ER patients falsify info...has it really come to this?

hearts895, RN BSN · Apr 27, 2010

Considering what happened recently in Arizona (that new law that allows anyone who looks like an illegal to be picked up by the police and forced to produce papers), it seems as though they have good reason to be scared and untrusting.

Anyone who "looks like an illegal". Wow, thats sounds like a seriously discriminatory law to me!!! Is that really the case - I've been to busy to catch the news lately. Not questioning your quote (I agree with you) just shocked at the news of this new law!

allnurses Guide · Apr 27, 2010

. . .If a patient wants to pretend he's having chest pain to keep from freezing to death under an overpass tonight, I'm OK with that. Saving lives is what I do. If they give false addresses and phone numbers, I've got bigger things to worry about. One hospital I worked at had registration screens with space for up to 3 aliases.

I don't get this one at all. If the ER is their "only source of care" they can come in and say they have a sore throat. If he claims to have chest pain and is really looking for a shelter, then he should go to the shelter. I'm not some mean ol' meanie that wants people to freeze to death in the street, but if he complains of chest pain, he has also figured out that he'll get bumped to the head of the line, and everytime he does it he puts the doctor in an untenable situation which pretty much assures the 5 Star Workup that everyone else is paying for. "Warm bed" that costs tens of thousands of dollars and wastes dwindling resources which will eventually cause the ER to close up shop and he will have nowhere to go when he really is sick! I'm not OK with that.

jlcole45 · Apr 27, 2010

So what is your question? I don't understand your post.

This is not new btw, people often lie in the ED setting.

Sometimes its a false name, or false medical history (usually they

withhold important information), etc ...

WoofyMutt80 · Apr 27, 2010

I get this situation at the Neuro Clinic I work at. We get people calling in to refill their controlled pain meds, or to have a Dr call back to give them test results, or we or other facilities have to call them back to set up tests/procedures. Then they get ticked at us because WE DONT HAVE THE CORRECT CONTACT INFO! When I am talking to a pt, I ALWAYS verify the contact info. I had one lady who said to stop calling her because "Joe Smith" doesnt live there, is not related, and it is not his phone #. It turned out he changed his # a very long time ago, and he would call our clinic frequently for his pain meds, and we would ALWAYS verify the phone # with him, and he said it was his #! The day I got off the phone with this upset lady, he called and I asked him for the correct # and told him that we have been calling this # and it is NOT CORRECT and also the Dr will NOT REFILL his Rx until he is 1) seen by him and 2) we all have his correct info.

TDCHIM · Apr 27, 2010

Anyone who "looks like an illegal". Wow, thats sounds like a seriously discriminatory law to me!!! Is that really the case - I've been to busy to catch the news lately. Not questioning your quote (I agree with you) just shocked at the news of this new law!

I know, it's a bit spooky and seems likely to be challenged. Here's a link to the article I read about it when it was signed into law: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/24/us/politics/24immig.html

WoofyMutt80 · Apr 27, 2010

My boyfriend is a LEGAL CITIZEN (Puerto Rican) so "looking latino" gives NOBODY the right to think he or anyone else of any origin to look "illegal"

midinphx, BSN · Apr 28, 2010

The law is already being challenged. I'm in Phoenix. The Mayor of Phoenix has spoke out about it and there are protesters at the capitol. Imagine all the naturalized citizens who are going to be challenged. Imagine that you can't go jogging without ID.

TCASII, ADN · Apr 28, 2010

I suggest you guys read this law before making assertions about it, such as racial profiling or other charges. http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070h.pdf

The law simply reaffirms/mirrors the federal laws and gives stronger privileges to LE when they confront anyone in a traffic stop or criminal act. It's really no different than the way we've done things all along. It's always been necessary to carry ID over 18 and you're supposed to have a driver's license to operate a vehicle. The law doesn't allow a LE officer the ability to legally question or detain random people who aren't engaging in nefarious behavior. The law even protects those who are discriminated against for profiling.

You guys act like it's something new. This is no different. Abuse of power has been around for a long time and people of all races or nationality have been discriminated against by LE. The bottom line is, this law was drafted to help prevent all the ciminal activities like smuggling, drug trafficking, and economic burdens that illegals from South America have brought to the U.S. Why is it so difficult to understand that entering a country illegally and living off the system is a violation of the law? Do you think that Americans would be treated so well if we entered another country and engaged in such behavior? Mexico treats people in their country illegally pretty harshly. I have no problem with someone wanting to come here and become a citizen, however, too many are simply wanting to take advantage of our generosity and now it's hurting the citizens who pay taxes. You might be interested to know that the laws we've passed in AZ against illegal immigration have been supported by an overwhelming majority of naturalized citizens, especially those from South American countries.

I'll bet no one here got a pass on getting into school, a job, or other aspects of life, so why do some feel the need to be a benefactor for everyone? Have you had medical care for free? Ability to avoid paying taxes? We all have to jump through hoops to accomplish various obstacles in life, so why shouldn't everyone else. What gets me is that so many of these illegal immigrants that come here to work and avoid crime work very hard. If they put half the energy they put into their labor towards becoming a citizen we wouldn't have this problem.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 28, 2010

Been in home care 20+ yrs... never seen it as bad as past 18months trying to contact patients for followup post hospital, nursing home or rehab. 7 out of 10 patients I leave meassges for to verify address NEVER CALL my agency's toll free number.

Patients will tell our discharge planner (DP) "Yes that's my phone#"....new DP I oriented on monday told her to ask "Is your phone number working?" and that we need a landline emergency number...

One patient with 6 contact numbers last Friday--not one was a working number. :crying2: 8PM nightly I put my detective hat on to clarify address/phone contact info so homecare staff can arrange visits.

IVRUS, BSN, RN · Apr 28, 2010

The law is already being challenged. I'm in Phoenix. The Mayor of Phoenix has spoke out about it and there are protesters at the capitol. Imagine all the naturalized citizens who are going to be challenged. Imagine that you can't go jogging without ID.

Well, with the new healthcare bill, you will be required to show proof that you have insurance, so what's the difference??? Those who can't prove that they are a citizen are breaking the law by being here. In short order, supposedly "we" will be breaking the law if we don't buy health insurance.

Government should not be this big!.

diane227, LPN, RN · Apr 29, 2010

Yes, and you can expect people to give you false information in the ED for various reasons, the least of which is their immigration status.