Adding to the growing body of research on healthcare inequities and systematic differences, this research illuminates how patients empowered themselves to achieve their healthcare goals during encounters with healthcare professionals at various hospitals. This exploratory ethnographic and phenomenological study examined hospital cultures, primarily emergency rooms, and the lived experiences of patients. The salient themes emerging from the thematic analysis of narratives conveyed by a woman living with asthma in conjunction with the experiences articulated by five other patients being treated for stomach pain/pregnancy, arthritis/joint pain, leg injury, depression, etc., were: 1) Long wait times, 2) Poor and Unprofessional Attitude, 3) Neglect, 4) Feeling Rushed, 5) Having to Ask for Care, 6) Discrimination, and 7) Support from Hospital Patient Advocates and Other Patients. While the patients endured marginalization, the issues depicted as problematic were overcome with assistance from patient advocates or other patients. This chapter has implications for patient-centered care.