Montefiore Medical Center

URGENT PATIENT CARE CONCERN — REPEATED EXCESSIVE DELAYS AND LACK OF COMMUNICATION This is a serious patient care concern regarding my mother’s experience today at a Montefiore Medical Center clinic. She had a cardiology appointment scheduled for 11:30 AM with Dr. Juan A. Escarfuller, MD. Following clinic instructions, she arrived early (one hour early to be precise). Despite this, she was left waiting for nearly three hours without being seen. Even more troubling was the lack of clear communication or transparency from clinic staff. Updates were vague, inconsistent, and did not reflect appropriate respect for a patient’s time or medical needs. After waiting far beyond any reasonable timeframe, she was forced to leave out of frustration and distress. This is the second occurrence of this type of unacceptable experience at this facility. When patients seek cardiology care, they are often already anxious and medically vulnerable. Subjecting them to prolonged, unexplained delays: - Increases patient stress - Undermines trust in the care team - Reflects poorly on clinic operations and oversight This pattern raises serious questions about clinic scheduling practices, provider availability, and patient communication protocols. We are formally requesting that clinic leadership and the appropriate medical oversight bodies review this matter urgently, including: - Whether patients are being appropriately informed of major delays - Whether providers are present and available as scheduled - What corrective actions will be implemented to prevent recurrence Patients deserve timely, transparent, and respectful care — especially in cardiology settings. What occurred today fell far short of acceptable healthcare standards. We expect this matter to be taken seriously and addressed promptly.

I’m extremely disappointed with my recent experience at this clinic. I arrived on time for my scheduled appointment, expecting to be seen within a reasonable timeframe. Instead, I was told I would have to wait an additional 1 hour and 30 minutes before the doctor could see me. This is completely unacceptable and unfortunately, it’s not the first time this has happened. Every visit here seems to involve a long, frustrating wait well past the scheduled time.The entire purpose of making an appointment is to avoid excessive wait times. I have errands, responsibilities, and a life outside of sitting in a waiting room for nearly two extra hours. If the clinic is consistently running behind, patients should be notified in advance so we can adjust our schedules accordingly. Healthcare providers should value their patient’s time just as much as they expect patients to respect theirs. Long, unexpected delays like this show a lack of organization and consideration. People come to a cardiologist for important health matters, not to waste an entire day waiting without clear communication or updates. I hope the clinic takes this feedback seriously and reevaluates how they schedule and manage patient appointments. Respect, professionalism, and efficiency should be top priorities—especially in a medical setting.