ED given a bad rap

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ENA posted this on an online social networking site: Hospital's ER sign a farce

This article quite upset me, and I'm planning a response to the writer. Ironically, I had meeting on EMTALA at work today. It reminded me why proper triage is so incredibly important to ensure those proper medical screenings. Also reminded me, not surprisingly, why dental pain (unless airway obstruction is of concern) is triaged so low.

Thoughts?

Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.
I keep the list in my head, but since I may inherit alzheimers from my mom, now that you mention it a written list on the wall is a good idea! Thank you for the suggestion. Nothing for you to worry about. Relax. Just out of curiosity, what's the correct spelling on your name?:jester:

you could take a tip from the movie "memento" and tattoo the names and clues on yourself...

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Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.
"i am wondering why a drug seeker would appreciate a local anesthetic more than anyone else? how does this med improve his "high" or satisfy the drug seeking behavior? "tewdles.......i am wondering why choose to pick apart a post you evidently did not read this is not what i said... and i said usually you have warning with tooth pain.....not always!

"i am hoping that you are not quite as unempathetic as your post "sounds"i guess you don't hear well either.

my apologies for misreading your post...

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Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.
my apologies for misreading your post...

Apology accepted, have a great day! :hug:

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My hospital streamlined our triage area a few years back. Patients are generally triaged within 5-30 minutes of being checked in by a nurse. They are seen by a PA or doctor shortly after that. It's the wait after that for the treatment, bed, or prescription that can be hours long. No matter how fast we are, people always want it faster.

There was nne woman was taken back 5 minutes after checking in and immediately seen by a doctor. As she walked out to the lobby past the intake nurse she asked to speak with the charge nurse because it was taking too long. Total time at this point, less than 10 minutes from check in. We took her to x-ray as the order was being put in the computer. The doctor reviewed the x-ray immediately. Door to discharge 45 minutes...and she still wasn't happy. You can't please them all.

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