Columbia University Irving Medical Center — Local services in New York

Let's start and finish with Laura Lennihan, Professor of Neurology. We're the hell did she train? Under Heinrich Himmler? No skills, over medicates with contraindicated medications. Has no idea the side effects of the drugs she administrators either. She says kidneys are shutting down and doesn't even believe her favorite drugs are the cause, even when she is shown the warning from her own sources. She administrators drugs that cause sedative effects and then denies it. You show her it did from her own sources and she gives you dirty looks. She lies in your face, blames you for getting in the way and she even contradicts other doctors far superior than her. They love the $4,900+ checks they get from each CT Scan, especially when you had 7 already. She's deadly, stay away from her care, she threatens you with removal when you catch her lying every time. When all else falls, she throws her title and degrees at you too. Several people have died under her care while I was there. If you don't keep watch of your loved ones, she will neglect her patients and discipline her staff if they do to much to help you. There are only two great Neurologists her and she is not it. She gives us dirty looks, she speaks at you, never to you. And if you are not at least the family of a wealthy donater, good luck to you. I regret coming here. Don't go to Patient relations either, they are not there to help you, you can forget about that. If I were you, I'd pay a private doctor to come in and give your family member a private physical and don't let them find out until your attorney sends them papers. They incubate everyone and say it's a precaution. Lier, it's just the first step before they insist on a tracheostomy and a feeding tube and a PICC line. Look that up. Then they won't feed you for seven days of medication and dehydration. Then when your kidneys fail, it's dialysis next buddy. And that tube down your throat, that's a ticket for pneumonia, friend. And that catheter in you urithra is for your urinary tract infection. Expect it. That's what they do. Whether or not you are getting better, you get a visit from Dr Death as the hospice / palliative care for your end of life pain free death discharge. hospice and palliative care are synonymous, don't let them fool you. I'm done for now. Just watch out for the depopulation squad called the AMA. Be well and be sure you have a Health Care Proxy, or you and your family...

I had the privilege of seeing an excellent Doctor that I will not name in this review because I do want want my horrible experience with the billing department to reflect poorly on the exceptional care I received from the Doctor and staff. The nightmare experience I had with billing was the complete opposite. For months I've spent hours trying to resolve a billing error it created. I spoke with numerous representatives and their supervisors that were rude, incompetent, and dismissive. My concern was passed back and forth between Millstein Hospital and Columbia Doctors billing departments each blaming the issue on the other and both refusing to help. The issue stems from a routine ct scan. I was told the procedure was not covered by insurance but I could pay $200 cash-in-advance which I did. Weeks later I was shocked to receive a bill for over $1,000. I thought saving my receipts and sending them as proof of payment would quickly resolve the issue. It did not. Billing departments on both sides said they never heard of a "cash in advance price" and had "no notes" that I had pre-paid for the procedure. I was questioned and asked "who gave you that incorrect information?" All insisted I was responsible for the $1K bill and that I needed to dispute the charge with the other side. This took dozens of phone calls, multiple emails, and hours of my time after frequently being cut off and transferred. Cyndi, Pam, Jacky, you are all rude and get an F for terrible service. Millstein Billing staff, you treat people so poorly it's incredible. To anyone seeking treatment here save your records, cross your fingers, say a prayer, and good luck navigating this maze of confusion and...

My mother entered the emergency room of this hospital. She was not well and in order to find out what was wrong with my mother her blood was taken, her urine and other vitals. Every test came back negative. My mother continued to be unresponsive and sick. They admitted my mother and after 3 days their social, worker started calling and made requests for her to leave.

When my mother went back to the nursing home they found a bed sore on her backside. After being unresponsive for several days they sent my mother to St. Luke's hospital that discovered my mother had a urinaty tract infection. They treated her with antibiotics for a week and kept her hydrated with fluids.

How is it that they ran every test imaginable at Columbia Presbyterian but they missed this. When I visited my mother while she was in Columbia Presbyterian her face was not clean. I asked my mother about her face. She told me they did not wash her up... The nurse lied and said he did. He tried to tell me my mother did not.know what she was talking about. I told him she did not have Alzheimer's or dementia.

I told him I would do it. St. Luke - Mt. Sinai has done a wonderful job with my mother. Their staff has been compassionate and patient.

At Columbia Presbyterian I found the emergency room staff to be kind and understanding but once my mother was admitted she was treated poorly. The doctor on call that morning after her arrival had a good bedside manner.

Columbia Presbyterians ranked #1 in New York for the past 17 years. They may be great in some areas... But dealing with sick old black ladies is not...