It seems more & more likely that we will be making a 3+hr trip to Columbia for continuing medical assessment, and I’m gathering insider tips from those of you in the NYC area. I think we need to stay outside the city? I know we need to find a way in that DH can navigate (he may be in a wheelchair by then? ) so I’m worried about figuring that out. We have friends in the Ft Lee area who might be able to take us in directly, but that would be a last choice since it seems like quite an imposition.
I’ve had a few business trips in the vicinity of Columbia Medical Center, and a hotel recommended by my client seemed to be a popular choice of families seeking treatment there. It’s called the Edge Hotel:
http://www.edgehotelnyc.com/
An issue coming from Ft. Lee is you’d have to cross the George Washington Bridge, which will be expensive. And traffic can be horrible.
You can take an uber if you do not want to bother your friend.
I just found it: https://transportation.columbia.edu/content/george-washington-bridgefort-lee-shuttle#/tmap-541
I agree with @college_query re: staying in the city. Getting to & from NJ regularly would be a hassle. Lyft has vehicles in NYC that can accommodate wheelchairs. See link below.
https://help.lyft.com/hc/en-us/articles/115013081668-Accessible-vehicle-dispatch#ny
Perhaps the hospital would have recommendations of hotels where folks getting treatment there can stay. Hope all goes well with your DH’s treatment.
When you say you think you have to stay outside of the City, why is that? If it’s expense then I’d look into getting a car service with a wheelchair accessibliity. Though it won’t be cheap it may be cheaper than a hotel. If you can’t afford that either than asking your friend is ok. This is the time when you need this kind of support. But if money is not the issue I’d try for a hotel like the Edge. As a previous poster said traffic will be terrible and woukd seem to add a ton of stress to a not so easy time. Wishing you the best.
Here is some info I found on a Trip Advisor site, it is several years old, don’t know if this is still accurate: Private Accommodations
NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia offers private suites and rooms
for patients on most units for an additional cost. The McKeen
Pavilion, located on the ninth floor in the Milstein Hospital Building,
is a patient care unit with a hotel-like environment. All rooms are
private and many include beautiful Hudson River views. Suites, which
include a visitors’ sitting room with a sleeper sofa and bathroom,
are also available. Please contact the Admitting Department at
(212) 305-7091 or let your physician know if you are interested in
private accommodations.
I have a friend in a wheelchair now and scheduling accessible vans is often less easy than a hotel local to the hospital. The Edge as a sub section on hospital stays, accessible rooms, etc. In some cities, there’s a discount when coming just for the hospital.
Agree, coming across the GW, multiple days, will be a hassle. Traffic can be backed up anytime and you need both flexibility and not to worry about scheduling appts around traffic. Best wishes.
I just took the private van from GWB bus terminal to Ft. Lee few weeks ago, you just hand him the cash and when its filled up, it will go. If you are not in a rush hour, the traffic is pretty good. However, if a wheel chair is involved, you’d much better to stay in a hotel, like the other poster said.