This totally had me fuming. I think Parade will be hearing form a multitude of health care professionals. How about a article with information such as 1.) having a primary doctor. 2.) knowing the names of your medication. 3.) knowing your own medical history. 4.) knowing your allergies. 5.) not lying to the health care professional about symptoms. 6.) making wise health choices.
The article had sugesstions such as:
1. reminding the nurse that you are there she may "forgotten you".
2. arriving by ambulance will get you seen faster. ( gee thanks parade).
3. asking for "the attending physician." "not everybody in a white coat is a doctor." that is completely insulting to PAs and NPs.
In the actual magezine article there was a little box at the end of the article with the info about knowing your doctor's name and knowing your meds etc. The rest of made it sound like medical professionals are incompetent. Congress doesn't need to spend more on uncompensated ER care. People need to learn how to use the ER appropriately. In my area we have many locations of sliding scale fee clinics with great docs. But people still use the ER's for the things that have been discussed on Allnurses.
