Sampson Regional Medical Ctr

Pros

• Dr. Deam is described as kind, considerate, and genuinely concerned for the patient's well?being, going above and beyond and serving as a gold standard.
• Mary the ER nurse is praised as wonderful, and the entire ER staff - from check-in to lab, physician, and nurse - is described as wonderful.
• The Team Sampson is thanked for their care.
• The preop through postop team is described as kind and professional.
• Dr. Beam and nurse Megan are praised for patient?centered care that made the patient feel seen and heard.
• The Labor and Delivery team is thanked for professionalism, kindness, and dedication, with special praise for Dr. Hyman and for nurses Jessica, Abi, and Ashley.
• ICU staff are described as professional, informative, and kind and respectful; nurses Kassie Johnson and Sharon Honrine are singled out for their care.
• Nurses Ashley, Vanessa, Cameron, and Dr. Miller are praised for professional, respectful, and excellent care during labor induction.

Cons

• An ER patient was kept in the hallway for extended periods and waited hours for a room, with tests delayed while their child struggled to breathe and there was little timely information.
• A patient stated the hospital does not offer MRIs or ultrasounds and that staff told them the ER is for emergencies only, with dismissive remarks about patient care.
• A parent claimed their son was repeatedly misdiagnosed with pneumonia by the same doctor, despite kidney disease, and was not advised to coordinate with the kidney doctor.
• A person reported trying to file a complaint about a doctor but never received a callback.
• A reviewer described the ER as the worst, with doctors and nurses treating patients as if they did not matter and a severe spinal infection going untreated, requiring transfer to Duke.
• A family member described lazy staff and poor communication, including difficulty getting basic updates and witnessing a patient in distress in the waiting area.
• During COVID, a patient with leg swelling and a toe ulcer did not receive antibiotics or proper wound care for hours, leading to partial toe loss.

Review

The collection of experiences from this hospital paints a real portrait of a facility that can be extraordinary in moments of compassion and skill, yet strata of frustration and gaps in communication too often color the patient journey. Across ER visits, labor and delivery, ICU, and specialty care, there are clear standouts - clinicians who embody attentiveness, expertise, and genuine concern - alongside accounts of long waits, miscommunications, and frustrations with privacy and access. Taken together, they tell a story of a hospital that has the capacity to excel but sometimes struggles to translate performance into consistently smooth patient experiences.

Several accounts highlight a glide-path of excellence when the right providers are involved. In one recent ER visit, a patient described Dr. Deam as "the gold standard for which many should aspire," noting kindness, consideration, and a palpable concern for the patient's well-being that went "above and beyond." The accompanying nurse, Mary, was singled out for outstanding care, with the overall team - from check-in through lab work to final physician interaction - being described as wonderful. The praise extended to the broader Sampson staff who delivered care with warmth and professionalism, illustrating what patient-centered care can look like when the team is aligned and attentive.

But the same ER environment also elicited strong critique when time and privacy became major issues. Some families reported being called back for vitals and then left in hallways for extended periods, even when a patient's breathing was compromised or a test had been ordered. The frustration was compounded by repeated waits for a room, with the hospital reportedly telling families "probably not" to get a private space and then placing patients in a "box room" after additional delays. In these moments, patients described feeling overlooked, with test results arriving slowly or not at all, and with a lack of timely updates about diagnoses or next steps. The sentiment was clear: when urgency is high, privacy and clear communication cannot feel like afterthoughts.

A recurring thread across several reviews is concern about resource constraints and inconsistent messaging about what the ER can or cannot do. Several families recounted being told that certain tests - like MRIs or ultrasounds - were not available at the hospital or that the ER should be reserved for emergencies only, with staff offering explanations that left some patients feeling discouraged or misinformed. There were mentions of people feeling abandoned by the system - being told to follow up with a different facility or to contact a physician elsewhere, and finding it hard to get straightforward answers when a loved one's condition was uncertain or deteriorating.

Within these narratives there are vivid episodes regarding communication gaps and care coordination, including patients who felt they were left out of critical decisions. One account described a child with a respiratory episode who later received a walking pneumonia diagnosis from a pediatrician after returning home; the ER's assessment had missed the mark, and the parent urged better lab testing and follow-up in future visits. Another long-running concern involved a family seeking clarity and updates about a loved one who had experienced drug-related mental health issues; conflicting information, delays, and frustration with follow-through created a sense that the care was inconsistent and not as coordinated as families hoped.

Yet amid the sobering critiques, there are many shining moments of care - especially around surgery, ICU, and labor and delivery. A patient who underwent arm surgery spoke highly of the entire team: preoperative through postoperative staff were "kind and professional," with special praise for Dr. Moriarty and the operating team. In the ICU, families offered heartfelt appreciation for the professionalism and kindness of the night-shift crew, specifically naming nurses Kassie Johnson and Sharon Honrine for their warmth and humor that helped ease stress during a difficult time. These descriptions underscore the hospital's capacity to deliver excellent clinical care and compassionate bedside manner when teams function smoothly.

Labor and delivery narratives were particularly affirming. One letter from a family expressed deep gratitude for the entire Labor and Delivery team, especially Dr. Hyman, whose care was described as loving and dignified. The nurses were singled out - Jessica, Abi, and Ashley - whose "dedication, love, and support" made the experience substantially smoother. The family's gratitude extended to the broader team who guided them through what could have been a scary journey, turning it into a memorable, positive experience. In another delivery scenario, nurses Ashley, Vanessa, and Cameron, along with Dr. Miller, were praised for their professionalism and excellent care, earning a perfect 10 out of 10 from the patient.

A few sentences stood out as reminders that patient experiences are not monolithic; they reflect a spectrum of outcomes depending on who is involved and when. There are testimonies that the ER can feel rushed or opaque, with some patients feeling unseen or unheard, while other days produce clinicians who make people feel "seen and heard" in a way that can transform a difficult night into a manageable one. The hospital's strength seems to lie in its people - the clinicians who bring expertise and patience to tough situations, and the nurses and aides who quietly uphold a standard of care that patients remember long after their discharge.

In summary, what emerges is a hospital that harbors great potential and notable success stories, anchored by providers who demonstrate empathy and clinical excellence. The most memorable praise is reserved for those moments when Dr. Deam, Dr. Moriarty, Dr. Hyman, Dr. Beam, and the cited nurses - and many others - deliver care that makes patients feel valued, heard, and better cared for. But the darker notes - long waits, privacy concerns in crowded hallways, inconsistent access to certain diagnostic tools, and the distress of families navigating uncertain diagnoses - point to systemic gaps that can undermine the patient experience. Addressing those gaps - improving triage flow, ensuring prompt communication of test results, and reinforcing privacy and coordination - could help more of these stories tilt toward the consistently exceptional care that already shines in parts of the hospital.