Story in a New York setting

[heatqueen]

Hey guys,

I am currently writing a fictional short story and it is based in New York city. I was wondering if anyone would be able to help me by explaining how certain things are done?

What is the hospital policy regarding visitors? My story involves a guy who finds a girl who someone's tried to murder and he rings an ambulance. I would like to write a scene where he goes to visit her, but in order to be realistic, I need to know: is this possible?

Also, how does the police system work? Given that my character found the girl, would he have to go in and give a statement / DNA / anything like that?

Finally: Are there any significant names? I.E. hospital names for instance? Also, the name of a concert hall that would be used to rehearse in by orchestras, etc? I'm assuming the police department would be the NYPD.

Any help would be so much appreciated.

Thanks guys!

[maverick]

The only hospital name I can think of off the top of my head in New York City is Bellevue. The concert hall in NYC is Carnegie Hall.

Even if it's not technically possible for a "stranger" to visit someone he's rescued, I'm sure your character can sweet-talk his way in with the nurse, yes? That would be a pretty entertaining scene I think, if the nurse was like, "Hells no, I can't let you in, you don't even know this girl," and he talks her into letting him visit anyway.

[heatqueen]

Thanks! Though, I can't really imagine my guy sweet talking his way in somehow. Would there be a way for him to get in based on the fact that he's the one that found her out in the streets in the cold, rainy night with a wooden plank shoved into her stomach?

Also...how far away would Bellevue be from the Carnegie Hall? I just need a rough idea so I can get timings right and such.

[Tiny Catastrophe]

I thought Bellevue was a mental hospital? You could try Lenox Hill hospital. That's a well known one

[heatqueen]

OK I just went onto google maps. The closest one I could find was called NYU Langone Medical Centre.

And now, bring on the research!

[Sunsetting]

Columbia Presbyterian is uptown, Bellvue is midtown and isn't just a mental institution (even though i used to think it was too), NYU Medical Center is still midtown, but lower - lots of people go here. people usually refer to it as the NYU Medical Center, not Langone

people can visit during visiting hours which are different for each hospital. i've gone and squirmed my way in to see people during off hours though (sometimes just walking in because people are busy - i'm a rogue, i know lol)

if he was there when the police were there, the police would definitely question him. but i think DNA tests require a court order or something, i don't think it's done as easily as we think. unfortunately in new york, you generally have to have been murdered in order for the cops to take steps to investigate fully lol, so make it serious enough.

if he didn't stick around and he made the call to the police, they would call him back based on the 911 (emergency) call. but that doesn't seem to make sense if he seemed to care, so he would probably stay and he would definitely be questioned and have to give all his information. likely, they would see him as a suspect even if they didn't take him in for custody.

carnegie hall or lincoln center would be two biggies for concert halls.

from lincoln center they might take a girl to columbia presbyterian. there are some smaller hospitals in that area that i don't know about. NYU is downtown-ish and far from lincoln center, though MAYBE they would take her from carnegie hall

[heatqueen]

^Thanks!! That information is really useful. She wouldn't be going directly from the concert hall, but from somewhere maybe a couple of streets away, so based on my google map search I'd be tempted to go with NYU medical centre or Bellevue. They appear to be linked in some way, is that right? Also, my MC finds the girl, calls 911 and sticks around to try and save her, so I'm guessing that he'd be questioned when the police turned up.

[Sunsetting]

yes, Bellvue has an NYU link.
carnegie hall is closer to those two hospitals
union square park and grammercy park are near by (grammercy is a great place to find a person! it's a small enclave of the city, the park is private, the area is quaint and beautiful, but you can look it up)

[heatqueen]

Ooh, those park places might make for a good bit of description. Cheers

[Sunsetting]

cheers to you, anything to encourage inspiration!