Hi Im a columbia resident and can give u the skinny. ancillary services isnt horrible, but it isnt the best. For me personally, I feel that there has been constant improvement and even in the short time ive been there ive seen big changes in it getting better. some services are excellent, and some nursing services are great - so,me services arent so good (takes at least 24 hours to get an MRI) and some nurses arent so good. blood cultures can be done by regular phlebotomy which is a huge boon especially ont he onc floor where every temp needs a cx. On the flip side, most stat labs need to be drawn by the intern (then again, if its REALLY stat, shouldnt you be drawing it anyway???). My take on it is that lab drawing is something you do as an intern, you get good at it, and its a back pocket trick you have so that some day if ur a hospitalist, or someone needs a tough stick, you can use it. As a resident (R2 or 3) you will likely never again draw that needle. ABGs notably on the floor are all intern, but in units can be drawn by respiratory. In terms of other services, transport isnt great, but except going to the units, ive never transported someone (and then again, there are medical students to give you a hand right =). Really, I know that these small things seem important when you are applying, as it was to me, but when you are so knee deep in taking care of the twenty unit level people on the columbia floors, getting some of the roughest training out there (maybe only superceded by hopkins - those guys work hard too) it'll hit you - its an amazing training environment, with brilliant people, great attendings (the two attending system really is that good), great patient population, great fellowship matching, great location. Decide what's important for yourself, but a few lab draws isnt that bad, and who knows - maybe it will make you a better doctor someday anyway!