My experience at St. Barnabas Hospital was extremely concerning and unacceptable…read more
My mom came into the ER experiencing chest pain, and her blood pressure was 240. She was given a bed, but we waited approximately an hour before anyone came to properly assess her.
While we were waiting, my mom became extremely dizzy and appeared to be fainting. A nurse named Eva was walking by with doctors, so I immediately told her that my mom was getting worse and that she was losing consciousness.
Instead of coming over to assess my mom or getting someone to help, she yelled at me, "But she's breathing, right?!" and continued walking.
I was shocked by the response. The people who were with her were also visibly shocked, and even the woman in the bed next to my mom was upset enough to ask for the nurse's name.
Another interaction was equally concerning. A staff member came to take my mom for imaging and asked whether she could walk. I explained that she could not walk independently and that, although she is not paralyzed, she is extremely weak and would need assistance getting into a wheelchair.
She responded, "I didn't ask you for that."
I told her, "Why are you talking to me like that? Please speak to me with respect." She then walked away and said, "She'll remain there," and never came back.
I also personally witnessed four other people leave the ER while we were there, clearly frustrated with their experience. Seeing multiple people leaving while patients were still waiting only added to my concerns about how things were being handled.
Breathing is not the only indication that someone is okay. My mother had extremely high blood pressure, chest pain, and was becoming faint right in front of us. As a family member, I was asking for help because I was genuinely concerned about her condition.
Patients come to an emergency room because they need to be taken seriously and assessed when something changes. Being spoken to that way while trying to get help for my mother was unacceptable and deeply upsetting.
This was only the beginning of our experience, and unfortunately, there were additional concerns during her stay. I will be documenting those experiences as well. I sincerely hope the hospital looks into how patients and their families are being treated in this ER.
With that said, the one bright spot in our care was Dr. Cohen. In stark contrast to the rest of our experience, Dr. Cohen was exceptional. He was extremely compassionate, thoroughly attentive, and treated both my mother, me and other patients with genuine kindness and respect. He took the time to listen to our concerns, explain everything clearly, and provide the high level of professional, thoughtful care that every patient in an emergency room deserves. Dr.Cohen represents the absolute best in medicine, and we are deeply grateful for his help during such a stressful time.
