Maimonides Fail: social-media uproar after Jewish community leader shares his grandfather ignored at Maimonides ER for 36 hours It has just been three days since nearly 2,000 Boro Park residents rallied in solidarity with Save Maimonides and thousands more have signed petitions demanding accountability and oversight at the failing Maimonides hospital. Despite this, Maimonides seems to be continuing with business as usual: long waits and extreme negligence even when it comes to the most vulnerable patients – even in the Emergency Room. While most patients and families suffer in silence and the hundreds of cases of neglect that occur at the hospital on a weekly basis go unreported, one such example has garnered viral outrage when a popular figure in the community expressed frustration and despair on social media in real-time while his grandfather was seeking care for a medical emergency and was left waiting for 36 hours and counting without receiving medical attention. In a tweet on Wednesday morning, community leader Jack Kaplan wrote: “My wife’s grandfather was transported by ambulance to Maimo health almost 36 hours ago. He’s still in the emergency room. 101 excuses, but he’s not receiving the care that an elderly person with pneumonia deserves.” In a subsequent tweet, Kaplan, who is Vice-chair for Community Board 12 and a Midwood resident, said, “This is not a post bashing Maimonides; it is an “I don’t know what to do” post.” He’s been admitted 24+ hours ago, so the doctors assigned to him are on another floor. He went to Maimonides because all his doctors & records are there, but it’s looking like that was a mistake.” In addition to hundreds of likes and comments, mostly people sharing similar experiences, several community leaders expressed sympathy. Director of New York Government Relations at Agudath Israel of America Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, wrote: “I know Jack’s grandfather all my life. He is such a dignified person. My heart is breaking over this situation. @MaimoHealth please get him the care he deserves. Thank you.” Even though such gross negligence has been the norm at Maimonides for a long time, more and more cases are coming to light and receiving the attention they deserve thanks to the Save Maimonides movement. The incident echoes the rhetorical question that Save Maimonides co-chairman asked at the townhall event: “Is it too much to ask for a hospital where we don’t have to wait 36 hours in the corridor to be treated?” The answer seems to be, at least according to Maimonides management, that it indeed is too much to ask. Maimonides, of course, is the lowest-ranked hospital in New York according to the Department of Health. They rank 157 out of 157 for patient satisfaction. YWN has reached out to embattled Maimonides CEO Ken Gibbs for comment and will update this story when he replies to us. You can help bring change to Maimonides hospital by sharing your Maimonides experience by clicking here. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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