NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Gouverneur — Local services in New York

This clinical environment is extremely clean and well kept. There isn't a whole lot of space for seating in either waiting area that I saw (2). There is clear signage posted and the support staff is very good and efficient/helpful. The exam rooms were also very well kept, stocked, and clean. My review is on the space and support staff only, as I have a different view of the clinician I saw and will not be returning because of my experience with her.

Updating review to reflect my experience with Lisa Ma, DNP. I went in to establish Lisa as my PCP. When we were going through my medications, she told me she could only give me one refill of my Venlafaxine- as a psychiatrist had to prescribe after this and she wasn't able to refill it. I'd never had this happen before and thought it was weird, and even questioned her on it, but chalked it up to rules possibly being different in NYC, as we had just moved from out of state. She kept telling me I needed referrals for everything, despite my telling her I already had diagnoses and records from my doctors in Illinois that I brought with me. She ended up giving me 7 referrals, that were not needed at all. I will give her kudos for spending so much time with me, and actually charting all of my issues. I have many chronic illnesses as well as mental health issues, and I didn't feel rushed at all. That being said, the way she treated me after the initial conversations and my explanations regarding my illnesses and history is disgusting. I had literally just finished telling her I was in an abusive household as a child, had a boatload of trauma (especially regarding my body/weight) and that I have eating disorder tendencies and have starved myself in the past. When she got up to do my physical examination, she told me I was "grossly overweight". This was shocking, to say the least, and it really blindsided me. Then, when she lifted my shirt- she said/asked, "you've been pregnant?", to which I said no. She then commented on my having a lot of stretchmarks for not having been pregnant, I told her this was a result of my having previously been over 350lbs and I had had massive weight loss of 150 lbs in my early 20s. She then started to lecture me on how to go to the gym and what things I needed to do, as if I was ignorant. I mentioned that I had gained 40lbs back, after sudden chronic illness 6 years ago, and that I knew what to do because I had been a personal trainer. That I am consistently working out, and it's a slower going modified workout due to chronic pain and illness. If I overdo anything, it can make me bedridden for weeks, and I explained that I am still finding what the right amount of working out while maintaining a normal life looks like for me. She just looked at me and said, "You know you're too large". It's like she didn't believe that I knew my own body well enough. This was, to put it lightly, extremely triggering for me, as it is very reminiscent of abuse from my childhood home and former partners, which I definitely discussed with her. I have never been treated this way by a medical "professional", and shocked isn't even the right word. I bawled after leaving. My husband and I were so blindsided it was smothering and horrible experience with her, it was so unexpected I feel like we couldn't react.

I did receive a phone call at a later date to discuss the provider's behavior- and I'm happy to have had the follow up, unfortunately I do not recall the gentleman's name with which I spoke, but he was extremely professional and empathetic. If I recall correctly, I believe he was in a position above the medical providers. I also received a letter from a person in a patient liaison type of position if I were to need further assistance. These things are very appreciated, and I'm hoping that through my initial conversation in above mentioned phone call, that no other women or patients will have to deal with such abhorrent behavior from someone that is supposed to be a trusted part of their care team. I cannot and will not recommend Lisa...

My partner went to the Gouverneur Skilled Nursing Facility after he had a stroke. His physical and occupational therapists Tom and Stacy are stellar - the vey best. They are immensely talented and kind and caring and because of their work he was able to walk again and regained functioning of his arm. The rehab rates 10 stars. But the rest of his experience there was hard. If you go here you desperately need to have an advocate otherwise you will suffer.

For example, the staff said he could have a shower once a week - a terrible thing when you are in physical misery and have no control over bodily fluids. When I complained they said patients can get more than one if they ask for it. I demanded help getting him to the shower so I could help him get one every day. Most of the nurses and aides were nice - a few extraordinarily so - while some were mean. One refused to help him go to the bathroom. The nurses' station is hard to find, located in a side corridor, and phone calls there often are not answered. To reach someone you have to call the hotline. Before coming to Gouverneur he was in acute rehab at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell where everyone was spectacularly kind and respectful and immensely helpful. If Gouverneur cares about improving, they could learn best practices from NYP. Anyone can end up in a nursing facility - including those who work in them. Why not treat people as you would wish to be treated.

Do not sign any document agreeing to pay what your insurance does not cover. The social worker Ms. Morales demanded that he sign a finance agreement and said he would have to leave if he didn't. She and the patient accounts person in financing also insisted that he fill out a lengthy form to apply for Medicaid or he would have to pay the $750 per day cost to stay there as his Medicare coverage had ended. He already had Medicaid and they still kept insisting he reapply for it. I went to the Medicaid office in person to ask about this and was told that he did not need to reapply, that there is a simple form to fill out to move from Medicaid community-based coverage to nursing home coverage. I told the Gouverneur finance person this and someone above her got back to me and said that he did not need to sign a finance agreement and just had to fill out a short form to switch to nursing home coverage. After this the claim that he was being uncooperative and would be given 30-day notice to leave was dropped.

All nursing homes are miserable places. But they don't need to be awful. It is not too much to ask to treat people with caring and respect, especially when they are in physical pain and enduring a terrifying experience. And especially if they are all alone. CMS gave Gouverneur 5 stars and it is probably one of the best by comparison. He was lucky to be there because of the rehab so I switched from...

I had right knee replacement surgery on January 25th 2023 at NYP. The surgery went well, but most of the nurse's there were disrespectful & lazy. The food was disgusting, & I could not eat it because the so called chef would only cook the meat rare, and when breakfast,lunch, & dinner was served the food was always cold. As a result, I lost a total 0f 14lb's in the 7 day's I spent at NYP & I was very weak. When I got to Gouverneur Nursing Facility, I was able to regain my strength because the nurse's there are AWESOME! They are very sweet & attentive to your needs. The Physical Therapist's are AWESOME AS WELL. They helped me to bend my leg and they also helped me to walk better. I was given cold packs to take down the swelling. Something they never gave me at NYP. The staff at Gouverneur took the time to teach me & explain to me how to become independent, & how to exercise my right knee. The food at Gouverneur, Was Delicious! all the different ethnical dishes's made my stay at gouverneur so wonderful. I actully looked forward to breakfast, lunch, & dinner. I mean, coconut crusted Tilapia with garden salad, fruit, and your choice of juice or soda. Spahgetti & meatballs was simply scrumptous. Thanks to Gouverneur's wonderful cook. I gained my weight & my strength back. I was discharged from Gouverneur in February of 2023, since then Gouverneur has called me several times asking me how am I doing?, have I had any falls?, Or have I gone to the emergency room? & yesterday March 21st, 2023 Gouverneur is still caLling me because they are so caring & concern about my health. I truly thank God that I found Gouverneur Nursing Facility because they nursed me back to health, & they are so loving & caring. If anyone has family member's or friend's that need to be in a Rehabilitation center, Believe me when I say, Gouverneur is the place to be. MAY GOD BLESS GOUVERNEUR NURSING FACILITY & ALL OF THEIR STAFF. THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME GET MY LIFE...