Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center

I went to the Milstein Emergency Department in Washington Heights late last night with a scratched cornea (I didn't know what it was until I was seen by the doctor). The whole process took more than 5 hours. When I walked in, the four staff members sitting behind the windowed reception just looked at me. No one said anything, or offered any assistance whatsoever as I stood there with my head in my hands. Finally, I asked "whose working?" They pointed to a woman seated on the end. At one point, I complained about the length of time to be seen. I was told, "it is like this all the time." My response was "if this is what it is like all of the time, then there is a management problem." The staff member said, "there is. we tell them, but they don't do anything about it." I can believe that. When you look around, there are many strong indicators of a very poorly managed organization. My discharge papers state that I would be given three prescriptions. I was given two. I was instructed to call their Ophthalmology Department Clinic (212.305.6185) to make a follow up appointment to be seen in the next two days. After 6-hours and no call back, I called again. I was told that I had to have Medicare or Medicaid to be seen at the clinic. I have Aetna, which the ER/ED knew, because I gave them my card. The clinic gave me another NY-Pres Ophthalmology group to call (212.305.2303). They are not taking new patients. They told me to call NY-Pres 212.305.5402. Also not taking new patients. They told me to call NY-Pres 212.305.9535. They couldn't see me until June. No business could possibly survive if it treated its customers as poorly as this hospital treats its patients. Worse, it is not just problems with service, but problems with quality of care. NYSDOH and JCAHO need to get involved and investigate this dump.