Hackensack University Medical Center Mountainside

I delivered my baby at the hospital in Montclair and had an induced labor, and I truly could not have asked for a better experience. From the moment the induction process started, I felt supported, and safe. The labor and delivery team was professional. A very special thank you to Nurse Crystal, she made all the difference. She was calm, kind, incredibly knowledgeable.

I was admitted to the emergency room Tuesday afternoon. I was hospitalized that night. I underwent gallbladder surgery on Wednesday afternoon. I was discharged Thursday afternoon. All my nurses were nice. All the doctors I spoke to were nice. My food tasted fine. The housekeeper cleaned the room. They forgot to write down the diagnostic code for my prescription and we were forced to come back, but they gave us the code and a number so we could reach them if there was an issue. I liked this place. I'd come back.

I had taken my 79 year old mother to the emergency room as she was having a stroke. Ms Arlene the RN That was on call approximately at 10 pm informed me in an extremely rude manner that I cannot go with my mother to wait outside for her while having a CT Scan. I informed her that I was aware. She was extremely rude to my mother and father and said that I cannot stay with my mother when they admitted her after the doctor told me that I was allowed to stay with her. My father informed her in a kind manner that the doctor allowed me to stay with my mother. I asked her to please not have an attitude with us because this is a very sensitive situation and time. She said for me to bring down my attitude first. She was extremely unprofessional and began provoking me as I asked to speak with her supervisor. She was yelling in the hallway and said the manager was over there. As I was walking to accompany my mother to her room she began to roll her eyes and stare at me. I have never been in such an unprofessional environment at such a serious and vital time. It's heartbreaking that a nurse could be so rude and cold hearted toward someone who is in such a serious condition as my mother. She was very disrespectful and unprofessional. I hope that no other patient ever has to be treated in such a horrible manner. I am a licensed master social worker and the way that we were treated was horrible. Its unethical and she should be reprimanded for her unprofessional behavior. It was unbelievable the way she carried on in the emergency room.

I delivered my daughter under the care of Dr. Blackburn, and my experience with her was extremely disappointing. Throughout my labor, she made comments that were rude, unhelpful, and completely inappropriate for someone in her position. She repeatedly told me I “wasn’t pushing right” and to “push harder,” without offering real guidance or support. I also overheard her telling the nurses to only call her “when the head is out” and questioning why they kept calling her if I “wasn’t going to push correctly.” Hearing that during labor was discouraging and unprofessional. She even entered the room at times while eating, which made me feel like she wasn’t taking my delivery seriously. When she stretched my cervix, it felt very aggressive, and she didn’t communicate or prepare me for what she was doing. After I delivered my daughter, I tore and needed stitches. When I told her I could feel the needle and that it really hurt, she dismissed me completely and told me it was “all in my head” and that it “doesn’t hurt.” Being in that vulnerable moment and having my pain minimized was incredibly upsetting. The only person who truly supported me during this experience was my nurse, Velda. She stood by my side the entire time, was kind, patient, and genuinely helpful. She did more for me than the actual doctor, and I’m very grateful for her care. This was a major moment in my life, and instead of feeling supported by my doctor, I felt dismissed and talked down to. Patients deserve better, especially during childbirth. I hope this feedback leads to improved professionalism, communication, and compassion for future patients.

My son was admitted emergently. I have been in healthcare for 45 years. I never met a more incompetent group of healthcare workers. This includes doctors, nurses, physical therapist, etc. The only compassionate people are the cleaning staff. The Admitting physician orders any consults they can justify through insurance to grab money. The consultants then order any tests and procedures they can justify through insurance to grab money. If they find something abnormal on the enormous amount of tests/procedures they do on a patient, sometimes they act on the abnormal finding and sometimes they ignore it. Making the patient better is not the priority. Making as much money as they can off your insurance is the priority to Mountainside. I would avoid this hospital at all costs. Having your loved one transferred to another hospital is worth the cost of medical transportation.