Tri County Hospital

Pros

• Compared with Twin Cities hospitals, this facility was superb.
• The patient's room was great and the facility was spotlessly clean.
• The support staff were knowledgeable and very responsive to requests.
• The doctor was a great communicator who took extra time to gather missing family history, and her analytical skills were impressive.
• They left feeling that the hospital was providing the best possible care.
• All staff were pleasant, respectful, and informative, and listened to concerns.

Cons

• Reviewers describe the facility as unprofessional and lacking trust in the staff.
• Patients felt their concerns were ignored and not listened to.
• The hospital is characterized as one of the worst healthcare facilities, with no care or concern.
• Doctors are described as condescending and arrogant.
• There are reports of discrimination related to service animals and ADA compliance.
• The facility is accused of corruption and overpriced services, with alleged billing abuses.
• The billing department is inaccessible, relying only on voicemail and fax for complaints.
• Some reviewers allege staff lied or misinformed patients to extract more money.
• ER wait times can be extremely long with little communication or explanation.
• Patients report being accused of wrongdoing by staff.

Review

A wide range of experiences paints a complex and often troubling picture of this facility, especially in its emergency and urgent-care operations. A large portion of the feedback centers on a sense of unprofessionalism and dissatisfaction with how patients are treated, listened to, and supported during urgent health concerns. Several reviewers describe encounters that felt rushed, dismissive, or outright uncaring, with phrases like "utterly appalling," "not listened to at all," and "no care, no concern." In contrast, a small number of comments acknowledge that some staff members are capable, attentive, and professional, but these positive notes are not the dominant theme and are often overshadowed by complaints about the overall experience.

Many critics specifically flag communication as the core problem. They report that their concerns were overlooked or minimized, and that important information was not solicited or integrated into care. One reviewer articulates a strongly negative experience by saying their concerns were "not addressed," while another laments that the staff seemed to ignore what patients had to say about their own health. The sentiment that patients were not being heard is echoed repeatedly, with several accounts describing a sense that doctors and nurses were not listening or taking sufficient time to explain diagnoses, tests, or next steps.

Billing and cost issues emerge as another persistent thread in the reviews. Several patients recount being faced with large or unclear charges, sometimes after extensive testing. One account mentions thousands of dollars in costs and accuses the hospital of deception or unnecessary procedures. Others complain that the billing department is hard to reach - "only voice mail and fax" - and that bills cannot be adjusted or explained satisfactorily. There are explicit accusations that the facility runs up charges without transparent justification and that patients are left to navigate confusing or opaque billing practices after stressful health events.

Equally forceful are allegations of discrimination and ADA-related mistreatment. A number of reviewers describe a hostile or discriminatory experience involving a service animal and accessibility rules, and one person reports felony discrimination to the Department of Justice with a civil-rights attorney. The tone becomes deeply charged as people recount being told they could not bring a service dog or wheelchair into certain areas, with some charging that staff lacked the training or knowledge to respond appropriately to disability-related needs. These episodes contribute to a broader sense that legal and ethical expectations were not respected, leaving witnesses and patients furious and frustrated.

Several narratives recount highly distressing personal experiences, including accusations of being mistreated or blamed for outcomes beyond a patient's control. One account describes being forced into an ambulance against their wishes, followed by a cascade of costly tests and a perception that the team respected neither the patient's autonomy nor their financial situation. Another patient describes a fear that their condition was not taken seriously, culminating in a perception that care was sanitized to justify billing. In one particularly charged episode, staff were accused of accusing a spouse of wrongdoing and failing to provide the assistance requested, intensifying a stressful situation for an already vulnerable person.

Amidst the negative reports, there are glowingly positive observations that provide a counterpoint to the prevailing frustration. Some reviewers attest that staff in certain roles - nursing, support personnel, or particular physicians - were attentive, knowledgeable, and responsive to requests. There are mentions of clean and well-kept rooms, and of clinicians who took time to gather important history or to communicate clearly. A few reviews note that other facilities in the region or in larger cities are preferable on certain metrics, yet still acknowledge that, in some respects, this hospital can deliver effective care when interactions with particular staff members go well.

A few comments offer a contrasting verdict on the overall experience, claiming that the facility can be acceptable in comparison to certain other regional hospitals. For instance, some reviewers who have experienced emergencies elsewhere in the Twin Cities describe this hospital as "superb" by comparison, largely praising the cleanliness and the capability of the care team in those moments. Others, however, stress that any positives are the exception, and that the pattern of long waits in the ER, perceived indifference, and inconsistent quality of care remains a dominant concern for many patients and families.

Taken together, the reviews present a facility where patient experiences are highly polarized. There are clear complaints about unlistened-to concerns, dismissive attitudes, and practices that some feel are driven by cost rather than care. There are also instances of positive, patient-centered care where doctors and nurses were communicative, thorough, and empathetic. The themes of wait times, accessibility, and billing complexity recur across many accounts, and allegations of discrimination and misuse of ADA guidelines add a troubling dimension to the overall impression. For anyone considering care here, these accounts suggest approaching with caution, seeking second opinions when possible, and preparing to engage actively with the care team and billing staff to clarify expectations, rights, and options.

This part of Wadena, Minnesota offers a convenient and accessible community with a range of amenities and services to support senior living. With multiple pharmacies, hospitals, restaurants, places of worship, transportation options, cafes, parks, and physicians in close proximity, residents have everything they need within reach. The area boasts a variety of dining options including fast-food chains like McDonald's and Burger King as well as local cafes like Owly Coffee Co. Additionally, there are several places of worship for spiritual fulfillment and numerous parks for outdoor recreation. For healthcare needs, there are multiple pharmacies and hospitals nearby as well as various physicians' offices available for medical care. Overall, this neighborhood provides a comfortable and well-rounded environment for seniors looking to settle down in Wadena.

Pharmacies

• Thrifty White Pharmacy (0 miles)
• Super One Foods (0.3 miles)
• Super One Foods (0.5 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Seip Drug (12.5 miles)
• Seip Drug (12.7 miles)
• Seip Drug (17.1 miles)

Theaters

• Cozy Theatre Manager Line (0.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Tri County Hospital Patients (0.1 miles)
• Tri-County Hospital Foundation (1.5 miles)
• Lakewood Health System (19.4 miles)

Restaurants

• Laura J Duchene MD (0.1 miles)
• Four Seas Buffet (0.2 miles)
• McDonald's (0.2 miles)
• Pizza Hut (0.3 miles)
• Burger King (0.4 miles)
• Owly Coffee Co (0.4 miles)
• Subway (0.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Jehovah's Witnesses (0.3 miles)
• Epicenter Church (0.4 miles)
• St Helen's Episcopal Church (0.5 miles)
• Wadena Alliance Church (1.2 miles)
• Wadena SDA Church (1.5 miles)
• Southbrook Baptist Church Garbc (1.7 miles)
• Old Country Church (5.8 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (0.3 miles)
• Friendly Rider Transit (0.4 miles)
• U-Haul (1.3 miles)
• Dewey's Taxidermy (1.7 miles)
• Wadena Airport (4.6 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (13 miles)
• Amtrak-Staples (17.3 miles)

Cafes

• Peet's Coffee and Tea (0.5 miles)
• Eagles Cafe (12.6 miles)
• Day By Day Cafe (17.4 miles)

Parks

• Bark Park (0.5 miles)
• Sunnybrook (0.8 miles)
• Blacks Grove Park (0.9 miles)
• Tapley Park (1.3 miles)
• Verndale Park (3.2 miles)
• Cottingham Park (15.8 miles)
• Staples Community Center (17.2 miles)

Physicians

• Johnson Family Spine Clinic (12.6 miles)
• Bertha Medical Clinic (12.7 miles)
• Midwest Family Vision (17.3 miles)