Seriously?!?!

kogafietsen · Feb 23, 2013

The worst one associated with an ambulance ride? 3 am triage arriving via ambulance from another county (of course, as to be expected, she was followed by at least 6 relatives who came by private car) with a c/o "yeast infection." I asked if she knew that she could buy monistat over the counter. "Yeah, but I'd have to pay for that."

Amazing :rolleyes:

kogafietsen · Feb 23, 2013

People have no idea what Emergency stands for.

That's for sure. I'm amazed at the 911 callers--here's a guy who called 911 because a Deli didn't make his sandwich right [yes, you read this correctly]:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-bDjx1l3H4

There are tons more---people who call 911 to get rides to liquor stores because they're out of beer (!) etc etc

God help us.

ybanurse · Feb 23, 2013

It might surprise you but there are people out there that dont wash for anything! Your patient that got up on that table probably hadn't washed since the baby was conceived LOL

CoffeeGeekRN · Feb 23, 2013

"I was here 2 hours ago and they wouldnt give me pain meds so I stabbed myself. I'm in pain now." Obvious bleeding from abdomen.

Please tell me you made this up!

Psychcns · Feb 23, 2013

Have there been efforts by hospital administration to better manage patient flow in the ER.. Does it benefit anyone (ie residents in training getting lots of experience, charging the government for emergency visits, etc.) for the ER to be used as a Minute Clinic for people who don't have to pay a copay. Wouldn't it be more cost effective to triage and refer and teach people when to come to the ER??

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2013

When I worked as a front desk tech at the ER --)

lady comes in with her nine (literally) kids, plus her sister and her sister's four kids. Wants EVERYONE to be seen.

Because they had all been to a picnic two weeks ago with her brother, who was dx'd as having MRSA in a wound a week later. Absolutely no s/s of anything in anyone. Even had the NP come out to educate all fifteen of them on the s/s of MRSA infection, etc. No go. AND she wanted everyone to be seen by a doctor, insistent about just "wanting to be checked out."

Sassy5d · Feb 23, 2013

Have there been efforts by hospital administration to better manage patient flow in the ER.. Does it benefit anyone (ie residents in training getting lots of experience charging the government for emergency visits, etc.) for the ER to be used as a Minute Clinic for people who don't have to pay a copay. Wouldn't it be more cost effective to triage and refer and teach people when to come to the ER??[/quote']
There's no magic solution to this problem. I swear it's engrained into human DNA. When it costs you nothing, it gets abused. Now the government has turned healthcare into a hospitality like hotel management and restaurant. Their reimbursement for services depend on how satisfied Pts are with pillow fluffing and the quality of footy socks. And your pillow fluffing and footy sock marketing needs to better than your competitions or THEY get reimbursed better.
So basically, anyone can just roll in, demand whatever they want, treat other human beings like worthless pond scum and staff has to smile and apologize like submissive, abused puppy dogs.

Psychcns · Feb 23, 2013

So hospitals would have to work together to develop standards. I am not sure why they don't do this. The money must be better if they compete with each other.. And they are competing for the business of people who aren't paying themselves and who don't need emergency visits. Can't someone outsmart "the system". Where are our leaders??

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2013

So hospitals would have to work together to develop standards. I am not sure why they don't do this. The money must be better if they compete with each other.. And they are competing for the business of people who aren't paying themselves and who don't need emergency visits. Can't someone outsmart "the system". Where are our leaders??

In Washington with the very lawyers who sue the pants off of the facilities for not treating everyone and all the government employees who run...medicare, Medicaid, SSI, SSDI, and now Obamacare.....while they visit with COBRA, EMTALA, and HIPAA.

Sassy5d · Feb 23, 2013

In Washington with the very lawyers who sue the pants off of the facilities for not treating everyone and all the government employees who run...medicare Medicaid, SSI, SSDI, and now Obamacare.....while they visit with COBRA, EMTALA, and HIPAA.[/quote']
Yup. It's to 'improve' quality of care but honestly, it does the reverse. Do they honestly believe 'consumers' are going to go online and see the rating scores of hospitals and go out of their way to be seen at the hospital with the better scores? THIS is their rationale for this new system.

Altra, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2013

So hospitals would have to work together to develop standards. I am not sure why they don't do this. The money must be better if they compete with each other.. And they are competing for the business of people who aren't paying themselves and who don't need emergency visits. Can't someone outsmart "the system". Where are our leaders??

The ED doesn't see everyone who rolls in the door solely out of the goodness of their hearts -- it's required by federal law.

Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA) | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Guest219794 · Feb 24, 2013

The ED doesn't see everyone who rolls in the door solely out of the goodness of their hearts -- it's required by federal law.
Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA) | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

to clarify- What is required is a medical Screening Exam, in order to determine whether an emergency exists. There is no law requiring a work up for every complaint.

Very few places screen and dismiss pt's.