NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center — Attraction in New York

Altercation at New York Presbyterian Hospital Saturday November 15, 2014

On November 15, 2014 my mother Linda De Jesus was moved from the M.i.C.U. to the 6th floor of the New York Presbyterian Hospital. My sister Waleska Zapata and I decided to go see her. Upon entering the hospital we went in search of her new room number. A nurse directed us in the correct direction and we proceeded to enter room 6-346. When I entered the room I found that the lights were off. As I banked the corner of the door I saw two nurses. On was at the foot of my mom’s bed looking towards my mom. The other nurse was by mother’s head. As I looked on I saw the nurse at the head of the bed reach for a pillow and put it over my mother’s face holding it down. The nurse at the floor of the bed started to laugh. I screamed “What are you doing to my mom”. The nurse dropped the pillow while the other nurse stopped laughing and looked at me with her mouth wide open and eyes big. My sister ran in behind me while I ran to the nurse and tried grabbing the pillow from her hand. I started crying and screaming to give me the pillow in which she finally let go. I told my sister to go get help. I continued to scream at both of the nurses until my mom’s room was flooded with light and a combination of nurses, doctors and security officers. They all stood at the door asking what was going on but would not come into the room to check the situation out. Both nurses just walked out the room. I checked my mom out who was drenched in sweat and her pamper was filled with urine. I called the cops twice about the altercation. Both times they took a statement by all involved and left stating no charges were being pressed against the nurses or me. I requested that my mom be immediately moved to another hospital. I was told that this could not be done until Monday morning. Until then they said they move her to another floor which was the 7th. My sister and I decided to take shifts with staying with my mom 24/7 until her move to another facility. I decided to take the first shift. On the morning of Sunday November 16, 2014 I was awakened by two cops between 6 and 6:30 who said that the nurse with the pillow had decided to press charges on me stating that I hit her. At that time I was arrested.

Altercation on Riker’s Island Sunday November 16, 2014 until Monday November 17, 2014

I was taken to Rose M Singer the all female prison on Riker’s Island. The officers kept me on camera for my entire stay. One officer on duty took pictures of my address and my house and printed them out stating she would use the information later to seek revenge on me. I was refused my one phone call and told that my stay would be made unbearable. A female inmate informed me that she was told she would be given money into her account and given special privileges if she would hurt me. I soon realized this was true when my cell door was left open and my cellmate was caught with a knife on her. When asked why she had it she said that the officer gave it to her so she could stab me with it. She said she really needed the money in her account. I was given bail and the officers did not want to release me until they found another female inmate to harm me. I was eventually released to go back to the main building after numerous phone calls as to why it was taken them so long to bring me to the main building when my bail was made hours before. On my way out of the facility I was told by another officer that the officer who was trying to do this to me was related to the nurse that accused me of hitting her at New York Presbyterian Hospital where the altercation occurred. With this information I left the prison fearing for not only my life but the lives of my mother who was still in the same hospital and my family that includes my two young children and my sister and nephew who stay with me often. The officer or anyone can pop up at my house anytime they want and not only hurt me but anyone who is with me. My rights were violated and my life...

THEY WILL KILL YOU! I was admitted to NYP hospital for aortic valve replacement. They put me on a PCA pump with dialudid despite warning that i do not do well with dilaudid and should not be given it ( worse, they ordered the PCA pump less than an hour after I was snapping selfies of silly faces and sending them to my coworkers/bosses, so I was in good spirits and not pain to warrant pain needing to be escalated to a PCA pump). Afterwards, I became oversedated while being on a PCA pump (as staff put the button in my hand and pressed it for me) and required multiple doses of Narcan but my mental state was still altered. I also had fluid in my lungs from the respiratory depression but pneumonia couldn't be ruled out so Dr. Groves prescribed Zosyn. However, this is noted in my chart as a severe allergy with the reaction being severe thrombocytopenia. Very rapidly my platelets dropped from 165 to 5. This intentional oversight led to severe thrombocytopenia, necessitating urgent intubation and a head CT scan to rule out bleeding or a stroke. However, Dr. Groves did not tell my sisters that he gave me the zosyn and tried covering up the reason for the CT scan and sedation. the CT showed that I had a stroke but no one told my family about this or started me on medication to prevent another one. I only found out a year after when I consulted a neurologist and she then started me on cholesterol medicine that is necessary as per guidelines. when I woke up from sedation  while I was in the hospital, and was told that I was given the medication, I was furious and felt so violated as I know it was noted in my chart previously. The complication significantly prolonged my hospital stay (including being restrained and sedated for multiple days that I won't ever get back) and led to a series of traumatic experiences. I developed a wound infection that required more surgery. I started therapy shortly after I was discharged and continue to suffer from PTSD, major depressive disorder  and anxiety, all stemming from this experience. I also left my job because it was triggering and too hard for me (I worked as an administrator in a medical/surgical practice). I also use a walking stick because I continue to deal with dizziness and balance issues, new after this hospitalization.

Yes, I am alive but my life as I knew it before is gone. NYP you really messed up and I will tell you this, you have violated me and made me feel so powerless, but I will do everything in my power, no matter how little, to make sure everyone knows what you did and that you will not get away with this.

Also, stop harassing me over my balance. I'm not paying anything to you. You offered me $50K to settle when you billed my insurance $1.3 MILLION in the month I was there. So how does that make sense? and you continue to harass me over a smaller balance? Please stop. You're only making...

I was scheduled for an endoscopy for 11 am. I was advised to arrive by 10 am. I scheduled transportation with my health insurance, and they immediately picked me up at 9:08 a.m. I only live a few blocks away, so I arrived in less than 5 minutes.

As soon as I arrived, the administrative assistant named Lurline was extremely rude. Her demeanor and attitude definitely screamed. I hate my job, and/or I'm having a bad day, and you all have to pay. Her attitude screamed, "I don't want to be here." She appeared annoyed at the fact that I had arrived early. She was huffing and puffing for absolute no reason. She was talking out loud for other patients to hear about booking a flight from Saturday to the next Saturday. She was complaining about her job, her manager, her pay, and her peers right in front of several other patients. She was gossiping on the work phone and gossiping with two other medical assistants in blue scrubs, speaking badly about people and apparently about someone who had the same name as me. It almost felt like she was talking about me because she said oh Madeline whatever her last name is."" The whole energy of the front desk felt toxic and aggressive. She was slamming items, listening to music on her phone, and singing. I felt so uncomfortable in the waiting room.

The other working individuals all appeared fine and happy to help other patients. There was another lady next to Lurline, which I unfortunately was not able to capture her name. However, her aura, face, and tone were very friendly and helpful. She has a metal or gold tooth, she was dressed like a security guard, and she had brown short hair cut into a Bob with bangs. I wish I would have been helped by her instead because she was very informative, professional, and welcoming with patients and other staff members.

It is so disappointing to me when I go to a required medical appointment and have a negative experience due to the staff's behavior, customer service, and professionalism.

Other than that, the medical assistants, nurses, and doctors were all wonderful. Shout out to nurse Chachi, Dr. Samrat Worah, the nurses that attended me, and the medical assistants for Dr. Francisco Guzman in the procedure room. They had wonderful bedside manners, were very easy to talk to, are understanding, respectful, and professional. Thanks to the medical team for making me feel safe and welcomed. You guys are the real heroes!!!

Ps. The only reason why I edited my review and put more stars was because of the mentioned medical professionals above.

However, if I was judging the facility based on the administrative staff, specifically Lurline. It would have been less than 1 star. Some people working at these medical facilities should be psychologically assessed, especially if they are working with...