MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center Emergency Room - Laguna Hills, California

Molly F.

I went to the ER at 1am and was quickly given a room. The room was clean and the nurses were patient, kind and understanding. They answered quickly when I used the call button and were extremely helpful. My doctors were great as well, they explained my diagnosis and the tests they ordered so it was easy to comprehend. I felt listened to and that there was real concern for my symptoms. I especially wanted to thank my ultrasound technician, Nancy, for her kindness and doing her best to make me feel comfortable in a very uncomfortable situation. She went above and beyond and I really appreciate it. After receiving my test results they recommended I see my primary, sent my medication to my pharmacy and discharged me at 8am.

Kathy T.

I went to the hospital because of a sore throat, and I wanted to get a head of my sickness. Little I know that I will be dealing with so many bills. Frist of all, they made me wait for 4 hours in the waiting room, just a nurse saw me for 2 minutes, did a swap in my nose, then 3 hours later a doctor saw me for 5 minutes saying I have a common cold and sent me home with nothing. I ended up going to another doctor, which was knowledge, and said this is a virus and bacterial infection, so you need antibiotics, which the hospital doctor could not even diagnose. But that is not why I am even mad. I received a bill today from the hospital for $6000 and a separate bill from the doctor for $1000. Who can believe that for a common cold that took less than 10 minutes, and it was even not fully correct diagnosis, I got a bill for $7000. This is Crazy! I have private insurance, so of course, they are covering some, but it so too much that they are only covering some portion of it. They are making me responsible for paying around $2000 for a COMMON COLD. This is absurd! I called their billing department and requested an itemized bill and also asked why my ER code was reported as severe immediately with high complexity! Which insurance said with this code, they can charge the maximum. Is a common cold really high complex for you guys because then, this ER is very questionable! I am seeking a lawyer because, at this point, the lawyer would be cheaper than the hospital bill!! But please save yourself so many headaches. They are not only waisting people's time but also money as well.

Mark

A wonderful doctor in ER helped me with my low sodium symptoms, as a recent lung transplant patient I was extremely worried, I was given fluids overnight and felt better next morning. Sadly the Male nurse (bald dude) who took my EKG was extremely sarcastic and rude, he made me feel like my arrival was an inconvenience and was my fault having cystic fibrosis . . . “Ohh that’s not good is it, why do you have that?” What do you mean why do I have that? it’s genetically inherited, I didn’t ask for it by vaping, uneducated and unprofessional.

Neil L.

I've been to a great number of emergency rooms as a first responder and a civilian, and I can tell you that my recent experience at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center ER was less than favorable.

My wife had a medical emergency and I accompanied her to the ER. First off, the ER waiting room had nowhere to sit. My wife and I had to share a seat, which was annoying.

Mind you, while I squeezed into a shared seat built for one there was a homeless woman camped out in the corner in a chair, which she never left during the entire night. Security apparently didn't care, and it was obvious she wasn't a patient.

If anyone from the hospital cares to follow up on this area of concern, the homeless woman can be seen on your hospital security footage from at least 8:00 pm on 1/29/25 until 7:00 am on 1/30/24, along with three security guards hanging out by the front door.

The triage time took hours, and my guess is there was either a staffing issue in the ER or the operation wasn't working smoothly as it should have.

Once assigned a bed in the emergency room things didn't move any more efficiently. Sure, people did their jobs, but they also were terrible at checking the patient, providing information or verbal updates, and they seemed to purposely look the other way as they passed by the patient's bed.

If you needed help, like being detached from monitors to go to the restroom, you needed to hail one of the employees skirting by.

Sure, in the end you get the medical attention you need, but at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center Emergency Room, you're likely to ride a bumpy and uncomfortable road getting there.

Donna M.

Although I have no complaints of my care, my complaint is I trusted the judgment of choice of care. I am age 60 and rarely see a doctor. I woke up in the middle of the night with severe side pain. It hurt every time I took a breath. The pain was not going away so I went to the ER that is in network. They decided to take an Xray and draw blood. The pain lasted 24 hours. I was shock5 to find my care was denied from anthem blue cross 3 months later. The X-ray cost $5,000 and other items were listed totally $10,600. No discussion of pricing or that anything would be denied. Now the hospital wants the full amount. No one from Memorial Care will advocate or even explain the costs. Beware that you may not be covered even with insurance. They won’t advocate for you. I assumed they call the insurance company before doing tests.

Maryam F.

This ER and hospital are truly exceptional, with some of the best medical personnel I’ve ever encountered. While the check-in process can be challenging—especially with the front desk staff who lack empathy and come across as robotic—everything changes once you get past that stage. From then on, it’s nothing but angels caring for patients.

The medical staff go above and beyond, not only addressing physical health but also providing incredible emotional and mental support. I am deeply grateful to have such a dedicated and compassionate facility just 10 minutes from my home. Thank you for being there when I needed it most.

joy M.

It was the Easter period I had been referred by my Dr to get an X/Ray that appnt on arrival was cancelled. I had come off an 18 hr flight I felt ill my lungs filled with mucus a severe cough. So as an out patient admitted myself. They took an x/Rays which results would prove zi didnt

Beth M.

I have been to the ER Department twice in the past 3 months. Both experiences were very good! Very impressed with the staff, doctors, and nurses, who were all attentive and addressed my issues. From the time I was checked in to the time I left was not that long - of course, I may have just gotten lucky and the ER was not that busy! But it is an ER room, and at times they can be really busy, so one needs a lot of patience when going to an Emergency Room.