NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Behavioral Health - White Plains, New York

Gerardine G.

I was hospitalized here after an attempt. Had I stayed at the first unit they placed me in, perhaps I would have found a path to recovery. However, they transferred me to a unit where my mental health declined and I left more suici... than when I first went in. The place was full of spoiled and rude brats who had a sense of superiority due to the the power this country has given them. They created a toxic environment for me when I was at my most vulnerable state. I complained to the treatment team and the psychiatrist suggested that I should be able to deal with that because I am from the Bronx. He also didn't let me finish speaking when he abruptly said, "next", indicating that the conversation was over. This hospital seems to cater to certain people and the same social dynamics of prejudice and injustice that thrive outside also do so here. This kills people's spirits. Additionally, I had to beg for medication to be able to sleep and had to file a complaint to get something.

The woman that serves food in this unit is a bully. Some of the staff of color have significant internalized racism. Thus, they treat non-POC as gods and mistreat POC patients. They make this very clear. I asked a worker with long braids to help me with something. She gave me the worst possible attitude while telling a non-POC patient "I'd do anything for you".

I just couldn't take this anymore and advocated to be released or transferred to another hospital. I stopped eating, going to groups, using the tablets and stayed in bed because I felt trapped in an unhealthy environment.

Once I got out, I was so demoralized and despondent that I attempted again and had to be taken to a different hospital. Thank goodness I found the right providers and supports. Today, I am thriving and enjoying many of the things this life has to offer.

I wonder what happens to those who come here, are treated this way and don't have the right support system when they come out? I don't even want to think about the outcome for them. If you experienced this, I send you my love and wish you peace and strength.

SHAME on YOU, Presbyterian. You're supposed to help and protect people who are mentally fragile, not selectively dehumanize them and break their souls.

Esty M.

the place is very sophisticated, and the accommodations are great, but the staff can be very rude. I had really great experiences with caring staff, but I had staff members not wanting to smile at me cause "they don't feel like it", belittling me and telling me things like "you behave like a baby", and simply being rude because they were tired and or not in the mood of dealing with me. I was also injected with medication while I asked to take it by mouth, and I later saw on my records that they wrote I refused to take it by mouth. The communication was not so well, they told me my parents were on board with the discharge plans while they haven't spoken to my parents at all about it.
There were nurses and mhws that were so kind and hope infusing. I'm genuinely grateful for and appreciate every conversation and time they spent with me. They are also very borderline informed and some of the staff are really good at preventing verbal de-escalations. I appreciated the groups, and the activities especially going outside to the courtyard and swimming. I wouldn't recommend anyone to go to a psych ward, especially not borderline patients, but if need be, their borderline unit is amazing.

Mia J.

I stayed here from January - March 2023. It was my longest psychiatric stay I have ever had, and I debate the ethics of this hospital every time I think back on it. I was originally put in the Women's Unit, which was not terrible, there were iPad privileges, mostly quiet, ect. Then I was transferred to the "Young Adult Unit" as I believe they refer to it as. I have overall negative thoughts about my experience here, mostly due to the close-minded views that my psychiatrist had. My psychiatrist was someone by the name of Dr. Shaffer, and he was determined to make me believe that I had BPD. At the time, I was not diagnosed with anything, and a few months later (now about a year ago), I got an ASD diagnosis. Those are very different disorders. He even went to the extent to suggest a video call with this mysterious lady who merely reinforced Dr. Shaffer's opinions, which were based on little to no evidence as he had only been monitoring me for a few weeks. Not only were their claims false, but the damage that their words and actions did to me made everything worse. A false diagnosis will always result in mistreatment, and furthermore this can be confirmed because I left this hospital on 5 medications that I now know I do not even need. I hope that Dr. Shaffer does not work at this hospital anymore, although I will say that Terrance led some good group therapy sessions. Overall, I would avoid getting hospitalized here because I do not believe that they look very far into the person, and rather condone the similar perspective that many pharmaceutical companies have, being a drive to put neurodivergent people on the wrong medications. Therefore, I would avoid this hospital, but if you are staying here now, I would advise you to get moved to any other unit than the Young Adult Unit.

DBD D. B.

This place is terrible

My experience during my stay at New York Presbyterian is not the best. I have decided to give NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Westchester Division Westchester Behavorial Center a review on Google for many reasons. Of all the departments in association with my care; the Department(s) of Psychiatry, in academic affiliation with Weill Cornell and Columbia University is terrible. They do not respect my word and directive regardless of presentation, in written or spoken format.

The facility and associated management by auxiliary staff is top-notch, for sure. There are State of the Art systems of security which is really cool. The janitorial staff do an amazing job with sanitation and disinfecting ; I’m glad the Unit is kept clean. There are also iPads available for patients.

The nurses of the Nurse’s station are pleasant and very helpful. I know I can count on them to help me when I need things for personal grooming, and they also routinely scan my blood pressure and other vitals. The nurses also serve as primary points of contact for general questions and concerns.

However, the members of the Department of Psychiatry are terrible. I do not want to meet with them. I want to be discharged. I am being neglected and ignored and when they huddle in front of my assigned room door, the Doctors and the social worker, her name is /ka-Â/ do not listen to me and do not respect my word. It’s as if Iam simply a dog or child to them, incapable of logical reasoning.They also purposefully present who I am as an inferior element of my hospitalization. They have changed my status unrightfully and in rights infringements have presented half/incomplete truths to the Supreme Court Justice.

I will provide images of my Discharge Request letter and Discharge Plan, requirements for patient discharge according to state and federal public policies.

I would not recommend New York Presbyterian Hospital to other people I know.

Update: [ 08/09/2021 ]

Previously, I was very unsatisfied with my care here. What I believe I need from staff I have finally received after posting this review before the update. What I have now, honoring of my side of the conversation in our meeting. Now they are helping me verbatim to my request and I am pleased. Apart of verbatim care, what I thought was “outpatient service referrals” (you know, for me being discharged and the social workers checking in to make sure the nonprofit or other agency is doing their job; as a term) does not have the same connotations as a “person who was discharged” aka “an outpatient” and support channels they receive as a person outside of the hospital.

I’m glad after this review on Google Maps and working with the Patient Services Administrators; I can receive the respect from individual care team members in our conversations. I will let them know that I want to be discharged to the care of myself, basically “released” and not transferred somewhere else from here. I will stay at a shelter appropriate to my demographics.

I was previously concerned about being funneled from one program to another, however I know now that everyone is just doing their best and what I know and mean versus what is commonly understood may not always be the case so I will proceed with special emphasis on communicating what I mean effectively.

I was working with The Door NYC previously, I’ll continue working with them, The Ali Forney Center and the Coalition for the Homeless to get back on track and stay off the streets!

D’Amonte Brown

Update [ 08/13/2021 ]

This is definitely a world-class hospital. The treatment is fair and the people who work here do the best that they can, granted circumstances and variables that are not “fixed” concerning inpatients and their responses to the practice of Medicine, here at the hospital. As I am being discharged today; my overall review is nonetheless a 5; as doctors are understanding and nurses are exceptional; therapists are most definitely capable at being the best in their activities and do so wonderfully!

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Rubita V.

The worse hoapital .they only care about money my son is in the hoapital i tell doctor for singht 72 hour paper she said no.he not reciving the medication my son is sad depress.that places its horrible .but today I go we congressman .if i have to go to tv i go every where 4hey only give him medication the same m3dication that hia psichriastry giving to him.I contact4he office of the gobernor .doctor seiger call yesterday.he have a psychiastry therapist why the force me to uave my son there.they lie they told me s8nght the paper in 72 hour .I already contac the gobernor office my son .dont want to be there .but they dont care how kids feel they just care about money.i saw everything there i stay 5 hours every day they do not have .compassion for kids just medicine .iam goung to spanish tg channel.to talk about wetch3ster hospital and the doctor staff..they lie about the dianostic.of kids to get more money .thats horrible .look 4hey force me to singht that paper

Coffeeaddict_77 _.

Terrible place. The director of the eating disorder program, Dr. Parikh, told me that she was discharging me because there were other patients that were more needy then I was. She then discharged me with no after care plan. I was on Prozac at the time and she didn’t even write me a script to buy me time to find a new psychiatrist. As a result, I went through horrible withdrawal. In fact, the withdrawal symptoms were so bad I ended up in the ER. I should have sued this hospital and the doctor.

Their eating disorder inpatient program is a joke. All you do is sit around all day with minimal support groups. The techs treat the patients there horribly. We were all complaining about how dry the air was and we asked for some ice to suck on since water wasn’t allowed. We were denied ice. So what does the tech do? She sits in front of us with a big cup of ice loudly sucking on the ice and flicking the water off her fingers. They talk about patients in front of other patients. One tech said, “when the hospital is full, they’ll let any garbage in here.” These are only 2 examples. There are many more. So yeah I would avoid their inpatient program too.

My Mother was also a patient there and they released here while she was still sick. Why? Because they said they couldn’t help her anymore. She was discharged still very paranoid and delusional with absolutely no after care. I then took her to St. Vincent’s in Harrison. They kept her there for a month and made sure she was well before discharging.

The employees in a great majority of the hospital, view patients as just “very sick people” who don’t deserve dignity and respect and it shows in their actions.

Go to Silver Hill hospital instead of this place. Go literally anywhere else.

Sara H.

I was a visitor at the geriatric ward and have to say that the staff, from the security people entering the driveway, to the security in the building and then most importantly, the nurses and NP doctor that care for the patients were so incredibly friendly and patient, I never would have expected that and applause the hiring manager for whoever selected such good people to take care of people at such a vulnerable place and time in their lives. It was a struggle to get there but so glad we did and my family member who was there is feeling 10x better than she was before going in. Just want to say a big thank you to the staff that were so helpful and caring.

Aiyana L.

Highly recommended for loved ones that have SMI. The clinical staff care and work with the family, they’re very supportive. Their main objective is to provide the best care to the patient. The social workers are phenomenal!

Patients have single rooms or roommate’s, bathrooms are in the room. Patient’s get 3 meals per day, snack twice a day, have access to beverages throughout the day,. Patient’s get iPad daily, on Sunday and Saturdays they have the iPads for up to 8 hours. Patient’s are allowed to go out into the courtyard daily for 30 mins. The patients have it good at this facility.