Religious Education Office (0.5 miles)
• St Mary's Parish (0.9 miles)
• Our Lady Of Lourdes Catholic Church (0.9 miles)
• Little Falls Alliance Church (1.8 miles)

Parks

• Maple Island Park (0.5 miles)
• Kiwanis Ball Fields (1.1 miles)
• Charles A. Lindbergh State Park (1.4 miles)
• Royalton Splash Park (9.1 miles)
• Rice Playground & Ice arena (16.3 miles)
• St Mathias Park (18.3 miles)
• Hilman Township (21.2 miles)

Theaters

• Falls Cinema (0.6 miles)

Cafes

• Reality Roasters Coffee Company (0.7 miles)
• Caribou Coffee (1.1 miles)
• W Side Cafe (5.3 miles)
• The Coffee Haus (12.4 miles)
• Uncle B's Cafe & Catering (13.9 miles)
• Old Creamery Cafe (16.3 miles)
• BoHo Cafe (16.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Donna's Big John's Drive-In (0.8 miles)
• Subway (1 miles)
• Burger King (1 miles)
• Little Fiesta (1.1 miles)
• Arby's (1.3 miles)
• Taco John's (1.3 miles)
• Perkins Restaurant and Bakery (1.3 miles)

Transportation

• BNSF Railway Co. (0.9 miles)
• Airport Lounge (1.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1 miles)
• Coborn's Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• Thrifty White Pharmacy (12.4 miles)