Public Hearing Held On Overcrowding At NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital's ER

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Concerns are being voiced regarding overcrowding at one of New York City's busiest emergency rooms.

State Sen. Adriano Espaillat said NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital declined to participate in a public hearing he held Wednesday over the status of its emergency room, 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa reported.

"If New Yorkers recognize that our home has become a tale of two cities, then we must acknowledge that NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital has become a tale of two hospitals," Espaillat said.

The lawmaker said according to federal regulators, the hospital's response time is slower than the national average.

Jay Mazer said he spent over 10 hours in the emergency room for kidney stones.

"At 7:45 p.m. I was discharged having never seen the inside of a cubicle," he said.

Federal health care regulators said 5 percent of the hospital's ER patients leave before they're seen by a medical professional -- compared with the national average of 2 percent.

Representatives from the New York State Nurses Association said the nurse-to-patient ratio is poor, Papa reported.

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital said in a statement, in part, "Every patient who comes to a NewYork-Presbyterian facility receives the same high-quality, compassionate care from our dedicated staff.

Click here to read the full statement from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

"NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and its employees take enormous pride in serving our community. We are committed to ensuring that all of our patients and their family members receive outstanding, compassionate care and excellent service from our hospital and every member of our team."

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