Providence Hospital in Columbia, SC

Pros

• Peyton, Dr Ralph, Shawna Stevenson, Malik, and Kalijah were very nice.
• The entire staff is above and beyond in everything they do.
• Sara is the best, most compassionate nurse.
• The doctor was wonderful, and the entire staff was friendly, with smiles greeting them everywhere.
• Monique in outpatient labs was very friendly and very professional.
• Latoya started by setting the bar high and everyone that followed keeps raising it.
• Bowie the therapy dog brings smiles and joy to patients and staff.
• The front desk receptionist in the atrium was kind and efficient.

Cons

• One reviewer called the hospital the absolute worst they have ever experienced, citing basic care and rude staff.
• A reviewer complained about poor communication and hours-long waiting with no updates during surgery.
• Another person stated the ER was dirty and understaffed, with nurses ignoring the call button and patients left in pain.
• Multiple reviews described rooms and facilities as unclean, with trash on the floor, flies, and unsanitary conditions.
• The food was repeatedly described as horrid, with meals missing items and being inedible.
• Administrative staff were labeled extremely rude and lacking bedside manner, with poor communication from higher-ups.
• Billing practices were criticized as confusing, with perceived overbilling and aggressive attempts to collect payments.
• Imaging and scheduling issues were noted as frequent delays, double-bookings, and lack of clear plans for procedures.

Review

Providence Hospital in Columbia is best suited for families that prioritize strong cardiac and acute-care capability and are prepared to advocate actively for their loved one. The facility houses skilled cardiology and surgical teams, and several patients report excellent bedside care from specific nurses and doctors who go “above and beyond” in compassionate, attentive contact. When a loved one needs a heart-related procedure, ICU-level vigilance, or rapid ER intake on a good day, Providence can deliver care that feels personal and capable. The message is not that the hospital is uniformly superb, but rather that certain units and staffers can shine, providing a reliable core of medical competence amid a broader, more variable experience.

Those who should consider alternatives are families that cannot tolerate inconsistent communication, long waits, or frequent gaps in basic courtesy. Reviews repeatedly flag problems with ER throughput, unclear updates, and front-desk or administrative rudeness that leaves families feeling left in the dark. Cleanliness and meal quality also swing widely, with some patients describing rooms and meals as below expectations for a hospital setting. Billing friction and difficulty reaching a responsive administrator are persistent themes for many post-visit reflections. If predictable communication, steady housekeeping, and uniform customer service matter as much as clinical skill, exploring Prisma Health campuses (Richland or Baptist) or other regional providers like Lexington may yield a calmer, more consistent experience.

The strongest positives come from frontline care, nurses and clinicians who deliver clear, empathetic communication and expert hands-on treatment. A number of reviewers highlight individual caregivers (for example, dedicated ICU and respiratory staff, as well as the imaging team) who demonstrate professionalism, warmth, and knowledge under pressure. Cardiologists and surgeons receive steady praise from families navigating complex decisions, and certain recovery nurses are singled out for teaching patients and families what to expect post-procedure. The presence of care-focused fixtures like therapy-dog visits and a few exceptionally capable teams reinforces that Providence can offer high-quality medical competency when the right staff are in place. These pockets of excellence help offset the stress of the hospital’s more inconsistent days.

Yet the cons cut deeper and broader than the pros can balance. The ER, in particular, is a recurring pain point: hours-long waits, questions about why care is delayed, and reports of rushed or inattentive triage. Families frequently describe communication breakdowns, phone lines, waiting room notices, and updates that arrive too late to feel meaningful. Staffing shortages appear as a throughline, producing noisy floors, delayed medications, and uneven attention to critical needs. Room cleanliness and housekeeping are uneven, with some patients encountering dirty linens, unaddressed messes, or delayed basic amenities. Food quality and timely nourishment are common complaints, with meals described as unappetizing and inconsistent. Finally, administrative friction, unknown billing amounts, difficulty contacting the billing office, and contentious disputes over charges, leaves families wary even when clinical care is solid.

The key question for a decision maker is whether the hospital’s clinical strengths justify the operational inconsistencies. The answer hinges on what matters most in a given situation. For acute cardiac events, or when a loved one needs proactive, specialized observation from a dedicated team, Providence can be a strong choice thanks to clinicians who perform with competence and compassion. However, for a family seeking uniform daily experience, where every shift feels precise, every meal is reliable, and every update arrives promptly, the risk profile is higher here than at some competing systems. The good care delivered by standout nurses and physicians can be a major offset in high-acuity moments, but it does not consistently translate into a uniformly positive day-to-day hospital experience.

Practical guidance for families weighing Providence is to approach with a plan: request assignment to teams that have earned positive, consistent feedback, especially on the floors most likely to manage a loved one’s recovery. Prepare to advocate for timely updates and direct communication with physicians, and consider designating one trusted family member or friend as care coordinator to bridge gaps between shifts. Verify imaging and procedure timelines in advance and be prepared to nudge staff when information stalls. Have a backup plan in mind, another Prisma Health facility or a competing system, so emergencies don’t become spent efforts in persuasion or frustration. If Providence is chosen, use the favorable units as anchors: trust the cardiac team and recovery nurses while monitoring the ER and administrative experiences closely.

In sum, Providence Hospital presents a mixed landscape: genuine clinical strength and exceptional bedside care in select teams, counterbalanced by systemic gaps in communication, consistency, and daily operations. Families that can tolerate, and even expect, a variable environment will find outstanding clinical talent to lean on, particularly in cardiology and post-procedure recovery. Those prioritizing steady, predictable day-to-day experiences and friction-free administrative and dining services may prefer alternative options where staffing, communication, and patient workflow are more consistently refined. The decision should center on the priority given to targeted medical excellence versus uniform day-to-day experience, with a clear plan to engage proactively and a ready backup if the hospital’s weaker days outpace its strongest ones.

Located in Columbia, South Carolina, this area offers a variety of healthcare options including Palmetto Cardiology Associates, Midlands Pulmonary, Critical Care, & Sleep Medicine, and several pharmacies such as Hawthorne Pharmacy and Kroger Pharmacy. For dining options, residents can indulge in local favorites like Waffle House, Chick-Fil-A, and Pawleys Front Porch. Additionally, there are plenty of coffee shops like Starbucks and Drip for those who enjoy a morning pick-me-up. For outdoor enthusiasts, nearby parks such as Hollywood Park and the Columbia Canal & Riverfront Park offer opportunities for leisurely walks and scenic views. Residents can also find spiritual fulfillment at places of worship like Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and St Joseph's Catholic Church. Overall, this area provides access to essential services and amenities that cater to the needs of seniors considering senior living options in Columbia.

Physicians

• Palmetto Cardiology Associates (0.1 miles)
• Midlands Pulmonary, Critical Care, & Sleep Medicine (0.1 miles)
• Holly K Smith - Providence Columbia Medical Associates (0.1 miles)
• Columbia Medical Associates (0.1 miles)
• Providence Thoracic & Cardiovascular Associates (0.1 miles)
• Joseph J. Lawton (0.1 miles)
• Miller & Flynn Optometrist (0.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Sleep Med (0.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Hawthorne Pharmacy (0.1 miles)
• Judy, Andrea (0.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• Palmeto Senior Care: John D Marsh (1.3 miles)
• Kroger Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.2 miles)
• Drip (1.1 miles)
• Starbucks (1.2 miles)
• Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea Park St (1.7 miles)
• The Corner Blend (1.7 miles)
• Starbucks (2.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Waffle House (0.8 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (0.9 miles)
• Pawleys Front Porch (1 miles)
• The Gourmet Shop (1.1 miles)
• Backstreets Grill (1.1 miles)
• Bar None (1.1 miles)
• Craft and Draft (1.2 miles)

Transportation

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (1.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (1.7 miles)
• St Joseph's Catholic Church (1.8 miles)

Parks

• Hollywood Park (1.9 miles)
• Columbia Canal & Riverfront Park (2.2 miles)
• West Columbia Riverwalk (2.7 miles)