Cortland Memorial Residential

Pros

• The staff is very professional and friendly.
• They provide helpful exercises to do at home.
• They listen to patients and offer easier exercise options.
• The reviewer would highly recommend Cortland.
• Care is top-notch from every staff member throughout the process.
• Patients enjoy working with Toby.
• The communication is excellent for deaf patients, making them feel comfortable.
• The facility is considered better than St. Joseph and other places.
• The staff are very caring.
• The ER nurses are amazing.
• The day nurse on the second floor was amazing.
• Dr. Jackson was extremely professional and informative and took time to answer questions.
• The brother received prompt and effective care.

Cons

• The ER check-in was unprofessional and confusing, with no wheelchair offered on arrival and a dirty, dim environment.
• Nurses added emotional trauma with unprofessional comments and delayed pain management, including suggestions to send a minor alone for X-rays.
• Basic comforts and supplies (ice packs, pillows) were not provided, and staff did not offer assistance when a child was slipping toward shock.
• Discharge paperwork and referrals were nearly impossible to follow up on.
• The overall experience was traumatic and made an already difficult situation worse.
• A front-desk staff member named Holly was described as very rude, with no sympathy after a miscarriage.
• A patient endured about 10 hours in the ER hallway with little privacy, while doctors were rude and a nurse mishandled care.
• The discharge process was described as unsafe and coercive, with threats about trespassing if EMS did not transport the patient.
• The hospital was advised not to use for emergency care, suggesting Upstate Syracuse as a safer alternative.
• A promised vascular lab was not available, contrary to what was communicated.

Review

The reviews surrounding Cortland Guthrie ER present a striking mosaic of experiences, ranging from elated praise to intense frustration and trauma. A number of patients describe highly professional, attentive care and a welcoming atmosphere. One reviewer praised the staff as "very professional and all around nice," noting helpful guidance for exercises to perform at home and a clinician who listened, offered simpler alternatives when possible, and earned a strong recommendation. Another patient spoke warmly about the care received from all the personnel from the moment they scheduled the appointment through follow-up, saying they would give Cortland Guthrie their top recommendation. A different observer echoed satisfaction with certain caregivers, mentioning "Really enjoy working with Toby!" and highlighting successful communication with someone who is deaf, feeling that the environment was more comfortable there than at other facilities.

Other voices, however, recount deeply distressing encounters that have left lasting emotional and physical scars. A patient who experienced a miscarriage described a very different reality: a front desk interaction marked by rudeness and a profound lack of sympathy for the loss, alleging that staff wanted to "throw my deceased child out like garbage." This account frames the hospital as an institution that could be unsupportive at an already vulnerable moment, with accusations that the overall experience was disrespectful, dishonest, and unprofessional. The severity of the claim underscores the burden that patients feel when empathy and compassion seem to fall short during medical crises.

Concerns about the initial intake and the environment are echoed in a separate, highly negative review. An observer recounts arriving without being offered a wheelchair, facing a check-in process described as unprofessional and confusing, and encountering a dim, dirty ambiance. They claim nurses made emotional, unsupportive comments during an already traumatic emergency situation, including remarks about a child's deformity. The critique extends to pain management and practical support: difficulties securing timely pain relief for a minor, being asked to send a child alone for imaging, and a lack of basic comforts like pillows or easy access to an ice pack. The discharge process itself is described as a logistical knot, with paperwork and follow-up contacts becoming nearly impossible to navigate.

A separate, vivid grievance centers on a prolonged ER visit that stretched into hours in a hallway, with what the reviewer portrays as inconsistent care and communication. The ER nurses are praised as "amazing," but the doctors are described as rude, and the night nurse commended as compassionate while a later nurse is criticized for language barriers and dismissive attention. A particularly alarming moment involved an IV line that was bleeding externally, followed by a nurse who allegedly ripped the Tegaderm off without warning, leaving the patient in pain and distress. The reviewer describes post-incident tears and a sense of abandonment as other staff allegedly remained unhelpful or disengaged, contributing to what they saw as a deeply troubling lack of privacy and respect.

This thread of reviews also raises serious questions about safety, patient rights, and discharge decisions. One caller warns prospective patients not to rely on emergency services at this hospital, alleging unsafe discharges and a cascade of alleged missteps involving security, social work, and medical staff. The account is especially piercing for someone who identifies as paralyzed and describes multiple hospitalizations in a single year. The reviewer claims that the hospital pressured an unsafe discharge, with a social worker named Dawn accused of deception, and asserts that such practices could harm vulnerable patients. The reviewer also notes a second, later hospitalization at Upstate Syracuse after an initial Cortland experience, suggesting that the Cortland episode left them wary of the hospital's handling of complex medical needs and social support.

Amid these heavier criticisms, there are lighter-but-still-important notes of positive interaction in other parts of the system. One reviewer described a visit where a doctor - Dr. Jackson - was "extremely professional and informative," taking the time to answer questions and addressing concerns thoroughly. This contrast hints at a wider pattern: care quality and patient experience can vary not only by department or shift but by individual clinicians and their approach to communication and empathy. There is also appreciation for a caregiver named Toby and the hospital's accommodation of a deaf patient, underscoring that effective communication and a respectful environment can significantly shape a patient's impression of the facility.

A final portrait that emerges is one of variability rather than uniformity. Some patients leave Cortland Guthrie with highly positive assessments: organized, empathetic care; clear, attentive communication; and a sense that their needs were heard and addressed in meaningful ways. Others leave with profound disappointment, describing unsafe practices, dismissive or confusing interactions, and emotional trauma that seems to persist well after the visit. Taken together, the reviews suggest that Cortland Guthrie ER is a place where excellent, compassionate care can occur hand-in-hand with episodes of witnessed or perceived neglect, miscommunication, and procedural gaps - especially around pain management, privacy, discharge planning, and the handling of emotionally charged experiences. For patients and families considering this facility, the overarching takeaway may be the importance of advocating for clear communication, seeking providers known for sensitivity and thorough explanations, and preparing to navigate potential inconsistencies in experiences from one encounter to the next.

This part of Cortland, New York, offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors looking to settle in the area. With hospitals like Cortland Memorial Hospital and Cortland Regional Maternity nearby, healthcare services are easily accessible. There are several physicians' offices, including Obstetric & Gynecologic Associates of Cortland MD PC and Cortland Orthopedics, providing specialized medical care. The neighborhood also boasts a variety of dining options such as Hyde Diner and Doug's Fish Fry, perfect for enjoying meals with loved ones. Parks like Suggett Park offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Places of worship like Free Methodist Church and Grace Christian Fellowship cater to spiritual needs. Pharmacies like Kinney Drugs and Walgreens are conveniently located for medication needs. Overall, this area provides a well-rounded living environment with easy access to essential services and recreational activities for seniors looking to enjoy their golden years in comfort and convenience.

Hospitals

• Cortland Memorial Hospital (0 miles)
• Cortland Regional Maternity (0 miles)
• Cortland Surgical Center (1.2 miles)

Physicians

• Obstetric & Gynecologic Associates of Cortland MD PC (0 miles)
• Cortland Orthopedics (0.1 miles)
• Cortland Internist Associates (0.2 miles)
• Cortland Oral Surgery Center (0.3 miles)
• Cayuga Renaissance GYN (0.3 miles)
• Cortland Health Center (0.6 miles)
• Patricia Digiovanna Np (0.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Hyde Diner (0.1 miles)
• Doug's Fish Fry (0.6 miles)
• Hollywood Restaurant (0.6 miles)
• Central City Bar & Grill (0.7 miles)
• Hairy Tony's (0.8 miles)
• Cortland Diner (0.9 miles)
• Frosted (0.9 miles)

Parks

• Suggett Park (0.2 miles)
• Cortland Waterworks (0.9 miles)
• Dexter Park (1.2 miles)
• Yaman Park (1.4 miles)
• Durkee Memorial Park (2.8 miles)
• Homer Green (2.9 miles)
• Montgomery Park (9.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Free Methodist Church (0.4 miles)
• Grace Christian Fellowship (0.5 miles)
• Christian & Missionary Alliance Church (0.5 miles)
• Church Bible Baptist (0.6 miles)
• Bible Baptist Church (0.6 miles)
• Newman Hall Catholic Center (0.9 miles)
• O'Heron Newman Catholic Chapel (0.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Kinney Drugs (0.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Medicine Shoppe (1 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• Top's Markets (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.3 miles)

Cafes

• Coffee Cookies & Creamers (0.7 miles)
• Bru 64 (0.8 miles)
• Coffee Mania (0.9 miles)
• Starbucks (1 miles)
• Coffee Mania (1.3 miles)
• Origins (2.5 miles)
• Brewer’s Cafe and Taproom (14.5 miles)

Transportation

• Autorental America (1.1 miles)
• Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport (ITH) (16.2 miles)

Theaters

• Plaza 6 Cinemas (1.9 miles)