Bad experience with Saluda -
I am a Saluda Evoke patient and experienced a series of distressing incidents involving a Saluda representative in the southern suburbs of Chicago on June 22, 2026.
I had coordinated with my usual Saluda rep, Camille, to schedule MRIs on June 22 and 23, 2026, at Silver Cross Hospital in the south suburbs of Chicago.
On June 22 at approximately 5:30 a.m., Camille texted me that she could not attend my appointment. I agreed to cancel and reschedule, but she then offered to send Mike as a last-minute substitute if I could reschedule my appointment. I complied with her request.
When I arrived at Silver Cross Hospital, I met Mike, who at first seemed personable. During our interaction, the MRI staff explicitly told Mike, in my presence, that their policy requires the Saluda representative to stay until the MRI is complete—especially important since this was their first experience with the Evoke system.
However, while I was waiting in the crowded Imaging waiting room, Mike accessed my device and turned it off without my permission or any warning. This action caused me significant distress and physical pain, and he only admitted to doing it after I questioned him directly. I consider this not only a violation of my healthcare rights but potentially close to battery, as it disregards my autonomy and my right to make decisions about my own body.
The Silver Cross Hospital Imaging Department explained that the Saluda remote lacks an MRI mode. Therefore, the Saluda representative must email screenshots to the Imaging Manager before the MRI to verify that the device is off and ready for imaging. These screenshots are documented in the PAX system. After the MRI, the same process is used to confirm the device is back on and functioning properly. This protocol was explained to Mike, the substitute Saluda rep, by the MRI supervisor on June 22, and the same steps were reiterated to Camille on June 23.
When the topic of who would be present for my MRI the following morning came up, Mike informed the MRI staff—contrary to hospital policy—that no Saluda representative would be available. He told me to keep my device off until after the second MRI, which I explicitly told him I did not want because it would result in pain levels of 8-9 for a full day.
The MRI supervisor reiterated my concerns to Mike, but he dismissed us and left the hospital before answering staff questions about the device or my procedure.
There is never an appropriate circumstance in which a clinician—or anyone—should deny a patient their right to make their own healthcare decisions. If Mike were a nurse or physician, such actions could result in loss of licensure.
Please ensure you never provide Saluda access to your patients without you or a trusted provider being present. They are allowed to access your patients’ device without permission, cause pain and discomfort to your patients and intentionally disregard hospital policies.