The other day, while in triage, I was confronted by a woman. I had triaged her earlier....she had an abscess that probably needed I&D, therefore she needed a room in the area of our ED where we put our lacs and abscesses. I had informed her at triage that we did not have any rooms open and told her I would call her back when one was available.
In the meantime, she saw me triage a couple of cough/backs pains to the Fast Track. This was the source of her disgruntlement.
As she verbally attacked me and called me a "liar"....I tried in vain to explain why she needed a special room and why the others were called back ahead of her. (I can understand her initial confusion) But the woman was so busy calling me names...she refused to listen.
Usually I don't argue.
This time, the point was so simple.... I just knew I could make her understand.
Silly me.
ANYway..... I looked over this woman's shoulder and I see her 15-16 year old son taking my picture with his phone. I tell him "You do NOT have my permission to take my picture" and then I summon security who had been lurking in the shadows until this point. The security officer asks the young man, "did you take her picture?" Well, duh.....GUESS what the guy says?
"no"
The security guy considered the case closed I guess because he then goes back to his corner.
There are soooo many picture/video phones out there. I know we have policies about pts privacy and rights....but what about OURS? I felt somewhat violated and even perceived a veiled threat in there.
Just wondering if any of you...ER or elsewhere in the hospital... have had a simular situation and what your hospital/security does about it.
