Never let this happen to anyone. I think and feel this is an antisemitic story but no matter what it is. A hospital should not let anyone wait with a child in the waiting room of the emergency for over 15 hours, you read correctly 15 + hours!!! Can anyone explain why with such an empty waiting room a 8 year old daughter that was sent in by her doctor as an emergency should suffer so long?

We recently traveled from Yuma, Az to Phoenix Children's Hospital because our 5 year old son had cough & fever for 6 days and 2 weeks post Covid . We knew something was going on & wanted to be seen at a pediatric hospital. As a nurse educator, I was blown away by the triage team. The wait for my son was longer because he was essentially stable & triaged as "yellow ". I watched the triage nurses for 4 hours assess patients constantly. There was never a time that night someone was not in line for triage. They quickly took back potentially life threatening patients right away but also continued to re-assess patients in the waiting room. For non healthcare parents, I imagine the 4.5 hour wait was unacceptable. However, to me I was happy to wait because I knew if my son declined they would take him back right away. We were right where we needed to be & watching the triage team was amazing. Once we got back into a room we were seen by Katrina Rousher, NP. She quickly ordered labs & a chest X-ray. The nurse Karlee Coffeen was equally amazing & quickly put in an IV, drew labs & got him to X-ray. We had a diagnosis of pneumonia in about 1.5 hours. I can't thank these providers enough & I am forever grateful to the care we received at Phoenix Children's hospital. As a nurse educator, it may be useful to post something in the waiting room for patients explaining the triage process and levels. Ideally, this would prevent so many parents going up to ask the staff when they would be getting a room and interrupting the triage process. Thank you Phoenix Children's! Beth Rossell, RN, MSN-ed

If you enjoy wasting your whole day away then this place is for you. Spent 7 hours (and still counting) in the freezing cold waiting room Despite being transferred from another ER with a diagnosis for my baby already in hand (they even called ahead for us since we had already been there For a few hours) The DR at the other ER did not feel comfortable treating my little one as he isn’t a Ped. Specialist. So he thought it better to send us here…. NO SIR! Never have I ever experienced a children’s hospital like this and never will I ever come here again. ***UPDATE*** we spent a total of 13 hours here which is RIDICULOUS!!! I can understand if we needed testing done as those take time, but we had everything we needed in hand when we arrived! 10 hours were Spent in the waiting room alone! There is no sense of urgency there! While waiting, I watched a mom run to the desk saying her kid couldn’t breathe, she spent some time at the desk ( I am not sure what took place) but was ultimately sent back to sit in the waiting room for a few more hours! I am not impressed by this facility at all!! If you can take your kids anywhere else, please do!! What a joke!

I spent 8 hours here today trying to figure out what is wrong with my 15-year-old son. I have zero complaints other than the fact that I was there all day but that was because we needed to wait for an MRI and that was a four hour wait. Every single employee of Phoenix Children’s Hospital was polite professional courteous and communicated with us. I feel badly for families who have to choose the parent that gets to stay because only one can thanks to Covid regulations. Additionally, the cafeteria ROCKS I thought that my chicken quesadilla was bomb diggity and it was cheap! I told my family I’m going to take you down to PCH cafeteria once a week for a night out because the food was that good 😂. THANK YOU PCH for a good ER experience ❤️ .

Here is my review after a few weeks here. Julie, a charge nurse in the NICU at night, is the worst nurse ever. The most disrespectful and unmannered person we have ever interacted with. She made multiple clinical errors, charting errors, and doesn't know how to treat people. Julie has no bedside manners, and she can't handle a baby. After multiple interactions and us observing her, she didn't know how to use or work half of the machines. Including a vital machine...... again, we had to deal with her for multiple weeks. Even multiple other nurses directly told my family how terrible she is. I think PCH needs to do an in-service with her to explain how to treat parents, babies, and other nursing staff. I'd love to discuss our multiple negative and unsafe interactions with Julie, directly with upper management at PCH.

This ER is an absolute DISGRACE. My kid had a life threatening face infection and it took 5 hours to be seen by a doctor. I had the same unusual infection which nearly killed me and hospitalized me for weeks. (due to not receiving timely strong antibiotics, told to me by my infectious disease doctor) My wife explained this to Triage Nurse 2 times. I arrived an hour after, with my hospital paperwork from St Joes, again for same infection, same genes. Every conversation was incompetent and absolute frustrating. Triage nurse refused to look at or even take the paperwork. They truly did not listen, and appearance was they did not care my 4 year old could die. No excuse for 5+ hour wait for a life saving IV. One of my worst life experiences. A stain on Phoenix. These are our kids. I recommend any other emergency room for yours.

Waited 2hrs & they kept putting other patient’s in front of my child. Nurse in front was rude & condescending. And having an attitude bc my 2yo was getting restless. 2hrs is a long time for him to try to sit still. So much for a “Children’s “ hospital. Ridiculous. And why are your nurses on the internet & phone during business hours behind the desk ??! Yeah, do Better!!

Went early in the morning and they had us waiting four hours and then they said it’s going to be longer to be seen, then basically told us that our issue was not a big deal so they keep pushing us back. And the translator agreed to my statement, they didn’t care that we had another child in school that needs to be picked up. So not feeling that important about our issue and our other child is important to us so we had to leave. That’s just great, its all about the money.

Staff didn't know basic concussion Do's and Don't, and we were there for 6 hours with very little interaction or care. Not a great visit. Took us over 3 hours to get into radiology. Then took another 2 hours for them to come in with the results, though they never actually showed me the scan. The nurse and doctor kept telling my kid to watch a movie, and I kept repeatedly telling them we were going to read - because he had a concussion, and you shouldn't watch TV when you have a concussion - but why I am informing the medical staff of this fact. Even if he hadn't had a concussion, it was late at night, and if MOM says "no" to TV - you don't push it. They were aware that he kept vomiting when we checked in, yet they put us super far away from the bathroom, though the rooms next to the bathroom were empty. The discharge papers had the wrong number for the recommended sports medicine clinic for a follow-up visit, so I had to call the main number, and I was on hold for over 33 minutes, in total, only to get a message saying they were unavailable and to leave a message. My time is valuable to me, as the mother of your patient, it should be to you, as well. But given our extensive wait at the hospital and both times I have called in, it is clear that you could care less about my time. In addition, they didn't address all of the issues we were asking about - like the fact that he injured his neck, but by the time we were being discharged it was 3-3.30 am, so I was not really "with it" and just wanted to leave - as no one seemed to know what they were doing. The reason I am giving it two stars was at least they were friendly. However, they do not allow both parents. Wish I would have known that, as we live 40 min away. I would avoid this place, unless absolutely necessary. I know I will.

Would be more than happy to leave zero stars if it were an option. Drove an hour to Phoenix Childrens Hospital because they are “the best” and my 4 year old needed immediate care. Walked into a line out the door and AT LEAST 30 families in the waiting room. Sat for FIVE hours and never got seen. Had to give up and take my son elsewhere. Absolutely appalling. My son had a lot of issues as an infant and Phoenix Childrens was our go-to. They were phenomenal and earned the impeccable reputation they had. Clearly the place has gone downhill since then. Sad to see the state of this ER, no child should have to wait 5 hours or more to be seen, not mine or anyone else’s. Compassion and empathy do not exist here. Please listen to the other negative reviews, they are accurate, take your kiddos somewhere else.

Update: it’s now been 3+ hours and we’re still waiting. I had to ask them to check my baby’s temperature because they don’t seem to care and she’s now got a 103.6 fever. PCH used to be my family’s to go place but honestly I’m the past three years it has been on decline. I get it, covid was not good for anyone anywhere… however, staff does not seem to care that children are waiting for hours to be seen. There is no empathy. I have been in the waiting room for 2+ hours now with my 5 month old daughter. She has been having fevers all day and cannot get under control. Went as high as 103.6 f. For a 5 month old I find that excessive. When I asked approximately how much longer they said “other people have been waiting over 3 hours. You still have 4 people ahead of you.” No, ‘oh I’m sorry but we are super busy and will get to you as soon as possible.’ They pretty much told me to shut up and sit down because other people have been here longer. Needless to say, I will be going elsewhere if we ever need ER services again. Ridiculous. It’s a freaking dee freezer in here:

I prepared for the worst, reading the reviews on here. Just goes to show each experience is different. We arrived today at 12:30pm and were out by 5pm. My child was treated by Ilyssa, NP and his nurse was Jackie. Excellent care provided by both. Kind and compassionate was what we needed after a few rough weeks. My son got blood work, ct and iv in the 4.5 hrs we were there. Thank you again for caring for him.

I had to come leave a review after reading so many negative reviews on Phoenix Childrens ER. My son has an abscess tooth and we felt he needed to be evaluated (in case he needed IV antibiotics)… I sent my husband with my son yesterday after seeing the wait time was 1 hr and 45 min online. My husband kept me updated the entire time, from check in to being seen by the Dr. I was really nervous after reading the reviews but a friend who used to work there told me they’re the best, especially if a child needs an IV. The process from beginning to end was 3 hours and 10 min. Every staff member was kind and knowledgeable. Thankfully no IV was needed but the process was so smooth for our family. Yes, kids were called before my son who arrived after my son but if my child were more severe I’d want him to be called first. If you’re in a time crunch, check the wait time online. But don’t let the reviews scare you. Our experience was great.

Over 4 hours and my daughter still wasn't seen. She was finally taken back after waiting 5 hours. Worst waiting experience here ever! Once in a room, the staff was good, but it shouldn't take so long to be seen. We were worried about appendicitis or we would have left. We almost did. The intake staff were awful and took dozens of children who came after us first. The lobby is freezing! We will not be coming back here.

Please listen to the other reviews and choose a different emergency room for your child. I waited 8 hours in the emergency room with my son last night while he was in extreme pain. I suspect they are severely understaffed. Once we did finally get seen, The doctor assigned to us was extremely unfriendly and cold. I don't think she even attempted to address my son despite him being visibly uncomfortable with his surroundings. I live really close to PCH so it was my first choice, but next time I know to head up to Scottsdale Shea.

Go to another hospital don’t waste your time here. Don’t put your kids through unnecessary discomfort specially when they are sick. I took my boys here to get check one of them was crying, vomiting and coughing non stop took them hours which I knew I was going to wait for in the waiting room but would be worth for them to get check by “professional “. Once in a room I saw the doctor for less than 3minutes didn’t even check my kids no x-rays no exams at all. My kids are asthmatics told me to stop their medication they didn’t needed them left and told me to wait for discharge instructions. An hour later I ask nurse if we were or not getting discharge they had forgot we were there. She goes in to check his vital his heart rate is high, my son throwing up and ghetto nurse telling him to clean up after himself. Hands me the discharge papers. Took them 2 to see there doctor they have MONO….. Thanks Children’s Hospital for allowing diseases to spread.

I took my immune compromised kiddo in. The bed they gave her had blood splatter on the hand trails and all over the side of the bed. The floors where beyond filthy. I got a wipe and passed it on the chair and it was so dirty. Wish this would let me post pics. I was so disappointed

I've had numbness in my legs and hips for 5 months now without any diagnosis and no one at PCH seemed very concerned. I was in the waiting room for 14 hours and was told not to eat or drink in case the doctors wanted to do an MRI. After getting into the room, I talked to a few different doctors and nurses but they told us that they couldn't do anything and gave me some Tylenol for my back pain. They gave me a referral for neurology but they can't get me in until over 3 months from now. I waited 14 hours for barely an hour with an actual doctor. I came to the emergency room because I had an emergency and it was treated like a regular doctor's visit with an incredibly long wait. The rest of the room was filled with coughing, sick children and in the 14 hours that I was there, I didn't see anyone do so much as wipe down a seat. Not once. The floors in both the waiting room and my personal room were dirty and unclean. I'm unimpressed. The staff at the front were very nice though.

We have had great experiences with multiple departments at this hospital, but the ER is not one of them. The waiting room was an absolute nightmare. People were packed in on top of each other, with people coughing everywhere. We were stuck in this for 4 hours. Not surprisingly, I came down with COVID 3 days later.

PCH (cardiology) has been my lifesavers right from birth...literally! Talk about making an entrance into the world! But hey, that's where PCH swooped in and saved the day. I did wander off to another cardiologist when I hit 18, thinking maybe a change of scenery was in order. Well, let's just say it felt like I was lost in a sea of numbers over there. But I knew exactly where I truly belonged - back at PCH! The experiences at PCH have been nothing short of exceptional. Their staff? Absolute rockstars! They not only take the time to explain every teeny-tiny aspect of my treatment, but they do it in a way that even I can understand. Trust me, I'm no medical pro, but they always have my back, answering every single question I throw at them. PCH doesn't just have a place in my heart, they've got the whole cardio wing! These guys are the real deal - dedicated, skilled, and they genuinely care about their patients. They've got heart in more ways than one!

Waited 4 and a half hours in the waiting room with my friend who has horrible chest and ovary pain. He got vitals done and they only took him back once he said he felt like he was going to have a heart attack and faint. Terrible experience, won't be coming back.

Cant really blame these guys for the amount of time it takes to get through the er. Nurses are quitting everywhere so we are lucky to have them. However it is a very very long wait. We spent 15 hours there and almost the whole time was waiting for the doctor to come see our son. Then they said he qas pk and took another two hours to be discharged. Dont go here when a kid gets a cold or flu. You will regret it as you will wait hours and hours to get help.

Came twice for my daughter. She got seen pretty quick for being an emergency room. I would say most staff was nice. One lady, don't know her name, didn't have the nicest attitude. Doctors were awesome and nurses were the best! I'm thankful I can take my kids here for any emergency. The nurses let me know that no matter what, I'm not a disturbance to them if I bring my kids for certain things. One told me "you know them better than us and if you think there's something wrong, bring your kiddos in and we'll take care of them". You don't know how much that meant to me and my little ones ❤️

First I’d like to say that I absolutely love PCH when it comes to their departments that specialize in various medical conditions. However, when it comes to their emergency room… absolute trash. My child had a serious injury (apparently not serious to them), & had us wait for 6 hours while my son could’ve been getting a serious infection from his wound. 6 hours! Would’ve been longer, but we left & found another PCH location that was much more efficient. Being told that they don’t know when your child will be seen & that there are a few people ahead of you while you literally watch others who came in HOURS after you be taken back for care before you.. it’s unreal. For those who are reading this, please consider me a reliable source, because my feedback/review is objective, unbiased, & pure facts. Do not take your child here if they’re not going to be transported to the ER via ambulance.. if you do, be prepared to wait for half of the day. They should be ashamed for the lack of efficiency. Very disappointing.

My wife and I took our daughter here because it’s supposed to be a good hospital. Their Covid policy is 1 parent per child. What a JOKE!!

Yes, I was welcomed to the 7th floor by Alice. We also had great service and care from Lindsay. Lindsay went above and beyond her busy day to assure I was educated and knowledgeable to feel comfortable with equipment and procedures for home setting. She arranged a class with Kelli which was so helpful. I am so grateful for all the staff that were involved because it was an amazing experience although the circumstance is an unfortunate event that lead is here. Vanessa was so kind and sweet and connected well with my daughter. It is always comforting to know that staff are helpful with each other. I appreciate those who assisted with calls when the nurse was not available at times. Very kind and attentive team. Thank you Ana from parking Lot attendant. You deserve a supervisory position and salary. Great customer service and always helpful and smart

No one wants to end up in the ER but PCH made the best of it. Staff was beyond helpful, friendly and informative. My son was taken care of and had labs and testing done all in a reasonable amount of time. This is the best ER we've encountered and are beyond satisfied with the treatment received. Also, the check-in process was seamless. Very impressed.

This hospital emergency room has got to be the worst in the nation. They hold you like a jail cell. All you do is wait. Gonna start pushing the nurse button every 5 min.

The worst experience i have ever had in a hospital. My son had a broken wrist he was crying for 2 hours in the ER. They did not do anything to help him. Multiple times i asked for help with the receptionist and no one helped me. I walked out of there angry, with teary eyes,and disappointed. Looking for another hospital. I hope I never need to visit children's hospital ever again..

The absolute worst children's ER I have ever been to. Referred 3 times and each time sat for almost 6 hours before leaving. Why get referred if you never get seen??? Also, who ever is in charge of the scheduling should be fired! I would rather drive to Yuma then come back here again. One nurse was so rude about calling names and would say it so quietly that it makes you think they don't even want to see patients.

So there is no problem with the quality of care that is delivered. The care teams were very helpful and provided excellent treatment. The big problem with this hospital is that the staff has a lack of communication. Everyone here has a different Idea on what the rules are and aren't. There is no uniform order of care or information. This in turn creates waits that are longer than needed and that waiting time is an uncomfortable place for the one you love. This is probably the only place in Phoenix that delivers this quality of care but the drawbacks of this place are overwhelming and unfair.

Have been in this ER 2 times this month, and it’s the saddest excuse for an ER that I’ve ever seen. My 4 year son spent many hours waiting to even be triaged, at which time he waited in horrible pain and a 104 fever without care from the doctor. Both visits have been horrible and they either need more doctors or new management.

Always nice, friendly, and professional. I had the best hospitality ever here.

Best children's hospital ever!! Dustin the respiratory therapist was amazing! Doctors were quick, attentive, nurses were very friendly! Staff was wonderful and quick!! Would recommend 100x over! Thank you Phoenix Children's Hospital Emergency!!