New York University, Langone ED
My health was not improving. Tests displayed the fact that there was nothing I could do to improve my condition if I stayed at home, I had to go back to the hospital. Well, not exactly to the hospital, I had to go back to ER. This time I went to the ER department at NYU Langone, and the difference between this facility and Mount Sinai is the difference between life and death.
The best time to arrive at the NYU ER is between 8-9 AM. Patients from the previous day have either been sent home or been admitted to a hospital bed. The new shift of health care professionals is just arriving, so they are awake and have the energy to assess patient conditions.
Where are the doctors? I really have no answer to this question! The first time I was at the NYU ED I was quickly seen by a doctor and an intern. This “luxury” never happened again. Doctors are few and far between. On one ER visit, I never saw a doctor (at least no one I remember as being a doctor). The people interacting with patients are either nurses or physician assistants.
Patient processing
Patients arriving at the NYU Langone emergency entrance are processed through a system that requires name, address, identification, and insurance information (if you are not in their database), plus a quick summary of the reason for being at the ER and an evaluation of pain level, ending with the issue of a wrist ID bracelet with name, date of birth, and date of admission.
Although the pain level is questioned, it does not appear to impact on the speed of talking with a doctor. The last time I was at the ER, my pain level (on a scale of 1-10) was 15 (actually closer to 50)! I was barely functioning at this level of pain, but it did not get me through the entry process any quicker nor did it get me an instant conversation with a doctor. The only acknowledgement of the pain was the opportunity to be brought to an ER section and placed on a gurney along with wheelchair transportation.
While the intake staffers are friendly, be prepared for personal conversations to be completed before your medical needs are addressed. After a few delays, I completed the intake protocols (blood pressure, temperature, name, address, age), and I was moved from reception to an empty bay, placed on a gurney, and left on my own. Although I was screaming at the top of my lungs about the pain, I did not see a nurse, PA, or doctor for what seemed to be hours. The curtain surrounding the bay was closed, and I was left to scream and scream – until I either fell asleep or had no energy left for screaming and could only whimper.
Patients in ER rooms are assigned a nurse, and this is the only professional with whom communication is permitted. Unfortunately, there is no way to contact the assigned nurse. There are no emergency buttons, bells, or electronic devices – nothing! If the nurse does not come to see you – the only way to get assistance is by standing in the hallway outside the bay, and attempt to find the nurse by scanning people who are sitting behind computers or entering/exiting other bays and screaming their name. Sometimes it is possible to ask another nurse to find yours, but this gesture is not appreciated. Whether it is by choice or policy, the only person “authorized” to respond to your needs, is the assigned nurse.
Blood tests are popular in ER rooms, and, within minutes test results show up on the NYU Langone MYCHART without explanations. Should I worry if the tests indicate I am above or below “normal range”? Short of taking the medical term for the test and doing a Google search – there is absolutely no way to know if the result of the test is good or bad news. Question a nurse or doctor on the tests; the quest for additional information is ignored. Of course, if you do not have a cell phone or tablet – there is no way to access any of the information.
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