St. Catherine's Hospital

I met up with my friend who is preggo tonight. We were talking about what hospital she is having her baby in. Then I told her that my doctor works out of St. Catherines and her eyes popped out of her head. She told me to switch doctor's because that is not a good hospital.

Has anyone heard stories, or had bad experiences there?

I just want to be sure= you are talking about the one in Smithtown!!

If you are then, my friend delivered there both times- Had a horrible experience the first time and that is ONLY BECAUSE THERE WAS A NURSE STRIKE!. She just delievered there in May and had a wonderful experience!!! I went there to visit her both times and it was great. The only thing was that the babies are not allowed of the nursery during visiting hours and that they are super strict with the visiting hours (NOT THAT THESE ARE BAD THINGS)

If you have any other questions about it please let me know and I can ask her for you.

This is the story that I know:

St. Catherines had a 'bad reputation' YEARS AGO, when it was known as St. Johns.

I had my first child at St. Charles in Port Jeff (thats where DaniRN had Jenna too )
My OB at the time was affiliated there, and at that time, I too was skeptical of what this 'bad rep' was about.. and we even had a 'BAD' experience at St. Cath with my dad (lazy Drs who wouldnt diagnose him with anything for 4days 'in limbo', till I insisted they move him to another hospital IMMEDIATELY-after which he needed tripe bypass surgery!! -sorry for the tangent) but I had 'sworn off' St Cath too! and I live about 3m from St. CAth and about 10 from St. Charles!
I even called an OB at random once to ask about hospitals and this woman that answered the phone goes 'OH ST CATHERINES, SWITCH HOSPITALS!!'

Well between having my 2 boys, I switched OBs, to go to a smaller practice AND to to go St. Cath. I had heard NOTHING BUT GREAT, amazing, happy labor&delivery stories from St.CAth moms. after I had John Anthony at St. Charles.

and my little Nicholas (Well he's not so little) was born there 7mnths ago (where does the time go )

My experience was SOOO GREAT that I still plan to write a letter
The nurses were caring, sweet, considerating and just sooo mothering and knew to treat us wth TLC with our surge of emotions and hormones Even the staff that greeted me to sign in, the staff that helped me fill out the birth certificate was soo nice to deal with...

Sorry about the rambling butI just wanted you to know that the 'bad rep' is still lingering from the past, and some 'other' bad experiences in the hospital shouldnt be 'blamed' on L&Dor Maternity, because they are phenomenal !
Hope that helped!

Thanks Anna! I go to Dr. McKenna, and I really like him. I do not want to switch doctors! Anyway I feel better about it now. Again, I am not even PG, but I hated the idea of finding a new doctor just to avoid St. Catherines.

Thanks!

I too will be delivering at St. Catherines and have had 2 girlfriends deliver there in the past 3 weeks and they have had wonderful experiences. They said the nurses were wonderful and were always available when they needed them.

Christy - too hilarious that you go to Dr. McKenna also!!!!!! I wonder if he'll be on the call the day my little peanut decides to make her grand entrance.

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Posted by lorimari

I too will be delivering at St. Catherines and have had 2 girlfriends deliver there in the past 3 weeks and they have had wonderful experiences. They said the nurses were wonderful and were always available when they needed them.

Christy - too hilarious that you go to Dr. McKenna also!!!!!! I wonder if he'll be on the call the day my little peanut decides to make her grand entrance.

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OMG Lori! Your baby will be here before you know it!

I know - 3 more weeks!!!!! I still have so much to do!!!!

I go on Thursday to the doc and hopefully something will be happening b/c I am so anxious to meet her!!!!

YEAH LORI!!!!!!!!! I am so excited for you!!!!

I also go/did go to Contemporary Women's H/C (I used to go to Dr. Murphy but I think she left the practice?). Anyway, I couldn't say enough good things about my experience w/St. Catherine's. I'm so anti doctor/needles, etc. The nurses were completely wonderful. Comforting, accomodating, you name it. I hear such horror stories about nurses yet thankfully St. Catherine's didn't even come close. It was the next best thing to having my Mom there to take care of me. They never lost patience (and believe me, I was testing theirs). The discharge nurse was a total sweetheart and made sure I was 100% comfortable. The security over there is super tight and I think it's great they don't let the babies in the room during general visiting hours. I actually sent a glowing letter of review to the hospital after my experience.

Do any of you C/W/H/C ladies know why Dr. Murphy left or where she is?? :(

Christy, McKenna is a riot !! Him and Escamilla are my favorites. I saw them for most of my visits and avoided Muprhy She's sweet and funny, but I just wasnt crazy about her from a few incidents (I was asking about VBACs and she gave me sarcastic, 'inappropriate' answers, that totally annoyed me)..
I also heard she 'messed up' one or 2 circumcisions (one is a girl I know)

I waited an extra day so she wouldnt be the one clipping my boy and I insisted that McKenna do it (and BOY was he proud of himself and he was wearing a cool St. Pattys day tie and all (yep march baby)

Thank you all for the great feedback. I feel so much better.

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Posted by lorimari

Moehick - did they finish the NICU yet? I think that its so wonderful that they are putting one in - I hope to not need it but its nice to know that its there for future.

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Not sure...I work in the Nursing home on the campus.

The only negative thing I have to say about their maternity ward is that the visiting hours and policies stink! Only the father, grandparents, and I think siblings are allowed in when the baby is in the room and the get priveleged hours, they can't be there all day.....

but as a patient, I thought their care was great. I was rushed to the ER and admitted and stayed overnight.

Dr. Murphy is still there, I go to her

I'm glad to hear all the good feedback on this hospital for when I am ready to get preggo

The Visiting Hours and Policies are very similar (if not exactly the same) at all 'CHS' (Catholic Health Services) Hospitals on Long Island. (Includes GoodSam, St. Charles and several others).