New York Community Hospital Rips off insurance companies and abuses patients and their families. Brooklyn, New York

On July 30,I developed abdominal cramping and vomiting so severe I called 911.  I requested that EMS bring me to New York Community Hospital since my doctor is affliated there. 

That was my first mistake,but not my last.

Upon arrival, I was given an IV and an anti-nausea drug.  Then the incompetent nurse took blood, doing such a half-assed job that my arm swelled up and I got a giant bruise that is still on my right arm after almost four weeks.

The doctor in the ER was even worse,only doing a cursory exam and not a proper abdominal exam.  He sent me for tests and didn't even give me water after the nausea stopped.  I only got water when I refused to go for my CAT scan until I got some.  He also attempted to have me drink contrast fluid, never mind my telling him that I was allergic to it.

When I was brought back from the scan, I was taken for x-rays,but the doctor never informed me of this test,so I put up a squall.  When my husband arrived, I gave in and let them do their test.  Around 6pm, the nurse said I was going to be admitted.  When my husband asked why I was being admitted when the doctor had failed to discuss my test results with me, that b%$of a nurse threw him out.  He was so upset that he didn't sleep that night at all.

After I was moved to the holding area, I notified my podiatrist that I was in the hospital.  That incompetent ER doctor,who claimed to have notified him.lied to my face because my podiatrist knew nothing aboutmy admission until I told him.  He had his resident there within the hour to put compression wraps on my legs so the steroid treatment wouldn't make them swell up.  I fell asleep soon after and my cell phone went off at 2:30. It was my husband, upset and hysterical.  The b^&$% of anurse yelled at me and him.

At 7 am on July 31,my doctor showed up, surprised to see me there.  It seemed that moron ER doctor had NEVER INFORMED my physician that I was there.  My doctor also questioned the necessity of my admission, saying that I only had a minor flareup of Chron's disease and could be treated with oral steroids.  When breakfast arrived, I discovered that the moronic ER doctor had ordered a clear liquid diet for me.  I had to yell to get the tray taken away.  Wrong approach,doc!  When a patient has a mild flareup of Chron's disease, they are supposed to eat small, regular meals.  Large meals are to be broken in half. A liquid diet only ensures that the diarrhea will continue.

I called my doctor and he said to sign myself out while he called the drugstore to put in a prescription for my oral steroids.  He also said to be in his office on Monday morning,August 3.  It took forever to get the paperwork to sign myself out.  I immediately filed a complaint with the New York State Department of Health, my insurance company and hospital administration.  My follow-up that Monday confirmed that all I had was aminor flareup of the Chron's disease and I never should have been admitted.  In addition, when I left the hospital, I hadn't eaten solid food in 2 days- they never fed me!

Two weeks later, I got an explanation of benefits from my insurance company,which showed that the hospital charged them for a room and for IV steroid treatment. I immediately called them,outraged.  I was NEVER IN A ROOM- I NEVER LEFT THE DAMNED ER!  I also never got IV steroids- all I got was two large bags of saline and the medicine that made me stop vomiting.

It seems that NYCH realized that they'dmake jack if I was released from the ER, so they scammed my insurance company and admitted me when it wasn't necessary so they'd get more money.  With this on top of the emotional and physical abuse they heaped on me, I have consulted a lawyer.  NYCH needs to be much more responcsive to their patients.