Strathmore District Health Services - Strathmore, Alberta

Kathryn A.

I recently brought my 7-year-old child in for an X-ray, and unfortunately our experience was very upsetting.

To begin on a positive note, the lady at the front desk who took our information was absolutely amazing! pleasant, welcoming, and so kind. She made the check-in process very easy and comforting.

However, once we were called in, the experience changed drastically. As I walked my child into the X-ray room, Kaylyn very abruptly said, “No, no, no, you can’t come in, wait for her outside.” As she closed the door, she added, “This isn’t a family picture, it’s an X-ray.” Her tone and wording left me shocked and completely taken aback.

As a parent, I have every right to want to be with my child,especially a young child-when she is led into a dark room with strangers for medical testing. On previous visits, a gentleman working there had no problem allowing me to stand in the computer area so my child felt safe and comfortable.

When my daughter came out, I tried to calmly explain to Kaylyn why her behavior was inappropriate. If she had professionally explained that parents are asked to wait outside due to radiation concerns and had given me the chance to reassure my daughter, I would have completely understood and complied. Instead, her approach was rude, dismissive, and unprofessional.

No parent should be treated this way,especially when their child is undergoing tests for a health concern. The least I expect in such a situation is compassion and professionalism. Based on this experience, I feel this is not a minor issue and I would like to be contacted regarding it. Kaylyn’s behavior left both me and my child feeling upset and unwelcome, and I truly hope this is addressed so other families are not treated the same way.

I wouldn’t give a one-star review to the entire hospital because the rest of the staff were lovely, but this one individual completely ruined the image of the hospital for me.

Harsimran P.

If I had the chance to give zero stars, I would. I am normally very patient when it comes to rude interactions, but my experience at Strathmore Hospital on August 24th around 4:00 p.m. was unacceptable.

When I began explaining my head injury from a month ago — which could be related to my current severe head and neck pain (to the point that I cannot even move my neck) — the emergency triage nurse immediately cut me off and told me to “focus on what’s happening today.” When I did, she interrupted again while taking my blood pressure. She asked about medications, and I explained I had just started antibiotics prescribed two days earlier. I told her I took my first dose yesterday evening, after work, but my condition had worsened significantly. She dismissed this and said, “Why didn’t you start off by saying you were already seen? You haven’t waited long enough for the medication to work.”

Despite me clearly describing my symptoms — chills, inability to move my neck, worsening pain — she made me feel as though I was being dramatic for seeking care. For context, I had already spoken with an 811 triage nurse earlier, who told me this was an emergency and that I should go to the ER.

She also criticized me about pain medication, saying I should be taking Tylenol every 4–6 hours, even though I explained I had already been using painkillers for a week with little relief. Her tone was belittling and dismissive, making me feel stupid and guilty for even being there.

In frustration and feeling completely unsupported, I apologized to her for coming and said I would just go home and take my antibiotics. As I walked out, she added, “Sorry you misunderstood,” though her behavior had been consistently rude. Then, once in the waiting room, she switched her tone in front of my father, claiming she “wanted to help me.” By that point, I had already decided to leave.

I am only 21 years old and dealing with serious pain on top of work and life responsibilities. The last thing I needed was to feel shamed for seeking medical attention. This experience left me feeling unsafe and dismissed at a time when I needed care. I sincerely hope Strathmore Hospital and Alberta Health Services take this matter seriously and ensure no one else has to feel this way when they are already vulnerable.

Fatima J.

I went to Strathmore Hospital ER yesterday with very high blood pressure and wasn’t feeling well. The staff were absolutely wonderful—kind, caring, and very attentive. Dr. Kahlon was fantastic, and the nurses were amazing, keeping me comfortable and explaining everything clearly.

They even consulted a heart specialist and a kidney specialist about my care and arranged follow-up appointments for me. For a small rural hospital, the care was outstanding. I’m so grateful for everything they did and would recommend them to anyone.

S C.

disappointing experience due to poor protocols.
Medical staff left my sample unattended on a countertop and failed to process it promptly. In addition, they did not clearly explain my diagnosis or medications, and I was left alone in the treatment room with no guidance or follow-up. If you're facing a real medical emergency, I strongly recommend seeking care in Calgary instead.

Gigi M.

I am extremely disappointed with the service I received at this hospital. During my visit today at 8 PM, the triage staff was unprofessional and unhelpful. Their demeanor suggested a lack of engagement with their responsibilities, which negatively impacted my experience. It is crucial for healthcare providers to maintain a supportive and professional attitude, and unfortunately, this was not the case during my visit.

Lisalau C.

Thank you to Dr. Slemko, Nurses, X-ray technician, Admin and Security staff at The Strathmore Hospital. Amazing, helpful and quick service! I have sprained my ankle and was so worried I had fractured or broken a bone as I was in excruciating pain. They were helpful and attentive and I was in and out within 1.5 hrs. Dr. Slemko is a fantastic doctor, patient, thorough and informative. The nurses were awesome. Kudos to you all and I left there a happier patient. Thank you!

Sukhpreet K.

Took my husband , he had severe stomachache. Doctor on duty told him to be quick because he has a lot of patients for check up and he can't be there forever with him. He was the rudest doctor we have ever seen, if someone is in pain and trying to get help from doctor and how they respond here. This is the worst experience we had. And my husband had to walk out in the Middle because of this doctor's rudeness. It was really unprofessional.

Sheer 0.

The nurses are great but the wait time is crazy I brought my sick dad in and he had to wait for 5 hrs to get even seen…. I’m just disappointed my dad was passing out every 5-10 minutes it was hurting him physically to stay up