32 replies to this topic

[newcomer]

Hi again. First, thanks for all the great help that you folks have offered. I have one more question before I make the decision one way or the other to relocate to Folsom. How is the Health Care in Folsom? My mother who is 80 lives with my family. She is doing well, but has a cardiac condition, which needs to be monitored. She had a quadruple bypass six years ago. I love my mom and want to make sure that I will have access to quality care for her. Thank you.

[Farley]

All I can say is that I am a member of Kaiser Permanente which is located on Iron Point Road. However, my main doctor with Kaiser is located in Rancho Cordova which is 15 minutes away from Folsom.

I am over 65 and therefore on Medicare A & B. I am also a member of Kaiser's Senior Advantage. My monthly premium is $50.00 per month. I am completely satisfied with Kasier.

Yes, I have had four surgeries and have been hospitalized at Kaiser a few times. I think the doctors I have experienced are wonderful.

[newcomer]

All I can say is that I am a member of Kaiser Permanente which is located on Iron Point Road.  However, my main doctor with Kaiser is located in Rancho Cordova which is 15 minutes away from Folsom.

I am over 65 and therefore on Medicare A & B.  I am also a member of Kaiser's Senior Advantage.  My monthly premium is $50.00 per month.  I am completely satisfied with Kasier.

Yes, I have had four surgeries and have been hospitalized at Kaiser a few times.  I think the doctors I have experienced are wonderful.

Thanks for the reply. My mom's insurance is great. She can go wherever she needs to go, she can choose any doctor or hospital that is needed or she would like. She has PPO blue cross/blue shield and medicare. I notice you did not mention any places in Folsom. Does that mean the care is not good in Folsom, a lousy hospital, doctors???

[Chad Vander Veen]

Health care in Folsom consists largely of blood lettings to cure fevers and boils and high doses of mercury, opium and/or a local "witches brew" to cure most other ailments afflicting the bodee humane.

[Farley]

There is a Mercy Folsom Hospital in Folsom. We had a very negative experience at their emergency service dept.

[newcomer]

There is a Mercy Folsom Hospital in Folsom.  We had a very negative experience at their emergency service dept.

Well, that is not good. Is the local hospital considered bad? For such an upscale community, I would think health care would be top notch??? I take it CVanderveen does not want people moving to Folsom. I did get a good laugh from your comment, so that is a good thing.

But, seriously, I do need honest opinions from people about the quality of health care and resources. I do love my mom.

[Chad Vander Veen]

Well, that is not good.  Is the local hospital considered bad?  For such an upscale community, I would think health care would be top notch???  I take it CVanderveen does not want people moving to Folsom.  I did get a good laugh from your comment, so that is a good thing. 

But, seriously, I do need honest opinions from people about the quality of health care and resources. I do love my mom. 

Nah, I support newbies...just got get your hazing.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

We've had some good and some not as good experiences at Mercy Folsom. I posted in the parenting community about the time they didn't diagnose my daughter's appendicitis (because her pain wasn't in the usual place) until I pushed for testing. They did, however, test my son when he had his appendicitis attack (what's with my kids and their appendices?) and got him right into surgery. His surgery and post-surgery care was excellent, and so was my daughter's.

We had another negative experience when my daughter developed an abscess on her tonsil. Based upon her symptoms her pediatrician was able to diagnose the abscess over the phone -- not even seeing her, yet the attending physician kept arguing that it was just normal tonsilitis. He sent her home, and I kept researching online while her pain and swelling in her throat increased and her ability to move her jaw decreased. Went back with a typed list of symptoms for tonsilitis and a typed list of tonsilitis with an abscess. The doctor argued with me before even looking in her throat again, then looked and said, "Hm, looks like the 'beginning' of an abscess." She had so much swelling they had to immediately hook her to IV steroids to bring the swelling down, then transferred her to Mercy San Juan. (Evidently Mercy Folsom isn't equipped or qualified to deal with tonsil stuff.)

On other, less critical matters, we received good care in the ER.

[newcomer]

We've had some good and some not as good experiences at Mercy Folsom. I posted in the parenting community about the time they didn't diagnose my daughter's appendicitis  (because her pain wasn't in the usual place) until I pushed for testing.  They did, however, test my son when he had his appendicitis attack (what's with my kids and their appendices?) and got him right into surgery. His surgery and post-surgery care was excellent, and so was my daughter's.

We had another negative experience when my daughter developed an abscess on her tonsil. Based upon her symptoms her pediatrician was able to diagnose the abscess over the phone -- not even seeing her, yet the attending physician kept arguing that it was just normal tonsilitis. He sent her home, and I kept researching online while her pain and swelling in her throat increased and her ability to move her jaw decreased. Went back with a typed list of symptoms for tonsilitis and a typed list of tonsilitis with an abscess. The doctor argued with me before even looking in her throat again, then looked and said, "Hm, looks like the 'beginning' of an abscess." She had so much swelling they had to immediately hook her to IV steroids to bring the swelling down, then transferred her to Mercy San Juan. (Evidently Mercy Folsom isn't equipped or qualified to deal with tonsil stuff.)

On other, less critical matters, we received good care in the ER.

Hmmm, I am not sure what to think about health care in Folsom. I really do appreciate the honest comments. You folks are really helpful. I am glad I asked this question. I want to make sure there is quality care for my mom. Anyone else have any stories to share or comments. Thanks.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

Unfortunately, I hear these kinds of stories from others who live elsewhere as well, and wonder whether the quality of healthcare overall is on the decline. I've never used Kaiser locally, but had bad experiences with them when I lived in the Bay Area years ago. I've heard good things from folks who use Kaiser here here, though. I just think patients need to be good self-advocates no matter where they go.

[newcomer]

Unfortunately, I hear these kinds of stories from others who live elsewhere as well, and wonder whether the quality of healthcare overall is on the decline. I've never used Kaiser locally, but had bad experiences with them when I lived in the Bay Area years ago. I've heard good things from folks who use Kaiser here here, though. I just think patients need to be good self-advocates no matter where they go.

Thank you again. Well, I guess maybe I should ask this question: Are you worried about the quality of care in the folsom area for your kids and elderly parents? Or, do you feel comfortable with the care, emergency services, response times, etc.. thank you.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

There are varying levels and kinds of service, obviously. I've been extremely satisfied with our pediatricians. My husband has been somewhat satisfied with his primary care physician, and although I think mine is great -- she's not in Folsom (my plan didn't have a female PCP in Folsom who was taking new patients, so I go to Auburn ). I think our Allgergist is great. Folsom had excellent physical therapy care. Can't speak to Geriatric care, personally.

Back to the abscessed tonsil story... In the middle of the trying to get it diagnosed, our pediatrician said if it got worse, we should go to Mercy San Juan since Mercy Folsom wouldn't be able to provide comprehensive care of tonsil issues. So at 2 am, when we were clear it was an abscess and with my daughter in extreme pain and unable to swallow, we headed out to Mercy San Juan. There were approximately 35 people waiting to be triaged! They couldn't all fit in the waiting room, so many were sitting and standing outside. There was no human being (receptionist or triage staff) with which to discuss my daughter's condition; those waiting to be seen were to put a slip of paper in a box onto which you applied a date/time stamp, and someone would eventually come get it and call your name. One fellow waiting to be seen had already been there 2.5 hours, and two others were crying and writhing on the floor in pain. Twasn't a pretty picture. After ten minutes of not even seing a triage person check the box, no one to urge that my daughter been seen, I decided we were better off heading back to Mercy Folsom. My thinking was at least we'd be seen faster, we woulnd't expose my daughter or ourselves to 35 cases of who knows what, and if she needed to be transfered to San Juan, they could transfer her by ambulence. That's what happened. My experience is that Mercy Folsom does triage fairly rapidly. Although I had to argue with the doctor, my daughter was still seen faster than she would have been at San Juan, was hooked to IV and started on steroids and antibiotics much sooner than she would have even been triaged at San Juan. Once she was moved to San Juan, she received excellent care (having totally avoided ER). Again, I think the quality of care issue is there regardless of geographic area; you just need to be proactive, do your own research (on medical sites, not mom & pop communities) and ask lots of questions.

[tgianco]

We've not had to use Mercy Folsom for anything, but our primary care physician is great (Dr. Cooper, Hills Physicians Group), our pediatrician is great (Dr. Wolfrey and Dr. Arab, although we don't let Dr. Garg touch our daughter and she won't touch our newborn) and there are great services available for the elderly (ranging from non-medical in-home care- which my company provides- to assisted living to skilled nursing to board-and-care homes and senior referral/placement agencies).

If you have any questions, Folsom and the surrounding areas have some wonderful resources on all your questions. Don't be afraid to ask.

[john]

we have Dr. Wolfrey & Dr Arab as well - they are awesome. Dr. Wolfrey is about as good as they get.

[Terry]

Mercy Folsom provides excellent care and I've been using medical services in Folsom since the early 60s when the first hospital was built here (Twin Lakes Hospital at Fargo and Montrose which later became Mercy). Mercy Folsom is affilliated with Catholic Healthcare West and includes the cardiac specialty hospital Mercy Sacramento. Physicians and other ancillary healthcare providers in Folsom are excellent in my opinion. And the emergency services from Folsom Fire can't be beat.