Mount Sinai 22-02 Steinway Street, Queens, NY 11105

"I saw doctor Discala before and chose him as PCP. Good doctor. I called for a yearly check up and I’ve been told that since the doctor changed his network I would have to apply again and fill up all paperwork as a new patient. Ok though. I ask when I could see him and I’m told that the first appointment available was in 4 weeks. 4. Weeks. Ok though. I show up 25 minutes before my 330 appointment (no choice of alternative timeslots) to fill up all the forms. I waited 5 minutes at the front desk only to be acknowledged by a lady who was eating chicken and rice while talking on the phone, who refers to me as “honey”. Ok though. I seat patiently after being checked in and I wait. And wait. And wait. At 4 a nurse calls me in a private room, check my vitals. Nice lady, competent, it takes her 5 minutes in all. Then she tells me that the doctor will be in momentarily and leave me to wait. And wait. And wait. Ok though. At 430 I decide that I couldn’t be late to my following appointments that afternoon because of these people. So I proceed to the front to leave and tell so to another lady (chickenless) at the desk, pointing out that I didn’t see the doctor because he was more than an hour after my appointment. At which point the ENTIRE front office (about 6 people, some with chicken, some without) drop all they are doing and stare at me like I cursed doctor Discala nonna. In disbelief that I would not wait any longer the lady tells me “but c’mon the doctor will see ya soon...” at which point I kindly refuse and reject the offer to make another appointment, probably in another 4 weeks. I come from a free health care country in which this kind of encounters are the norm, but I’m slightly less inclined to accept the same here with the passivity required by this staff. Not ok though."

"Two hours to see a physician's assistant on the FIRST visit. Way to start things off in the right foot. I guess my time is not valuable, just theirs...."