NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital — Attraction in New York

I had a terrible patient experience at this ED. I checked in with the front desk at around 5:30pm. I was brought to a bed in the ED at around 7:30/8pm. My nurse (Eileen Pena) was initially courteous and attentive. She administered my medications and placed a lidocaine patch on my back (at around 9/10pm), then later returned to administer IV steroids and fluids (around Midnight). I had an intense burning sensation at the IV site when the steroids were pushed so nurse Eileen had to remove the IV line and told me that she would ask the doctor if it was still necessary for me to receive fluids. A doctor visited me some time after the steroids were administered and due to ill effect of the medications, she mentioned the possibility of being admitted for pain management, to which I asked for a moment to consider this decision. The doctor said that she would return to discuss my decision and informed me that she would also speak with the nurse about re-placing the IV line. Unfortunately, nurse Eileen never returned, and I was left sitting for another couple of hours wondering whether someone would be coming to place the new IV line and push the fluids.

Eventually, I left my bed (while still in pain) at around 1:30am to seek out nurse Eileen. At that point, nurse Eileen told me that she was occupied and that she would ask someone else to place the new IV line. It seemed that she had never actually consulted with the doctor regarding next steps. After another half hour with no progress or communication, I approached the charge nurse on duty (Johnny, last name unknown) about the situation. It should also be noted that a small group of staff (including nurse Johnny) were in the nurses station chatting and giggling at that time. I explained to Johnny that I had been at the hospital for about 9 hours and that I was waiting to hear an update about my plan of care. I also informed him that the bag of IV fluids had been hanging near by bed for hours as I awaited someone to place the IV line. Nurse Johnny, who in my opinion was extremely rude and impersonable, pointed to another patient's room and bluntly stated "you see that patient over there? He's dying right now." Nurse Johnny then told me that he was unable to assist me or provide me with any update, and that all he would do was direct me to my assigned nurse. Even after I explained to him that I was unsure who my assigned nurse was at the time, as nurse Eileen appeared to pass me off to someone else when I last approached her, he continued to repeat "that patient over there is dying, okay?" I explained to nurse Johnny that I too work in healthcare (at a level 1 public hospital, with limited resources and overwhelming need) and that I understand that there are different levels of need. I also asked nurse Johnny why staff were in the nurses station chatting and giggling in the midst of a life and death patient situation, to which he had no response. Overall, nurse Johnny's demeanor was very cold. Not to mention that I believe it was out of line for him to so blatantly broadcast the critical condition of another patient. Nevertheless, I recognized that nurse Johnny was unwilling to assist me at that time and thus I attempted to reapproach nurse Eileen, who was noticeably annoyed by the encounter. When I asked her if there was any information about my plan (e.g., admission versus discharge, fluids versus no fluids), she informed me that she could call the doctor to come see me if I wanted. When asked about the wait time for the doctor to return, she replied "I can't say. Maybe an hour or so." When I expressed frustrations that I did not want to just walk out of the hospital with no clear post-discharge plan, she stated, "well we can't keep you if you want to leave." In complete discouragement, I returned to my room to wait a few more hours. Ultimately, I left the ED at around 4:30am, still In pain, never having received the IV fluids (see photo of full IV bag), exhausted by my terrible interactions with staff, and regretting my decision to even visit this ED in the...

Took my 15 year old daughter to the ER this past Valentine’s Day and the experience was absolutely horrible. I asked one of the staff members her name and she responded by bringing her ID card to my face and says I’m a PA. I was too embarrassed to tell her that I wasn’t wearing my glasses and that I wanted her to tell me her name so that I can tell my daughter who’s care she would be under as I waited outside the exam room.

One of the nurses assigned to my daughter didn’t introduce herself to either me or my daughter and started poking her with a needle several times because she couldn’t find a vein for the IV. After her failed attempts she asks my daughter, ‘are you always like this?’ As if it were my daughter’s fault that she couldn’t find a vein. My daughter responds to the nurses inquiry by stating, “this is my first time in an ER.” It was only then did the nurse turned to me and asks me what my relationship to the patient was, to which i responded, “I’m her father.” The nurse then says, “Oh” and mumbles something as she walked away.

To this my daughter looks over at me and asks, “Is it because I’m black papa?”

A more experienced nurse walks in, introduces herself, asks me what my relationship to the patient was, and proceeds to successfully find a vein. I thank this nurse for her exemplary bedside manner and explain to her what my daughter experienced to which the experienced nurse tries to reassure me that it is not what I think it is and that the nurse who was assigned to my daughter is married to a black man, as if colorism is not a level of discrimination that exists among people of color and that the less experienced nurse was simply having a bad day.

After waiting nearly five hours for a CT scan the more experienced nurse convinces me not to discharge my daughter under the doctors care and that what I was experiencing at the Hospital was not what I concluded it to be, which was racial discrimination and poor bedside manner.

If you are reading this and are maybe considering choosing the ER at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital for your medical needs and have other options then I will strongly urge you to take your chances at another medical facility but if you are experiencing an emergency then by all means do what is best for you. It is important to mention that not all the staff at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital lacked professionalism. No. They are staff working at this hospital that made me feel as if my daughter was in good hands and they are very good at what they do. To those staff members I say to you keep up the good work. I thank you for your services.

If you are reading this and you are someone who can make a difference at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital ER then by all means please do better for the community to which you serve...

New York perspiration Hospital is the worst hospital in manhattan! I went into the Er at the Allen hospital for stomach cramps, nausea, and Rectal Bleeding. I waited in the ER for 24 hours before getting a room. I Bled heavily every time I went to the bathroom, with big blood clots. My hemoglobin levels kept dropping and their step was a colonoscopy. After that they sent me home (still bleeding) and told me I have small hemorrhoids, which are causing the bleeding. I’ve had hemorrhoids my whole adult life and I never felt this ill. They said that my colon is clear, did biopsies and that they can band the hemorrhoids but sent me home with a follow up appointment in three weeks. I simply could not wait that long. I was weak and couldn’t get out of bed and the bleeding was worse than before. Four days later I went back to the ER, where they left me waiting for two days without food, before giving me a room. They scheduled another colonoscopy and endoscopy. I was told the procedure would happen the next day but I kept being pushed back. They banded the hemorrhoids, as a first step but could not surgically remove them at the Allen Hospital. When I woke up, I was in horrible pain and they tried to loosen the hemroids. which was awful. They were ill equipped to do colorectal surgery so they finally transferred me to 168th st., where I waiting another 6 hours before surgery (total of 5 days with no food) I was sent home a few hours after colorectal surgery, (without ever seeing the Dr.) I’ve never felt so much pain in my life. I’ve had a spinal fusion and a hysterectomy which don’t compare to the pain I’m in now. I was sent home with a prescription for ibuprofen and 10 Oxycodone. Before the surgery, the GI Dr. told me not to take ibuprofen because of my stomach ulcers. This whole process has been torture and I’m very disappointed in the sense of urgency. I’ve been to the ER at 168th St. multiple times, for stomach pain and nausea, where I’ve sat in the waiting room for 6 hours before being seen. After being seen for 5 minutes, they then followed up with; me sitting in a hallway, with 10 other people, waiting to be seen by a Doctor. Every discharge has been with a prescription for something that has made my stomach pain worse. I don’t feel like my health matters. My Dr. has still not called me, to see if I’m ok, explain what he did and the outcome. I do not recommend these two Hospitals, unless you are dying. They will probably take too...