Meritus Health - Hagerstown, Maryland

Colby H.

Previous visit to meritus have been well. On 3/21/25, My fiancé was seen by Dr josh oppenheimer in the ER was very dismissive over symptoms. Misdiagnosed my fiancé. Terrible bedside manners. Kept walking away when trying to get answers. Completely acted like he doesn't even care about patients at all.

If you ever have to go to this hospital and are assigned Dr josh oppenheimer. I would ask for another doctor. Since clearly he is incompetent.

British M.

Meritus is always disappointing. Made an appointment 1.5 months in advance. Specifically, scheduled with a black nurse, Rose Griffin. After 30 minutes she had not bothered to say hello. She then snatched her student assistant out. They never showed their face again. Instead they sent someone in to say that our insurance wasn’t excepted. Again, I chose a Black woman because health care inequities are so prominent in this area. I have never had a good experience at Meritus and it’s obviously built into the culture. Shame on Rose for conforming to the status quo and not playing a role in repairing the broken health care system. I would have actually paid for the appointment had I even made it to the rapport building phase, but Rose never showed. Further, there is no chance I’ll ever agree to see a student assistant again after this appointment. I’ve never waited for 1.5 months for an appointment only for the nurse to have such a low bar of care that she provides. Shameful. What office takes 1.5 months to verify insurance? Zero stars.

Randi S. I.

My daughter went there last night and 4 hours later were able to go home. In the 3 hours I was with her, I had asked several medical staff for a follow-up. Anything! Nope.
Jacob, a security officer, was amazing and actually did go inquire about getting assistance for us. Thank you Jacob, I hope you're appreciated there.
The nurse practitioner finally came and was very nice but full of excuses as to why it took so long for any type of communication.
It takes just a few seconds to let patients know that it will take awhile for an update.
Acknowledging your patients every once in a while goes a very long way.
No one wants excuses, they want compassion. Especially when it's a medical situation.
You want us to be patient (4 hours is VERY patient), then be kind and considerate yourselves.

Shami U.

I started having bad periods (very first time in my life) with heavy bleeding. Brought to Meritus hospital in Hagerstown in an ambulance. Clinching, crying and screaming on my abdomen with severe pain, heavy menstrual bleeding. Couldnt think straight. There were other patients and visitors in the lobby and most did not have very bad situation whereas few did. The staff here was taking people after long wait and not prioritizing patients based on their condition's severity. Instead, it was about who is next in the queue. Two elderly folks with their fmilies came into the lobby and they were told (according to their overheard conversaion) that they will be assisted when the next shift of 10.30am arrives and takes over! No pain remedy offered to me so I could get into my senses. Making matters worse, I was in veil and so was my muslim husband. We instantly started getting looks on displeased faces of security and hospital staff. After long wait, called for getting financial information first! then checking into the system then getting vitals after more long wait then waited longer and got called to go to triage section where another nurse took same information again. Waited again for blood samples. Called in again after almost being there for 2 hrs. I was so bad that I was carried by wheelchair. Waited again and another administrative girl came to get same details again that we had given already multiple times. I was in severe pain and she started asking me questions while I was not even able to speak. My husband intervened to answer all questions since he had all details, authority to answer on my behalf and and medical experience. This nurse insulted him multiple times by ignoring him and not even looking at him like he does not even exist and she continued to question me even asking for my social security, really, what in the world is their business with that. Then my husband had enough of this trash behavior from the staff and he dealt with her firmly telling her what is she doing and why she is doing this and what she is supposed to do. She shut up and made humble after that, took information, started calling my husband sir and then left. Then a nurse came to discuss same stuff and to get ultrasound, blood work and urinalysis. Waited again. Then another nurse came to take us to the radiology for ultrasound. Ultrasound was assigned to a student technician who was nice. Then a trainer technician came and she was also nice. After Ultrasound, we were taken back to the bed and told to wait. At this time, pain killer was given to me which was NSAID that I had taken already at home and did not help. Since morning, now it was about 2PM. Husband asked a nurse for some crackers for empty stomach and brought multiple things. This was very kind of this good soul. Waited again then were given discharge paperwork and told to visit OBGYN! I was there for almost 6 hrs and this was the turnout. Every single white person who came there was given a treatment that everyone deserves; human respect, dignity and care which these hospital staff gets paid for without any personal prejudice against any one. Every white visitor/patient was said thank you, please, off course etc. where we were looked and responded at like we do not exist and if we did, we were not likeable. No human being, not even animals deserves to be treated like this and here, this place is practicing to be human messiah whose paid job is helping the sick! We just pray that no one on this planet ever get sick to an extent where they have to see a doctor or medical facility, lawyers and politicians, period! If there was a zero rating available, we would have given that. There will be a day when bad people will be given God's justice. We hope everyone has their eyes and hearts open with guidance so everyone can see and do the right thing in their lives, every time ... to love, respect, care, be affectionate and all the good one can do for not only themselves but others around them as well treating everyone like they desire to be treated themselves... (Sigh)

Lisa C.

Dr. Merzouk performed my surgery yesterday, and I wish I could give her and the staff 5+ stars. The nurses were down to earth and friendly, the anesthesiologists team and surgery staff was wonderful. All so caring and assuring. And I just love my Dr. M.!

Kelli A.

Waiting room was disgusting. Picture below.
Staff is rude and in a hurry.
I asked a nurse to wash her hands before doing my blood work after watching her do another patients blood work in the hallway to which she replied “we don’t wash our hands anymore, hand sanitizer is the new policy”. Even if that is true I feel like if your being asked by a patient to clean your hands before touching them you should.

gretchen B.

Currently in ER with my daughter whom has severe gall bladder pain. Have been here almost 3 hours now. She has been given an NSAID for pain the isn’t touching the pain and also has made her nauseas. Haven’t seen a doctor and the nurses as usual are unsympathetic and indignant. I know numerous people whom go straight to Frederick and Waynesboro and avoid Meritus. There is NO pain relief available because of the opioid crisis in Washington County. They deny everyone because of the few. Treat the Patient not the crisis Meritus.

D. H.

My 90 yr old mother fell and was hallucinating. The ambulance took her to Meritus. The ER staff were great. When she went to the 5th floor, we were treated well by the nurse on duty and other nursing staff. They gave me phone numbers to call to check on my mother the next morning. The next day, I received a call stating my mom was doing ok, but would not be released yet. All good so far. The problems started the next day when I tried to get information. I got conflicting information and finally one person said she would be released that day. So I packed up all her things and went to Meritus. No one knew anything about her being released. No one knew who called me as there was no record. I started asking to speak to her nurse or care manager and was told someone would contact me. The next morning, I called and was told she was better and could get up with assistance. No sign of her release yet, so I asked to speak with the doctor. Within an hour, I got a call saying she had been released and could I come get her or would I like her to be transported home? The nurse was surprised she was being released as she was not able to get up or walk even with a walker. Still no discussion about her from the doctor.
As it turns out, a friend of the family was in 2 doors down and my mom was up on her own, sitting on the side of her bed and trying to get up by herself. She was being monitored with an electronic "sitter" because she is a high risk for falls and has osteoporosis. The staff that I spoke with were clearly working short and could not cover the patients on this floor. That seems to be the model for patient care. I'm 70 years old, and pretty able physically, but my mother fell 3 times within 12 hours. I was asked if I could take care of her, and I was assuming that meant fix her meals and generally supervise. NO - it meant, literally carry her to the bathroom, bathe her and watch her 24/7. Even the nurses worked in pairs. I'm alone, lifting my 135 pound mother off the floor because I had the temerity to leave her for 2 hours. Someone scheduled home health, but it was the 23rd of December so, guess what? I'm on my own. If I had a chance to speak with the doctor or care planner, I would have asked to be sure my mom could use a walker or that she went to inpatient rehab until she was stronger. But instead, she was discharged from Meritus rather than give me the time of day. Today is Christmas and I'm still having to pick my mother up to get her out of a chair. It's only a matter of time before she falls again. This time, I'm contacting Medicare to make sure that someone follows up with releasing a patient like her with no support or rehab services.