Same patient's over and over again

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2012

That's a great advantage of working in the ED! Yes, you may see the same person from time to time, but chances are, they will come back in someone else's room :yeah:

MattNurse, MSN, RN · Apr 25, 2012

That's a great advantage of working in the ED! Yes, you may see the same person from time to time, but chances are, they will come back in someone else's room

I work in the ED from time to time and not kidding I had one guy come back 3 times in one 12 hour shift. He kept walking out AMA and calling 911 from the corner. He was mad that EMS was putting him in the waiting room for his non-emergent head lac.

Silverlight2010 · Apr 25, 2012

I work on a unit and have found that we have ones that seem to keep coming back over and over again. So often that we don't even find the humor in it anymore. You do your best to educate them and their families but really feel it falls on deaf ears and in a week or two they'll be back in with the same problem. Not sure how much plainer we can make it. You might love the high sodium foods but your CHF doesn't. :nono:

Sacred eagle · Apr 25, 2012

So true, my ER co-pay is $325.00,I'd have to be a millionaire to beable to come into the ER as much as these people do. I see some ofthe same patients who make 20 to30 visits a year alone in our ER. During that year you have towonder what other ER's they visitas well.

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2012

I work in the ED from time to time and not kidding I had one guy come back 3 times in one 12 hour shift. He kept walking out AMA and calling 911 from the corner. He was mad that EMS was putting him in the waiting room for his non-emergent head lac.

Yep, I know that guy too!! I have had them go straight back to the triage line from the discharge area because they didn't get the drugs they wanted, so they start over hoping they can get a sympathetic doc. These folks don't plan on paying their bills anyway, so it's like playing the lottery to them!

MattNurse, MSN, RN · Apr 25, 2012

There should be some sort of consequence, otherwise why would they modify their behaviors. Yet I never hear the lawmakers complain about chronic abusers of the system and the general population probably has no idea who their taxes support.

Sun0408, ASN, RN · Apr 25, 2012

One of the main reasons I left my renal floor.. same pts month after month. I moved to the ICU.. We rarely see the same pt twice :)

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2012

There should be some sort of consequence, otherwise why would they modify their behaviors. Yet I never hear the lawmakers complain about chronic abusers of the system and the general population probably has no idea who their taxes support.

We (society and the system) have removed personal responsibility from the equation, but that is another whole debate!! :)

MattNurse, MSN, RN · Apr 25, 2012

One of the main reasons I left my renal floor.. same pts month after month. I moved to the ICU.. We rarely see the same pt twice :)

Good suggestion, I was considering moving into the NICU, they never come back.

amoLucia · Apr 25, 2012

I hear you Matt. Frequent flyer syndrome is so disheartening to the staff esp. when we look at our tax $$$ at work. You have a lot of supporters out here.

GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 25, 2012

most hospitals have been hesitant to address the situation of repeated patients, in part because federal law requires doctors to treat anyone who turns up at ed. consequently, a small fraction of people who visit the ed each year account for a huge percentage of the costs in emergency care. having said that, this is true of healthcare in general and it's known colloquially as frequent fliers, these individuals visit the er repeatedly throughout the year, because they’re chronically ill, uninsured or alone or a combination of all three. furthermore, often these patients visit ed several times a day because they know how to work the system, and don't give up until they are admitted to their choice of unit. in conclusion, i recall seeing one pt. in particular that visited ed with all different ailments over a period of 6 times within 48hrs. just to get admitted :uhoh21: