Mean World Syndrome

Nestled in the bustling city of Hackensack, NJ, Hackensack University Medical Center is known for its advanced medical care and state-of-the-art facilities. However, its emergency room tells a different story—one filled with harrowing accounts of staff negligence and severe understaffing. In this article, we reveal the top ten horror stories from the emergency room of Hackensack University Medical Center, uncovering the disturbing realities faced by patients in their most vulnerable moments. Brace yourself for a journey into a healthcare nightmare where the promise of urgent care turns into a living hell.

10. Jennifer Rafferty December 2023

This is a review of the Emergency Room. If I could put zero starts I absolutely would. I experienced the absolute inhumane treatment. I was left in a hallway for two full days without a pillow, IV fluids, water, any type of food. I was seen by so many residents and received so much conflicting information. I was parked next to the nurses station where they were loudly chatting about all their patients, laughing and having a great time. After I finally got out of there, none of the doctors or nurses called to see how I was doing I only received a robo call. I will never go to this hospital again.

9. Ryan Wagner January 2024

I cannot believe that this hospital is permitted to operate in the manner that I experienced. I was admitted to the emergency room around 9:00 at night and held until around 8:30 in the morning with virtually no treatment or concern. Despite having asked for water several times, I didn’t receive any water for hours, though there was no medical need to withhold water or liquids. The staff at this hospital are truly diabolical. They laughed and joked about myself, my parents, and other patients right in front of us, consistently changed their message when we asked for clarification or pointed out inconsistencies in their policies, blatantly lied to us on several instances, and ordered random, nonsensical tests, including three unnecessary EKGs, for what I feel is to rack up the billing on my insurance. I felt absolutely no concern for real care or treatment from any of the nurses or doctors; rather, I felt I was a parody for some twisted pleasure they derive out of seeing patients languish. The hospital also misplaced my phone and wallet but refuse to acknowledge or address these missing items. Since I share my location with my parents, my parents were able to see that my phone was located in the hospital and consistently reminded the staff that my phone was showing in the hospital, but the staff ignored my request to investigate or even acknowledge this concern outside of their ‘normal process.’ My phone’s location still shows as in the hospital, but the staff refuse to hand over my phone. If a patient has a choice of ER / hospital, based on my experience, I would recommend the patient stay far, far away from Hackensack Meridian. I understand that ERs can be hectic, and that nurses, doctors, and support staff are people with stressful careers, but when a hospital employs professionals whose job requires care, concern, compassion and respect, and these people blatantly act in the most vile, repugnant, distasteful manner and provide no quality treatment, there’s absolutely no reason to consciously choose such a horrendous medical facility. From the other reviews I’ve posted, I have had similarly poor treatment from an affiliated dermatologist, Alexis Young, as well as their branded gym. The Hackensack Meridian network represents a complete and total embarrassment of healthcare in this country, and the staff and upper management should be ashamed for their malicious, abhorrent behavior.

8. Michael Cohrs August 2023

This hospital has truest lost sight of its priorities. It is obvious the administration is more about making money as a research institution than being an institute of public health. We went to ER this morning, and not only did they provide multiple dismissive diagnosis, they allowed long wait times with very few patients. More doctors and nurses were standing around and joking with the security guards than they had patients waiting. Then after asking two separate questions to the receptionist, I was told to stop asking ideations and to just sit and wait. This place has truly lost sight of its mission and only serves its shareholders.

7. Jen m December 2023

I feel traumatized after leaving the ER. Absolutely disgusting. There are no beds. I went in with pain and was stuck in the hall for hours with people who were sick with the flu, stomach virus . No pains medicine was given to me. I can not believe how they think it’s ok to have 27 patients assigned to 2 nurses. The one nurse station was filled with staff who gossiped , Cursed, and paid more attention to their phone than the patients who were hacking up a lung. I can not understand how the state or whoever is in charge allows them to function like this. I’d go anywhere but this place. Such a shame to see how much a reputable hospital has seriously been ruined.

6. Vaca Loca August 2023

If I can give it 0 stars I would. This hospital is by far the worse I ever been to. I was dealing with very back chest and stomach pain. Instead of doing a full check up they only checked my heart. Besides having to wait with other patients in a waiting area kicking all of us out of our private rooms I didn’t get results till 4 hrs later. 2 days later I went to another hospital to find out that my pancreas levels are high. I could’ve found this out days ago. Don’t bother coming here not even for a common cold

5. Rosanna Brown July 2023

I can only give this hospital rating based on my personal experience. I went there after a fall. The following series of events in my opinion are highly unethical (but because nurses and doctors are only held accountable when they cause serious injuries or death, I am not surprised). The morning I arrived, they were supposed to do a scan but needed to verify that I was not pregnant. Somewhere along the line they forgot to check the chart to see if I was pregnant (I didn’t know I was). Turns out the first nurse had entered a positive test result. However, when the second nurse came in she told me I was pregnant. I told her “But they just did a scan on me.” This is when she decides to backtrack what she just said and says she was going to do another one (she didn’t do it in front of me). She then comes back and says I am not. They then discharge me with an edited pregnancy record on my discharged papers. Something about the whole interaction was just fishy. I decided to do one at home the next day (I did about three) in the afternoon and they were all positive. It is actually harder to get a positive result in the afternoon because your hormone levels are lower. I really hope my baby is born without any defects. However, the dishonesty and disregard by the nurses and doctors here left me really concerned. If you can lie about a pregnancy test what other things can you do.

4. fifo77c July 2023

What can Say about this hospital? I was diagnosed with cancer And supposedly this is one of the best hospital in NJ but I am going to tell you that they are the best in charging the insurance and the patient and less than a month they charged $27,000 to my insurance, Patient care is so bad in this hospital. They only interested in charging the insurance They change your appointment without telling the patient.. they wanna collect the deductible in advance without sending the claim.. they called my wife saying that if she doesn’t pay the deductible They not going to do pet scan, it is sad to see that we are only the symbol of $$ and nothing else My appointment was today at 4pm and they changed to 10am without telling me… Now i have wait to next week helpfully the don’t change it without telling me one the best hospital with the worse patients care…

3. Genesis Perez July 2022

This used to be my favorite emergency room People that worked here before used to love what they were doing, no anymore. Today is my second day on this emergency room and it is the worst experience ever. Employees just don’t care about you. I have been waiting for 3 hours with pain, no one has touched me. The staff is rude, every time You try to ask they just find it easy to ignore you. They moved me from one room to the halfway area a brought another patient to the place I was without cleaning the space.

2. joey bullaro July 2023

DO NOT EVER EVER EVER go to this ER, not unless you’re unconscious or in cardiac arrest. I went to this ER for abdominal pain where a ct scan revealed a mass on my colon. I was left in the ER for 24 hours straight in the hallway and my father wasn’t even allowed to come and be with me considering the horrid news I just received. Traumatized is not the word! I was alone and scared for my life and I didn’t even have a soul to console. If you’re looking for compassion, warmth and personalized care go elsewhere.

HONORABLE MENTION #1 – Kyle Holly July 2022

My girlfriend was having trouble with her vision and was recommended to be seen at this hospital for an MRI. We arrived at 4 PM waited in the ER until midnight for her to be admitted. MRI was not available until 4 PM the next day… (one MRI machine is broken and they only have two) no medication can be given to treat her vision until they complete the MRI. Her MRI was moved again and her vision was getting worse. Very awful experience and no sense of urgency / care for the patients well being. We are stuck here until they can fit her in for an MRI. It was an EMERGENCY room visit not a 2 day later for a diagnosis visit.

HONORABLE MENTION #2 – Rocio Suazo July 2022

This used to be a great ER just a year ago. I’ve been there twice this week and it has been terrible. The doctors and nurses dismiss every single thing you tell them and then just tell you to go to your pediatrician. Waited for over 6 hours and the nurses wouldn’t even apologize it’s like you annoyed them and your kids crying in pain annoys them too like if they don’t work in a pediatrics ER! I always spoke highly of this ER and the hospital overall. Not anymore.

1. Ekaterina Ponkratova July 2022

Me and my 3yo daughter were there for 5 h; she was having non stop diarrhea and blood in urine. They didn’t do anything: not blood test, not IV fluids, not ultrasound; except of urine strip test and said that “blood in urine is not a big deal we will send you home”. I went to another hospital and they did there everything and said that bacterial infection went to her kidney. Thankfully we are good now.