Emergency Room at SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital - Lake Saint Louis

Reviews

• AM

  Anna Murray

  2 days ago
  1.0
  This hospital has been going down hill for years. Especially, the emergency room. You’re not treated as a patient and there is absolutely no sympathy for you. I was brought in by ambulance. I was profusely vomiting the whole time I was there. When they decided to discharge me I wasn’t allowed to wait in my room for 15 minutes until my dad arrived. I had to wait in the waiting room while throwing up continuously in front of everyone. I have never felt more unwelcome in a place than I did at this hospital. I saw my primary doctor the next day and they even told me that this hospital has misdiagnosed more patients than they have gotten it right. I would avoid this hospital at all costs! At least the emergency room.
• TG

  Tracy Gayle

  4 days ago
  1.0
  Worst ER experience in my lifetime. Dr Joseph Novof was not thoroughly knowledgeable on conditions, was rude after ct didn’t show what he was looking for. Only checked for another test bc we asked then wrote lies in my chart but I have proof of the truth for my own personal reasons. I’d never recommend for anyone to go here. We should’ve requested another Dr but I’m sure as usual they’d of tried to make excuses just as the second nurse that I had did but later apologized then was still having an off demeanor. My PCP’s office was more thorough than this place. ER Dr didn’t even believe how many back surgeries I’ve had whenever I specifically told him 3 have been out of state w/the same university dr but he also moved so 2 in one MI University & 1 in Memphis TN university. Still awaiting further testing as I’m still having abdominal pain with low grade temp x6 days now but it hasn’t gotten worse. Ended up w/spinal fluid leak while at ER from all the transferring around. He said in report we didn’t want to wait for results which is a STRAIGHT UP LIE! He said we couldn’t stay & he wouldn’t admit for observation & pain control since he doesn’t know what’s wrong but that was denied as I was a surgical candidate according to the CT.(meaning active bleeding on CT no ultrasound or internal exam done when that’s one of the first things we used to make sure to have the correct items out for the dr depending on male or female). Bedside manner was off from the start, so we tried to be kinder as we’ve had awful experiences before & this is why people refuse to go & die at home! I wouldn’t have went if it wasn’t for my husband, family hx which he never even asked about with my sisters or mom SMH 🤦🏼‍♀️) I was treated this way due to being in an automatic wheelchair paid by my insurance total of $73,000 but I don’t need pain medication!) This shouldn’t be this way! DON’T prejudge! Do u think I want to live like this?! Don’t u think it’s humiliating already enough?! How dare he even think that whenever I never even get breakthrough meds as requested but a few times a year! That should say something right there & don’t request meds early, but I follow the rule to request 2-3 days ahead of time as that’s THEIR RULE) This Dr shouldn’t be in an ER setting. After ordering labs & a Ct that didn’t show why I was and still having severe abdominal pain. He was cocky to begin w/but we know getting ugly back usually doesn’t help get ya care, plus we’re a very good judge of character & my husband & I have very good discernment. I commended him for his honesty. I was documenting as well for my own records. First nurse at check-in Aubrey or Audrey but other nurse I never even got a name but was just as rude as the dr whenever we wanted to know what was going to be done & if I could take something for pain as my daily meds were due but he said NPO so we ASK as when in the hospital u don’t just take your own meds. He automatically thought we was asking for pain meds for at home whenever that wasn’t even discussed yet (going home wise AND I didn’t need any to begin with! I needed something THEN!) Anyhow then after being confronted he backtracked but I kept audio for myself & PCP as this isnt our first rodeo & I am a retired SSM employee & worked in the medical field for 12 yrs til I physically couldn’t anymore (9 back surgeries in i couldn’t do it anymore physically & had to stop working)
• RD

  ryan dake

  5 days ago
  2.0
  People are nice some extremely some just doing their job. I can in to the emergency room with bad stomach pain that went from my front into my back. I also had heart fluttering here and there. I also said I had to take twice my daily dose of BP medication to lower my BP. They did one ekg at the very beginning and never again in the 7 hours I was there. I told them it was hit or miss on it and to me if I was on a machine for 20 minutes it would of shown instead of 1 or 2 minutes. Anyways xray no results, CT scan and they were hesitate to say what all was on it and never really explained everything so now I have to go back to get the full report. They said see a upper GI doc and gave me a number. Now I also told them that I've lost 12 lbs in a week and couldn't eat without hours of pain. The GI doctor is a month out for a consultation then they said up to another month before getting the upper GI done so I'll be dead by then on just the weight I'm loosing alone. They had me pee to see if I had a uti and only because I asked what all they seen and it showed something where I should get a test for uti. They said it was negative but the day before I was getting tested to see my doctor blood and urine (but I went to the hospital because I thought it would be faster results for what I feel is a pretty big issue). This morning, which is the next day from hospital visit, my results is positive for uti. Overall spent 7 hours for prescriptions of antacid and a nausea/anti-vomit medication. To me masking the issues with medication instead of fixing it is way more dangerous. I'm going up soon to get my CT scan results because I could not get a straight answer on what they seen and have to take them for a second opinion to a non-SSM place.
• LZ

  Leah Zinn

  Apr 5, 2026
  2.0
  Went for early pregnancy pain, when I was getting my iv they asked if there was any chance I was pregnant, I then told them again that I was pregnant, they told me that they wanted to give me something but there wasn’t a lot of research on it in pregnancy and then proceeded to give me it, they gave me an iv and had me in the waiting room for 4 hours until i was given a room just to tell me that i was dehydrated. They never once check on my baby, either by ultrasound or just a heartbeat, they never touched my stomach to asses where pain was. I understand that they are busy but I was also sitting alone and they put 2 people who were throwing up right next to me. I wanted to say nice things but my overall experience was just not great.
• KA

  Kevin Anyan

  Mar 29, 2026
  1.0
  I came in with chest pain and shortness of breath as a previous heart attack patient. I had deep concern. I sat in the waiting room in the ER from 2:20 Am til 6:00 or 7:00 AM. I finally signed myself out cause i could suffer at home more comfortably than in a uncomfotable chair in waiting room for over 4 hours, with chest pains and short of breath. All other so called Emergency people fell asleep. I was in pain and fear, while nurses had to wake up each patient to be seen before me. I WAS BETTER OFF AT HOME. all they did was rack up a bill drawing blood in waiting room, WITH NO RESULTS!! I WILL NEVER GO TO THAT HOSPITAL AGAIN EVEN IF I HAVE ANOTHER HEART ATTACK. I WILL LET EVERYONE KNOW OF POOR QUALITY SERVICE AND MEDICAL CARE, AND CONCERN FOR PATIENT. I HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN TO FIVE FAMILIES AND ALL HAVE COMPLAINTS WITH ST JOSEPH HOSPITAL IN LAKE STLOUIS. WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN. TERRIBLE, IRRESPONSIBLE, AND DANGEROUS!!!!