Coney Island Hospital

This hospital is so slow and does not seem to care about anyone any all. I had a horrible experience in the ER. I had to go up to the doctor every hour for her to speed up the process. The Doctor was just sitting there and talking. I spent 6 hours in the ER with my dad for an x-​ray and blood tests. Good luck if you want to go to a dentist here because the receptionist will keep you on hold for 30 minutes and disconnect the phone line. I experienced this at-​least 3 times. Don’t bother to call.

I work here so let me preface this by saying that there are some really great people who work at this hospital. Some people are very hard working and sacrifice their own breaks in order to make moves and get things done. Patients are understandably distressed at times and appear to take it out on doctors who appear overwhelmed with patients, lab results and phone calls. The ER doctors orchestrate multiple aspects of care for multiple patients, and do so in a sometimes hostile environment — with quite a bit of grace. That said, there are probably way too many entrenched administrators AND staff for the standard of care to ever be great. There are also plenty of «lifers» here who have positions but appear to perform no function and just go through the motions every day. I’ll give my review as a patient as i’ve been coming here as a patient since I was a newborn and as recently as a week ago.
I came to the ER with a sudden onset of a wicked headache, nausea and vomiting. It took 5 minutes for someone to appear at the window where I would check in. In 2 minutes she moved me along to a nurse for triage. The nurse spoke at the floor (the questions were meant for me) in between a casual conversation she was having with 2 of her coworkers in Russian. I told her my symptoms and she took my pulse and blood pressure. Once she recognized the pulse and blood pressure to be normal, she looked at me contemptibly and said, «Everysing normal — what prooblem then?» I again repeated for her my symptoms and again she insisted, «But everysing normal… what you want we can do?»
I could tell she was trying to convince me to leave but while I was attempting to process her question she made a clucking noise and said, «OK sit here», pointing me to a seat. I stayed there for 1.5 hours and then left against medical advice (which medical advice?) and went back to work because it was clear that I would have to first code in order to receive care. Again though, this wicked headache and nausea wouldn’t go away and I had to go back to the ER. A great doctor (Lyudmila Levin) and an assistant eventually saw me and provided me care and eventually I felt quite a bit better and left.
Some positives. More negatives.

So second time back in two months. This time my BF had chest pains. We got a private room (who knew?). We got the same nurse Johanna. She was great. The doctor (tall woman with short hair) was great. We felt very comfortable and welcome. The room was cleaned several times. We did wait a long time for blood tests to come back. And the head of the ER came in to check on us. She’s a sweet lady. She reminds me of my mom. We were there a really long time. I hope they can speed up whatever takes that long. I don’t want to go back to a hospital but it’s not as bad as before. Hope they keep it up.
Back again. My baby had a stomach flu. We waited a while to see a doctor. It was the middle of the night and the ambulances kept bringing patients the were doing CPR on. So ok. Let them try to save those people.
We actually saw a physicians assistant. I felt stupid because I had to ask what the PA on the ID said. She was nice I only remember her name is June because my baby is born in June. We saw the «nicer» nurses we had before who came by to see if we needed anything.
The one doctor who popped by was rude. Told us to drink water and get over it. He was a tall older man maybe Spanish or Pilipino. He was mean to the nurses. Meanwhile they do everything there. I see people on here say the nurses are rude. I wound be too with doctors yelling and taking 3 hours to see a patient. We all yell at the nurses. Plus they undress smelly drunks all night. I’d be bitchy too.
If you go ask for June. You might get out under 3 hours and not die.
They need better management.

I would give this hospital zero stars if i could. My grandmother was admitted here yesterday around 3 PM. She sat at the emergency ward until 4 AM, and then they transferred her to a room with THREE other MALE patients. At that point she was also wearing NOTHING but underwear and the robe they give patients to wear. She had to complain about it several times and threatened to transfer hospitals before they moved her into a private room. I went to visit her at 10 AM the next day, to her telling me that she has not had any sort of food for the entire time. My grandmother is 74 years old. When I told this to the nurse, she offered my grandmother a couple of ice cubes and said she needed an MRI which is why she cannot eat any food. When I asked her when the MRI is, she said it is uncertain because a lot of people are scheduled. So is my grandmother supposed to starve all day if the MRI is taking place tomorrow?! I go to a doctor and ask about this. The doctor then explains that my grandmother is having a brain MRI and she can actually eat. She places the food order at around 11AM and that is when I leave. Guess what? My grandmother calls me at 1 PM and informs me that SHE STILL HAS NOT gotten any food. Poor lady hasn’t eaten in almost 24 hours. I rush to the hospital to bring her food, and start to question the nurses about the meal my grandmother was supposed to get. Unsurprisingly, they all shrugged me off, directing the blame to another nurse or doctor. After this, they try to convince my grandmother to stay another night saying they still need to run a few tests on her, but no I do not feel confident leaving my grandma here with these neglectful nurses and doctors. I transferred her to Maimonides hospital. ALL in ALL, this is the WORST hospital I have ever been to and they absolutely DO NOT CARE about their patients. Please don’t go here if you care about your loved ones.

My daughter had an allergic reaction to some nuts and Coney was the closest hospital so we go in on Sat night, thinking it will be crazy busy. I was pleasantly surprised that we were the only ones there, 2 nurses and 2 doctors jumped in to help us and we were out in just under 2 hours (they wanted to keep her observation for a little bit). Thank you guys!!!

Only come here if you have a death wish.
I have been to many New York area hospitals and even though they all have issues none has such callous and uncaring staff as Coney Island. They do not respond to patient calls, don’t manage pain and don’t care about patient hygiene — if you can’t get out of bed on your own, you will sit in a puddle of urine for hours. My grandma’s stay at this hospital was a week of systemic abuse, the final straw being that a nurse intentionally exposed my grandma’s naked body to a group of men.

Work here for one year and I love it. Don’t want to defend nurses or doctors cuz is luck of staffing they have alot of patients and not enough time to pleased everyone but they do as much as they can. We need to be little bit more patient cuz that hospital been trough alot, like Sandy, the hospital got damaged. Is slowly trying to back up, they getting more ppl to take care of hospital who care about facility .is the only one hospital around the area, so don’t be afraid to come to ER or the clinic, or to see a doctors is city hospital and they gonna do everything they can to get u better felling.

Not sure why anyone in their right mind would go to this dump.

Utterly dreadful experience. I had an appointment with the allergist as my usual doctor was booked for weeks. I don’t need handholding, but this doctor has the most unprofessional demeanor and angrily screams the patients’ names without even getting up from her desk like a prison guard. Appalling behavior must be seen to be believed!
I would overlook this behavior if she was an adequate doctor, and she was nicer to me when she saw my appearance. I showered that day as I do every day, though not sure about some in that depressing waiting room who apparently gave up soap long ago. The «doctor» proceeded to do a patch test on my arm and did not bother to disinfect my skin with an alcohol wipe. Furthermore, she emerged with unwrapped needle sharps used for the patch test thrown together in a cereal bowl (yup), with the bacteria from her fingers mingling with the sharps when she reached in with ungloved hands. NOT in sterile packaging, and I did not see the needle sharps being opened from sterile packaging. Mind you these contaminated sharps were going to be inserted into my skin risking blood-​borne infection, and I was shocked this was about to happen. FILTHY and UNACCEPTABLE!!! Left in disgust and the prevailing attitude was just «hey, what’s the big deal?» I need to explain to you how that’s wrong, and you’re the doctor?
I’ve traveled across the world and have seen conditions in hospitals in actual third world countries, some which in retrospect, were like a resort compared to this toxic dump. The majority of doctors and patients of CIH are immigrants; however, that is no excuse as the standards of hygiene for this hospital are absolutely abysmal. Trash throughout, fast food wrappers scattered about, sticky floors and mystery puddle in chair, etc.
Not to mention the $ 3 million «missing» drug inventory in CIH’s pharmacy that highlights a severe lack of controls and procedures in this hospital’s administration. The incompetency here is endemic and downright criminal.

The ambulance took my mom here with a fractured arm after she fell on the sidewalk. They put her in a cast and said she might need a surgery. Then the horror of the followup visits began. She was going to see a doctor in their orthopedic department. When he reviewed the xray the second time, he said no surgery will be needed. Then a week later his PA said it’s gotten worse (HOW could it get worse with the hand being fully immobilized in a cast??) and they will need to do the surgery. This was after 6 hours wait for the Orthopedic surgeon who never showed up for the scheduled consultation. We left and decided to switch to another hospital.
On top of it, even their parking lot is mismanaged. Parked my car there when i came to pick up my mom. When we came out, the car was blocked. The attendant told me there was nothing he could do. Only after i offered to pay him extra, he found the keys to the other car and promptly moved it. In retrospect, i should have called police to tow the other vehicle.

the worst ER ever!!!
DO NOT go there. under any circumstances!!!
I went there last night with my 16 month old son. He had difficulty breathing and was wheezing. it took us 4 hours and 3 different doctor’s opinions on whats wrong with him. when I questioned, could it be possible asthma, they acted like I just asked the most mysterious question int he world and said «I need to consult with my colleagues on that, give me couple of minutes». of course, they turned into couple of hours. while my son is crying and gasping for air.
terrible experience. will never ever return.

I just took a home pregnancy test and saw a light line so I decided to go to Coney Island hospital for blood confirmation test (2.6.15) so I come there at 1 pm after speaking to someone on the phone. The girl at the front desk goes to me: you need to do a pee on a stick test first and we don’t do it anymore cuz we’re closing soon (they close at 4!!!) im like no worries I don’t need a home pr test I already took it, just blood. She goes we can’t do that, plus I told you to come tomorrow over the phone. I remember exactly what she said, I live10 mins away from the hospital! So I didn’t argue and went to womens dept on the 1^st floor. The girl at the front desk: did you take a test, I go yes but I need a blood confirmation test. She goes did you pee on a stick? There is your answer! I’m like are you fucking seriousssss??? I need a blood test! She goes latest app for blood is in March) SERIOUSLY??? Why you call yourself a fucking hospital!!! First and last time I go there! What do they tell to teenage girls??? What a disappointment!!!

At least 3 – 4 friends of mine have given birth to their babies in Coney Island Hospital and once my mom was hospitalized suffering of a asthma attack. It is a busy center due to many of the health insurance plans’ being accepted here. I haven’t been to many hospitals in NYC however CIH has always seemed to me, not sanitized enough let’s say. I had spent 23 hours for one of the babies’ delivery and my friend had an Asian doctor and his supporting her to push the baby was like a sumo wrestling session :) The most funny thing was even tough doctors said it’s a baby girl twice, it was a boy but nothing to do with the hospital. Staff was friendly and they even let us watch the birth since we waited too long there together.
*** They are too picky about down syndrome for mothers above 40. I do not want to think they only want to earn money but it still might be a strategy. They have translation service to assure full understanding of the mothers before taking final decision to carry the baby on.

So I have a few reviews, first I was here the other day for knee pain. In & out w/​in 3 hrs. Only thing that took long was for them to read my xrays.
Last month my daughter hurt her ankle playing basketball. In & out w/​in 3 hrs, got it wrapped & a note for gym to excuse her for 3 weeks.
W/​my other daughter she has a cyst under her arm, went to her pcp & shes like oh it will go away. Came to coney island hospital & the dr made a inscion & packed it, had her come back everyother day to check it, 3 more visits & its gone & no more problems.

Triage/​check in staff are very rude and unhelpful; they also seem to get easily annoyed by patients who do not speak English despite the fact that they are employed in a multicultural diverse area.
Additionally, they let a patient who had Ebola symptoms and who recently visited Africa sit in the waiting room for at least an hour with everyone else before a staff member approached him in a hazmat suit and led around the outside of the building.
Told my boyfriend with a broken finger that his visibly crooked finger was «better.»

This hospital sucks. I just needed an mri to see how bad the annular tear in my lumbar sciatic nerve progressed since my on the job car accident ¹¹⁄₁₃ & they have no technicians available on weekends. Unreal. They only have radiologists available for major incidents, so I guess my paralysis isn’t major enough for them. Do not ever come here, please heed my advice when I tell you this is the worst hospital when it comes to treating patients and staff as well.

I am shocked at the rudeness of the staff at this hospital. I had to call several different phone numbers to get any information and the staff was just plain to me for no reason. I definitely recommend avoiding this hospital if possible. They didn’t even reach out to the health insurance to let them know that the person was in the hospital.

This is by far the best hospital I have ever been to. This is a public hospital and shows how healthcare should be done (IMHO). Since this is a public hospital owned by the city it is operated differently than the many private hospitals. The public hospitals here in NYC makes affordable healthcare available to everyone, with or without insurance. I’m uninsured, but thanks to Coney Island Hospital i don’t need insurance. A regular check-​up costs $ 50, gallbladder removal surgery last year was only $ 450. Read that again, $ 450! With no insurance! That included 2 initial visits, surgery & overnight stay, and one follow-​up visit. I’m not poor, I earn a good salary. I choose to forgo the costly premiums offered by my company.
For the staff I’ve generally had a good experience. Nurses were kind and friendly, doctors have been knowledgeable and respectable. Wait times can be long, but hospitals always are. It is an absolutely amazing value. A private hospital would have sent me a bill for $ 15,000+ for that surgery.

This is the worst hospital I have ever been at. If you can by any means go anywhere else. DO IT. (or die trying)
I came in with complex partial seizures and nurses wrote down that I am retarded and have a developmental disorder. They are extremely incompetent. They didn’t even know what my condition was until my mother explained it to them.
They wouldn’t give me any medication until the 2^nd day I stayed there. I woke up to rude nurses who were giving me a speech about how much better it was in communist days. And how young people now like me, are just a bunch of babies because Stalin is not in charge of the world… I cannot make this stuff up.
Another nurse came in to congratulate me that my urine test came back great. I am not on drugs and not pregnant. GREAT, but they never asked me for my urine. I have no idea what magical place they got these results from.
They handed all my blood and fake urine results to my mother, which I didn’t mind, but I know that the results are mine and since I am of legal age, those results are supposed to be confidential to me!
Neurologist refused to see me, because he was «busy.»
I left with a promise of telling myself, I would never go back to that awful place they dare call a hospital. I should of just stayed home and dealt with whatever symptoms I was having.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don’t take your loved ones here. Go to Maimonides instead. The training doctors … one of them DOES NOT KNOW how to translate or talk at all. I wasn’t allowed to translate for my mother WHICH DOESN’T MAKE SENSE so they asked one of the training doctors who spoke my language to speak to her. They wanted to ASK her if it’s okay to go take an x-​ray of something and all that doc said was «They want to take an x-​ray, just let them take it ok?» It sounded more like just telling her to go in Chinese instead of asking. Big difference if you know what I’m saying. They kept drawing blood like everyday and never even got to hear results or see the doctor.
There is so much more I could go on rambling about but my point is, this place S U C K S. You will spend way too much time than necessary at Coney Island when you can get things done faster at Maimonides. Well, what can people do. There are doctors that are more intelligent than others at diagnosing and treating.