Providence Hospital

Pros

• Tiffany at the MUSC information booth was extremely helpful and went above and beyond to guide the echocardiogram visit.
• Monique in outpatient labs was very friendly and professional.
• Nurse Latoya set the bar high, and the staff continued to raise it.
• The patient felt they were treated exceptionally well at MUSC.
• The ED staff and EP cardiology team were compassionate, professional, and excellent.
• Lea Ann in the CT Lab was fantastic and very caring.
• The front desk receptionist was kind and efficient, and Monique in the lab drew six vials with minimal discomfort.

Cons

• The campus is terrible.
• The ER staff isn't that great.
• The hospital is a joke and a lie to patients, with rude staff.
• Worst hospital ever.
• They forgot to feed the patient's mother.
• The room was dirty, with trash on the floor, stains, and fruit flies.
• In a 12-hour shift, the nurse only visits the patient three times and can't do what she's supposed to.
• Waiting over two hours for tube feeding and IV care is unacceptable.
• The billing department harasses patients over bills that shouldn't exist.

Review

Across a broad spectrum of experiences, MUSC in Columbia and its related services drew both warm praise and sharp criticism from patients and families. Several reviewers emphasized how much they appreciated individual staff members who went above and beyond to help them navigate care, while others recounted delays, communication gaps, and administrative frustrations that dampened otherwise positive clinical encounters. Taken together, the comments paint a hospital system where compassionate, attentive care can shine through in many moments, yet where operational and administrative challenges can significantly color the patient experience.

On the positive side, several staff members stood out for their kindness, efficiency, and patient-centered care. Tiffany at the information booth was described as extremely helpful, going beyond to guide a patient to the echocardiogram location. Monique in outpatient labs earned especially high marks for being friendly, professional, and easy to work with, with several patients expressing affection for her care. Latoya, a nurse, was singled out for setting a high standard and helping elevate the overall experience for the patient and family, with other team members following that example. Across the experiences shared, many patients noted "five-star" bedside manner from doctors and nurses, especially in cardiac care, where empathetic, attentive treatment made a meaningful difference.

In particular, several reviews highlight the ER, ICU, and cardiology teams as capable, compassionate, and thorough. One patient who had a long hospitalization in the ER, ICU, and cardiac floors felt desperately lucky to have received "care and compassion" throughout and described MUSC as a place where they could finally feel safe and understood. Other patients and family members called out specific individuals for their excellent care and communication: Sharon, Payton, and Juliette in the ED and EP settings, Jim the EP tech, and Dr. Gottipaty, all noted for their professional kindness. Lea Ann in the CT lab was described as fantastic and caring, and a patient praised the overall nursing staff in the cardiac waiting area for their supportive presence. A reviewer who had outpatient surgery at MUSC Downtown also praised the nurse and anesthesiologist for going "over and beyond" to ensure comfort.

Yet alongside these strong testimonials about care quality, there are equally emphatic accounts of frustration with the hospital's processes. Families recount waiting hours from arrival to when a patient could be moved back for procedures or tests, sometimes with no clear updates during the interim. One family reported arriving at 9 a.m. and not being taken back until 11:15 a.m., with a later screen malfunction in the waiting area and no reliable information about their loved one's status in surgery. Another reviewer described poor communication as a recurring theme, citing delays in appointments and testing, failed or missing call-backs, and significant uncertainty about the patient's condition and progress.

Cleanliness and room conditions also emerged as recurring concerns. Several accounts described rooms that were not properly cleaned, trash on the floor, stains, and even fruit flies, creating distress for patients and families already under stress. In one especially troubling report, a family described a nurse or aide not turning a patient regularly, delays in delivering tube feedings, and skin breakdown after a short stay. In another instance, a family member had to intervene to address a feeding issue and to push for timely care. These conditions, when paired with long waits and perceived understaffing, contributed to a sense that basic comfort and safety needs were not being consistently met.

Billing, payments, and customer service also left a sour note for some. A patient flagged a $3,900 bill for a routine blood test and a small amount of medication, followed by aggressive collection attempts and rude behavior from billing staff. Complaints included being left on hold for long periods, being hung up on, and feeling harassed about charges that seemed misapplied or unnecessary. Even amid these financial frictions, some reviewers acknowledged small positive touches - complimentary coffee and valet parking - indicating that the hospital environment can have pleasant, thoughtful extras that balance the harder experiences.

A particularly sensitive thread in the reviews concerns psychiatric access and patient advocacy. One family claimed MUSC lied about access to their child's psychiatric team, alleging financial motivation and a preference for a different psychiatric team that could generate revenue rather than prioritizing the patient's established trusted provider. This critique raised important questions about coordination of care, patient autonomy, and the role of financial considerations in decision-making, underscoring the need for clear communication and patient-centered pathways when a patient requires cross-disciplinary input.

Overall, the sentiment reflects a hospital system capable of delivering outstanding, compassionate care through many of its clinicians and front-line staff, especially in cardiology, ER, and outpatient settings. However, the collective reviews also reveal meaningful opportunities for improvement in patient communication, wait times, room cleanliness, consistent staffing, and billing interactions. Addressing these operational and administrative gaps could help translate the high-quality clinical care and the evident dedication of many MUSC staff into a consistently positive experience for every patient and family who comes through its doors.

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)