Shannon F

Review of Albany Medical Center

Was very excited to learn of this wonderful option...

Was very excited to learn of this wonderful option for families with children in need of emergency care. Especially since the website boosts ready access to services - any parent would be thrilled at not having their child suffer through long waits in the waitingroom, especially while sick or injured, in an unfamiliar place. That was just what we were hoping for when we brought our 4 year old on a Monday evening. Instead, the intake (possibly, nurse?) coordinator, recommended alternate care, before our daughter was examined, or even left the waiting room! She said that the current wait time was at least four hours. She instead suggested calling our pediatrician s on-call for an immediate morning appointment or urgent care, when they open. Seriously? In truth, I appreciated her honesty and everyone was polite and professional BUT if you re scared/worried/concerned enough to bring your child to the ER, do you really want to be told there is a 4-5 hr wait time and recommended to go elsewhere without being seen?
I m sure (or, at least, I hope) that this is simply the result of a new practice working out the kinks but, when is okay to work though the kinks when it comes to the care of children?
Back to St. Peter s, until I hear better....

UPDATE: after leaving AlbanyMed, we stopped at St. Peter s ER and within 20 minutes of arriving, we were triaged and given a room. At least we have two hospitals within blocks of each other.