Every year, during the holiday season, we have an influx of patients that seemed to have been dropped off in the ED for the convenience of their family. Some people will probably say that there's no way for me to know if that's what is really happening, but we have noticed there are a few things these patients have in common. Nurses that have been there a while say it happens every year.
These people will come in via ambulance, from home, no family present. Chief complaint will be something like the patient suddenly started acting weird. The patient will show no signs of distress, all vital signs normal, labs and scans will be either normal or no changes since their last visit. Pulling up the patient's history will show an extensive and well documented history of Alzheimer's or dementia. All phone calls to emergency contacts will be ignored. While in the hospital, these patients are always VERY difficult...they are confused, trying to escape, biting, kicking, screaming.
Occasionally we will get someone who is A&Ox4, with reported suicidal ideations (which they deny). They will have some sort of chronic illness, but no s/s of an exacerbation. These people are usually HUGE jerks, abusive towards staff, sometimes to the point of being violent.
A day or two after the holiday, right when we've started trying to line an LTC bed, the family shows up, and wants them discharged immediately.
It's not just a couple people, it's a TON of them, each holiday. Sometimes, the same person will be there over Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's almost like word has gotten out in the community that the hospital can babysit Grandpa so they can enjoy Thanksgiving without any interruptions. Am I crazy, or is this a common occurrence?
