You’re standing on Ocean Parkway, maybe looking for the Emergency Room or just trying to check on a relative, and you pull out your phone. You type in "Coney Island Hospital phone number." What pops up might actually confuse you.
See, the place isn't even officially called Coney Island Hospital anymore.
Since 2023, the city rebranded the whole campus as NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health. If you call an old number you found on a dusty fridge magnet from five years ago, it might still ring, but the system has changed massively. Honestly, navigating New York City's public health system is kinda like trying to find a specific seat on the Q train during rush hour—possible, but you need the right directions.
The Number You Actually Need Right Now
If you are looking for the main switchboard to reach a patient’s room or just get a human being on the line, the primary Coney Island Hospital phone number is 718-616-3000.
That’s the "front door" for the 2601 Ocean Parkway campus. But here’s the thing: calling the main line is basically a crapshoot if you have a specific goal. You’ll likely get caught in a routing menu. If you’re trying to book a check-up or see a specialist, don’t even bother with the 718 number.
For all outpatient appointments, the city uses a centralized system. You’ve gotta call 1-844-NYC-4NYC (1-844-692-4692).
🔗 Read more: That Time a Doctor With Measles Treating Kids Sparked a Massive Health Crisis
Direct Lines for Specific Needs
Sometimes you don’t want the operator. You want the person who actually has the file. Keep these numbers handy because digging for them on the official website while you’re stressed is a nightmare:
- Patient Information/Status: 718-616-4164 (Use this to find out what room Uncle Joe is in).
- Admitting Office: 718-616-4327.
- Medical Records: 718-616-4196 (You’ll need this if you’re transferring to a private doc).
- Patient Representatives: 718-616-4164.
- Public Affairs/Media: 718-616-3859.
Why the Name Changed to South Brooklyn Health
It’s not just a fancy new sign. Superstorm Sandy absolutely wrecked the old infrastructure back in 2012. We're talking basement floods and total evacuations. The city realized that the old Hammett Pavilion and the white brick towers from the 1950s just weren't going to cut it in a world with rising sea levels.
FEMA dropped nearly a billion dollars—$923 million to be exact—to build the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital.
This new 11-story tower is the "new" Coney Island Hospital. It's built behind a massive flood wall and has its Emergency Department elevated so it stays dry even if the ocean decides to visit again. When you call the Coney Island Hospital phone number today, you’re calling a facility that is technically the first new public hospital built in NYC since the 80s.
It's a big deal. They named it after RBG because she was a "daughter of Brooklyn," and there’s even a statue of her in the lobby.
💡 You might also like: Dr. Sharon Vila Wright: What You Should Know About the Houston OB-GYN
Dealing With the "Wait Time" Myth
Look, it’s a public hospital. If you show up at the ER on a Saturday night with a stubbed toe, you’re going to be there a while. That’s just the reality of urban medicine. However, the new setup has significantly changed how they handle the flow of people.
The Emergency Department is huge now. They handle roughly 90,000 visits a year.
If you call the main phone number to ask "how long is the wait?" the person on the other end probably won't give you a straight answer. They can't. Triage changes by the second. But if you have a non-emergency, you’re way better off using the MyChart app or calling the appointment line mentioned above to hit up the Health & Wellness Institute instead.
What about the Ida G. Israel Center?
People often confuse the main hospital with its satellite clinics. If you’re looking for dental or chemical dependency help, you might actually be looking for the Ida G. Israel Community Health Center at 1607 Surf Avenue. Their direct line is 718-616-4100. It’s much easier to get through to them than the main hospital switchboard.
Insider Tips for Calling
- Avoid the 9 AM Rush: Everyone calls at 9:00 AM. You’ll be on hold forever. Try calling around 11:15 AM or 2:30 PM.
- Have the DOB Ready: If you’re calling about a patient, the operator won’t tell you a thing unless you have the patient’s full name and date of birth. HIPAA laws are strict, and the staff at South Brooklyn Health doesn't play around with privacy.
- The Language Barrier: This part of Brooklyn speaks everything from Russian to Urdu. If you’re calling for a non-English speaker, stay on the line and say "Interpreter" or the name of the language clearly. They have a massive translation service available 24/7.
- Billing Questions: Don't call the main 616-3000 number for money stuff. Call 718-616-4288 for patients currently in the hospital or 718-616-4092 if they’ve already been discharged.
The Hospital’s Real Role in the Community
This place has been around since 1875. It started as a tiny wooden shack on the beach to treat people who stepped on broken glass in the sand.
📖 Related: Why Meditation for Emotional Numbness is Harder (and Better) Than You Think
Today, it’s a teaching hospital. They’re affiliated with the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine. This means when you call and eventually get seen, you’re often being treated by residents who are supervised by top-tier attendings. It’s a high-energy environment.
The specialties here are actually quite specialized. It’s a certified Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) Center. Basically, if you’re having a heart attack in South Brooklyn, this is where the ambulance is taking you because they can do the advanced stuff to open up your arteries. They’re also an Advanced Primary Stroke Center.
What to Do if You Can't Get Through
Sometimes the phone lines just feel like a black hole. It happens. If you’ve tried the Coney Island Hospital phone number and keep getting disconnected or stuck on hold:
- Use the NYC Health + Hospitals website: They have a "Contact Us" form that actually gets routed to patient representatives.
- Show up for the Health & Wellness Institute: If it’s for a clinic visit, the new building has a much more organized reception area than the old one.
- Patient Relations: If you’re having a legitimate problem with care or communication, call 718-616-4164. That’s the "I have a problem" line, and they are usually pretty good at mediating between families and medical staff.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Visit
- Save the Numbers: Put 718-616-3000 in your phone as "South Brooklyn Health (Coney Island)" so you aren't searching for it in a panic.
- Download MyChart: This is the digital portal for NYC Health + Hospitals. You can see test results, message your doctor, and reschedule appointments without ever having to talk to a human.
- Check the Location: Remember, the ER is now in the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital building. If you’re driving, the entrance is different than it was three years ago. Use 2601 Ocean Parkway for your GPS, but look for the new glass tower.
- Verify Insurance: Before you call the appointment line, have your card ready. They take almost everything—including people without insurance—but the registration process is ten times faster if you have your ID number ready to read over the phone.
The transition from "Coney Island Hospital" to "South Brooklyn Health" has been a long time coming. While the name on the building is different, the core mission of serving the neighborhood remains. Just make sure you're using the right extension so you don't end up spending your afternoon listening to hold music.