Kelly Cahn 27 February 2026

We entrusted Norton with her care and she was dead days later
My 77-year-old mother was admitted to Norton Hospital last year for a scheduled spinal fusion and was dead days later. We were told the surgery went well, though we later received inconsistent explanations from the surgical team. She was initially lucid after surgery but became increasingly delirious the next day. When I raised concerns, I was told it was Alzheimer’s — despite no prior history of dementia. Meanwhile, nursing staff mentioned plans to move her to rehab even as her mental status worsened. A nurse told my sister she did not know how to use the bed alarm monitor. That same day, my mother suffered an unwitnessed fall and was found on the floor. She had obstructive sleep apnea and brought her CPAP machine, which was marked as required on her bracelet. It was never used. Early the following morning, she went into cardiac arrest. The medical record notes that an initial attempt to defibrillate ventricular fibrillation was made, but the defibrillator malfunctioned. Although circulation was eventually restored, she suffered catastrophic hypoxic brain injury. We were told she was between a vegetative state and brain death, and we made the decision to withdraw life support. We understand that not every outcome is preventable. What has stayed with us is the repeated dismissal of concerns and apparent lapses in basic safeguards. I would not recommend other families do the same.

Hawkins 12 February 2026

The overall experience was HORRIBLE!
The nursing staff and the hospital doctors were a joke! I had blood clots in both my legs I had developed after a major back surgery and the day I was being dismissed I BEGGED a hospital doctor to please look at my legs. They were so swollen that they had blistered from my skin being stretched so much and were raw! He took one look at them and sent me to get an ultrasound that confirmed I had clots in both legs, I was transferred to ICU where I stayed a total of 24 days!! I had showed them to all the nurses and the doctors on staff and they told me it was just "normal swelling" from the surgery! They were dismissing me THAT DAY!! Thank God for the ONE doctor on staff that actually took the time to check into it or I could have died! My surgeon Dr Jeffrey Gum was absolutely WONDERFUL and I'm so happy with the outcome of my spinal fusion, even though the anesthesiologist punctured a hole in my lung while inserting a central line. The hospital experience was HORRIBLE and I wouldn't take my pet there to be treated! While in ICU the toilets backed up and all the patients had to be evacuated to another part of the building! The food was HORRIBLE and it was never enough and I'm only a 115 pound woman, I couldn't imagine a man trying to survive on those small portions! I would NEVER go back to that place and I'll warn Anyone who's going in for surgery.... Beware! Pay attention to your body and educate yourself, demand answers And keep your family informed and let them advocate for you!

Alisa Greenwell 25 January 2026

Terrible lack of communication
Been very disappointed with Nortons Downtown.

Shayla Brown 18 September 2025

Those nurses were awful
I was released two days after two spinal surgeries. I have eight holes in my arms and hands from IVs along with a huge black bruise from where a vein blew in surgery. Never talked to my surgeon after either procedure. My room was only cleaned once in four days. They would forget about my meds, then not hook up my leg pumps to prevent blood clots, my daughter did that most of my stay there.They forgot about the Walker that was ordered for me and discharged me before I could even do a number 2. During my stay in July 2025, same thing pretty much. Floor 4, 4H to be exact...

Sarah Johnson 01 July 2025

It’s a joke
Nurses & xray tech in the ED were very kind and understanding. It stopped there. Doctors didn’t seem to care or help, transport team failed and never showed up to move my MIL, our wonder xray tech did it because we had waited two plus hours. I will never go back to Norton unless there’s no other doctor in the area to do what needs to be done.

Garrett Emerson 26 June 2025

Save yourself the time and hassle go elsewhere
One of the most unorganized and poorly ran companies I’ve ever dealt with. Postponed needed visit for 2 months so they could fix my benefits and still charged my insurance wrong. Been another 2 months with no resolve but they are happy to call up about payment even while it’s in review.

Janet Bryan 04 June 2025

The nurse needs to go back to nursing school
The basics of nursing are as follows: Is your patient eating, drinking, peeing and pooping. This particular nurse did not care about any of it. Too many other patients to take care of, I suppose. Which is a real problem. Severely understaffed, under paid and administration could not care as long as they are getting theirs. Huge ongoing never ending problem with hospitals.

jill schafer 11 December 2024

This is the 2nd time my son almost died in your hospital
Last year a 14lb bleeding mass and they kept sending him to wound care??? They had no way of treating him and sent him back to Norton. This went in from Jan to Oct.... He literally was BLEEDING to DEATH. His sister is critical care nurse 25 years in Ohio and she got him home and got a Real doctor who removed mass and he healed. Now 1 year later he went back to Norton in excruciating pain and on flr 4m NG TUBE PUT IN AND HE WAS THROWING UP POO AROUND THE NG TUBE. NOBODY DOING ANYTHING NAUSEA MEDS, PAIN MED ( his bowel was straggling from his hernia laying on it.) By grace of God a friends cousin is an officer at NORTON hospital and he got 3 great surgeons involved, but hes kidneys shut down during 1st operation. 2 days later they finished surgery. Then in his ICU ROOM NURSE ACCIDENTALLY OVERDOSED HIM WITH HEART MEDICINE ( SHE GOT LINES CROSSED ON HANGING MEDS.???) Mt daughter witnessed this mess. NO ANTIDOTE FOR THIS drug. THEN THEY HAD THIS SAME NURSE BACK IN MY SONS ROOM NEXT 2 NIGHT???) At this point we decided to get him the H out of this place. Its obvious Mgt really doesn't care abt patients. We got him transferred to Dayton Ohio. SOMEBODY NEEDS To GET HOLD oF THE REINS IN THIS MESS ! NOT EVEN SURE iF HES GOING TO LIVE AT THIS POINT. HOWEVER there was some ICU NURSES THAT WERE WONDERFUL: HAILA, MARIE,Marrisa, Michelle the rest need pitched out the window they are there for a paycheck only. Oh yes on flr 4M you are not allowed to talk to doctor and most days never got cll back from nurse when u left message to see his condition. Your policy's are the worst. So glad hes in Ohio at this point

Sylvia Thomas 30 November 2024

This hospital is down right AWFUL!
Nurses are beyond rude. One doctor was reading the wrong chart. Another did nothing but play on his phone. I AM FED UP WITH THIS HOSPITAL AND WILL BE MOVING MY MOTHER FOR BETTER CARE! DO BETTER NORTON!

Brenda Wright 14 August 2024

Poor Hospital on every level
Patient was in his room for 1 hour and 45 mins before anyone new he was even there. Pain meds delivered 3 and 1 half hours late. Reg meds not given on time. No regard for low blood pressure readings. The aid was absolutely awful. Blowing veins one after another.