Quote:
Originally Posted by tld221
I have a question about. Emergency rooms.
I've spent many of nights (and days) in ER's for illnesses that, in the grande sceme of things, aren't emergencies, but do require immediate care (it can take weeks to get an appt). The doctor who staffs the ER patients-what are they doing? Patients wait hours to be seen by a doctor who only spends 10 mins with them. There are people who've say they've been here from 430pm and still haven't been seen.
I went to an ER where I was literally the only patient waiting to be seen. It still took a half hour to triage and another 2 hours to be seen. What gives?
I would think that the hospital would want to get patients out asap. Why do we wait hours on end? Are ER's a big joke to doctors/nurses? Are yall just lmao-ing behind that registration plexiglass?
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I am not a medical doctor... But let me tell you ER health care personnel are like the hardest working PCP's in the healthcare business... You really do have to be dedicated to work in the ER. There is SOOOO much paperwork to fill out, follow up on what they have to do, triage at some level, making sure you have enough beds--i.e. areas to put people, and the required emergency drugs--like pain killers, drips, etc. to give them--making sure who you are is what your DNA says you are... And that is just for the major accidents if you are at a trauma 1 level hospital. Then, if you are combined teaching, you have to residents and fellows doing their time on the wards. And if you are at a specialized ER, etc. you are cranking out the high risk patients... Another reason why I am NOT a physician!!!
8 PM+ is NOT the time to go to the ER, generally for "relative wait times"... And dare I say up until 5 AMish is a decent time to go to the ER--relative wait times are "lower", maybe...
Some hospital's ER's fill up around 5 PM+. I know a few physicians that do ER work, and wow, they work their azzes off... Surgery to stabilize the patient. I know the Chief of ER at Cedars-Sinai, LA, and she said bluntly ER care is NOT healthcare... It is true military style triage care... That's why all medical military personnel is awesome at ER care...
So, if you are flu sick, and you are puking blood, goto the ER... If you have a 100 F temp with headache, drink Gatorade, take a Tylenol and CALL to your providers... If you break a bone, go to the ER... If you can walk on your leg, while painful, try to see your GP... If you have a gunshot wound, yeah, go to the ER, but they will report it to the police...
More hospitals are providing 24 hour nurse lines... The nurses can let you know how "emergency" your issues are when you call them. For now, they do not cost money... But at least you do not have to wait and come up out of pocket...
The example is if you break a bone, they have to get the space to do the X-ray and or run you through the CATscan. Then there have to be techs to find the space. There are some SOP's in place here...
The other issue is get your providers in the loop by noting ANY and possibly every health symptom you think you may have... I have started emailing my providers when I have EVERY health alteration overall...
Remember, YOU ARE YOUR OWN BEST HEALTH ADVOCATE!!!
As for Salmonella lunacy that is going on... Save the puke and give it to the lab... I mean seriously... Make them deal with it... I told my OB-GYN that I was going to give her some "stuff" in 10% formalin if I did not get a response and was going to get some chem and path on it... She, laughed and said, no, we are not there yet... And save a small jar full of bloody poop... That might piss them off, but let me tell you, human samples for the CDC is priceless these days...