1 /5 Herby Phanord: Took my 15 year old daughter to the ER this past Valentineās Day and the experience was absolutely horrible. I asked one of the staff members her name and she responded by bringing her ID card to my face and says Iām a PA. I was too embarrassed to tell her that I wasnāt wearing my glasses and that I wanted her to tell me her name so that I can tell my daughter whoās care she would be under as I waited outside the exam room.
One of the nurses assigned to my daughter didnāt introduce herself to either me or my daughter and started poking her with a needle several times because she couldnāt find a vein for the IV. After her failed attempts she asks my daughter, āare you always like this?ā As if it were my daughterās fault that she couldnāt find a vein. My daughter responds to the nurses inquiry by stating, āthis is my first time in an ER.ā It was only then did the nurse turned to me and asks me what my relationship to the patient was, to which i responded, āIām her father.ā The nurse then says, āOhā and mumbles something as she walked away.
To this my daughter looks over at me and asks, āIs it because Iām black papa?ā
A more experienced nurse walks in, introduces herself, asks me what my relationship to the patient was, and proceeds to successfully find a vein. I thank this nurse for her exemplary bedside manner and explain to her what my daughter experienced to which the experienced nurse tries to reassure me that it is not what I think it is and that the nurse who was assigned to my daughter is married to a black man, as if colorism is not a level of discrimination that exists among people of color and that the less experienced nurse was simply having a bad day.
After waiting nearly five hours for a CT scan the more experienced nurse convinces me not to discharge my daughter under the doctors care and that what I was experiencing at the Hospital was not what I concluded it to be, which was racial discrimination and poor bedside manner.
If you are reading this and are maybe considering choosing the ER at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital for your medical needs and have other options then I will strongly urge you to take your chances at another medical facility but if you are experiencing an emergency then by all means do what is best for you. It is important to mention that not all the staff at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital lacked professionalism. No. They are staff working at this hospital that made me feel as if my daughter was in good hands and they are very good at what they do. To those staff members I say to you keep up the good work. I thank you for your services.
If you are reading this and you are someone who can make a difference at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital ER then by all means please do better for the community to which you serve and depend on.
