New York Presbyterian Hospital – Herbert Irving Pavilion

I’m focusing my review on the Breast Center. Security is helpful and courteous, even let me use their phone because my battery died. The elevators stop a the floor you requested. What else can be said? Turns out a TON!
I’ve engaged this place over the phone five times? in person twice. That is 6, times to many. When is Unilocal getting bold and italic???
My adventure began when I first called because I needed previous films and reports sent to them. It was confusing, I’m returning to NY after a long time and don’t know medical record numbers are supposed to be tattooed on our foreheads! It took three calls to figure out my number and their preferred contact because I kept getting wrong info and was left on hold at one point for 60 minutes. I’m still not over that. They didn’t even come back. They just left me there. At 45 minutes it became a game, at 61 minutes I realized they had gone home and I lost.
My old hospital faxed my reports over the same day, and mailed my films. I called to make an appointment and was told that I should call the day before to make sure my films were there. I did. They hadn’t. I asked do I need to cancel? because I was told if you didn’t have my films I should cancel. NO they say, just come in. Are you sure? YES they said… so I went in. I was told to go home. I don’t go around cursing at public servants but I do a mean «I hope you feel my wrath while you inhale your last breathe stare». I gave them that, grabbed my ID and insurance and walked out hastily. Their apologies were wasted, I wasn’t amused by the lack of professionalism or ineptitude.
I then received a letter in the mail, two weeks later. My films had arrived. No shit Sherlock, I was tracking them with USPS. They scheduled me for late July. So I call in, because I was due for a followup in March. I get today.
I walk in, I am told I’m getting a procedure, but not what my doctor is recommending. A secretary is telling me why. He then raises his voices as if that is going to improve my opinion of them. My doctor is basing her recommendation on my family history and other risk factors. The receptionist wants to have this conversation with me but I’m already jaded and need someone with a medical degree to handle me. I’m advised to see the doctor and as about the correct course of action. I nod. I get checked in and am seen within 30 minutes. I am on the table for more than an hour. The technician was nice, and the radiologist and med came in and repeated some scans. I’m told to come back in 6 months for the same.
I head to the front desk to ask if I schedule or just sit at home wishing, and hoping and waiting… I am seen standing behind the person who just got serviced, they act like they don’t see me and call someone else. I walk up and ask if I need to do anything else/​checkout I get the vaguest answer on the planet. I shake my head and leave.
Overall the medical staff is very thorough, the doctor was extremely detailed and I left feeling like my scans were handled properly. However, the staff at the front made me want to cry out «STELLA». Looking forward to only seeing them every six months. I wouldn’t recommend them unless, well unless yo have time for none sense.

Located on the corner of Fort Washington and 165^th, this easy to access building has a drive up drop off area with quick access to the parking garage across the street. The helpful doorman will direct you to the appropriate floor if you dont already know. Mainly they deal with outpatient services. A lab is available to process CBCs quickly for certain oncology floors.
The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia focuses on basic, clinical and population-​based cancer research and patient care.
The website
is a great resource to look into doctors or specific oncology fields.
Be forwarned, the elevators are slow at best so make sure to arrive with ample time to arrive at your appointment.