Another triage vent thread

Sometimes .... if we aren't completely slammed, I ATTEMPT to teach pt's a little ...

ex: mother who brings her baby in with diaper rash, not getting better with treatment.

"doc will see you when we have a bed available. She might benefit from some 'naked time' at home .... no diaper, let her run free"

ex: woman who had vag bld for 6 wks, did not see GYN due to no insurance, family stressors, etc.

"doc will see you when we have a bed available. Be prepared to get a pelvic exam, CBC, etc. I understand not having insurance, but we have clinics in different areas of town specifically for uninsured/underinsured. Here's the number ...."

I feel like this might save them a trip to the ER next time around.

I really hate the mean and nasty ones who are abusive and feel it is their god given right to say anything they want. It is sooo discouraging. I worked my a** off the other day, running, running and had a pt spouse get pissy and tell me he could do my job faster than me if he were wearing a blindfold. The ED gives you a thick skin or you don't survive.

I love it when, after 4 weeks at a new assignment I know all of the FF by name and complaint. Gimme a break! If I know your name you've been here FAR too much!

IT never fails to amaze me when 7 family members are eating Mc donalds, and playing games, switchingchannels on the tv, etc. and they don't care if they have to wait for 2 hours or more, it is like a social occasion.

The same is true in the part of the South where I live and work. The other mind-boggling thing is that they get their friends and their kids to come to the ER with them and picnic on McDonald's or out of the vending machines (I think those should be a BIG no-no in an ER)! They almost invariably hadMedicaid, but plenty enough money to buy the junk food and cigarettes, of course. How does that happen?

BTW, they would have all the food they wanted, but forgot to bring formula or a diaper for the babies they brought with them, and expected us to provide for them!

I have long thought that the term that is used in my hospital of "customer service" just doesn't compute for me--I don't think in those terms. Dammit, I provide patient care. If I had wanted to be in customer service I would be working in my bank helping people pick out their checks. (that is what my bank boasts--not me). I believe that the public has bought into that "customer service" lingo and we are looked at as just another service. Somedays I really feel fed up with the "all you can eat $5.95 world" we have come to live in. What we do is valuable. People take better care of their pets and cars, think long and hard before buying a tomato but don't think twice about that pill they are about to take that someone somewhere told them would help with this and that.........................sigh. Thanks.:trout::angryfire:nono::uhoh3:

I have long thought that the term that is used in my hospital of "customer service" just doesn't compute for me--I don't think in those terms. Dammit, I provide patient care. If I had wanted to be in customer service I would be working in my bank helping people pick out their checks. (that is what my bank boasts--not me). I believe that the public has bought into that "customer service" lingo and we are looked at as just another service. Somedays I really feel fed up with the "all you can eat $5.95 world" we have come to live in. What we do is valuable. People take better care of their pets and cars, think long and hard before buying a tomato but don't think twice about that pill they are about to take that someone somewhere told them would help with this and that.........................sigh. Thanks.:trout::angryfire:nono::uhoh3:

Amen Sister!!! :biere:

Today's management is more worried about the PERCEPTION of the institution than the OPERATION of the institution. Let's try to get our priorities in order!!! Let's make them well, THEN make them happy!

You make a good point. I am sure there are people that would use a clinic for the uninsured. I might even state it more strongly--"our medical and nursing communities support clinics in this city for the under and non-insured. Here are there numbersxxxxxxxx. We have had our secs make appts. for those pts. and often know the name of the receptionist and we put that on the card with the number of the clinic as well. I know this sounds like maybe going too far but it does pay off with one or two diversions. Understand that we don't turn our patients away but we are happy to give them options if they are unwilling to stay.