ER Treatment

purplemania, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2006

How horrible. A true breakdown in the "system". Seems like your regular MD could prescribe ABX. Also, is that what made you sick - the meds?

Noryn · Mar 10, 2006

I dont know how long that you have been on antibiotics but if you are having problems COMMUNICATE this with your doctor. Otherwise they have no idea of knowing their treatment is not working. Treatments arent perfect--sometimes antibiotics have to be changed.

Sometimes nurses in the ER dont mean anything by saying that but often ERs do not treat dental emergencies but they can treat the infection or pain. This can save a lot of money for you and time. You wait 6 hours and have to pay a few hundred dollars only for the doctor to say I am sorry I cant really do much but give you an antibiotic or pain medication--both of which you can get usually faster and cheaper through your family doctor.

Having said that some ERs do treat dental emergencies--call them up perhaps but I would really communicate with my dentist.

NYTramaRN, RN · Mar 10, 2006

Two things: 1) if your regular dentist won't handle you dental emergency at least by the next regular business day it's time for a new dentist!

2) The ER staff needs to be report to the hospital administration at the minimum, if not the state regulatory folks. Federal law states it is illegal to descriminate, or modify/withhold treatment based on a persons ability to pay. There was no breakdown in communication these folk willfully broke the law!

Paul

Katnip, RN · Mar 10, 2006

I agree with the above.

Ask to see your PMD for pain if the dentist can't see you.

Find a dentist who will see you for emergencies. Mine has left his son's soccer game on a Sunday afternoon to help me out.

Call the hospital administration and report your treatment to them. That is just unjust.

Also call or write to the head of the ER service that provides physicians to this hospital. Their contract won't last long with a hospital if things don't change.

Jennerizer, ASN, RN · Mar 10, 2006

I agree about the dentist...if he won't see you in an emergency, then get another dentist. My dentist returned my call on a Sunday even though he was out on a boat. Not only did he return the call, but he called the pharmacy directly to order me an antibiotic & pain meds. A good dentist is priceless!

As far as the ER, I understand the doctor was rude...but if they don't treat tooth pain, then they don't treat tooth pain. Call your primary.

slinkeecat · Mar 10, 2006

You should report the ER experience to the adminstrator of that hospital. You should also get a new dentist. I cannot believe that the ER doc did that to you. That is such crap!!!! hope you feel better soon!!

Caligurl · Mar 10, 2006

You're right. If they don't treat tooth pain or anything along those lines then it's fine by me. But they did not have to be so rude about it. What gets me is that they've treated dental pain before (my husband) and my clients who come in and apply for medi-cal in order to cover the cost of their dental procedures have gone to the ER and were given pain meds and antibiotics. I wasn't expecting the ER that night to perform a miracle and treat my pain like a dentist would. All I asked was that they take a look and prescribe an antibiotic.

The other thing about this ER is this is a very small town. They're known for their high turnover rate in physicians and nurses. I can understand why. But to go out of your way to make a patient feel like they 2ft tall is just wrong. If you're not in the profession to help, then get another job. I LOVE helping people and if I were a doc I wouldn't treat my patients this way. Before we left that night the doc said "Don't worry. She'll be back." Yeah okay. Not after that mess.

As for my dentist..yes I am in the process of finding another one because I called him this morning and they can't see me or prescribe any pain meds until after I see them on the 22nd! I even explained to them the situation. The pain happened suddenly and only got worse overnight. In the past he was always ready to see me and help me the same day. I guess since I paid him off two weeks ago he could care less now. Oh well his loss.

What happened with my tooth is weird and I've lost all patience, time, and money on this dentist who I thought was great until this morning. I find out that what he did to my tooth was not a root canal type of procedure that he described to me when I first went in for this tooth. He only removed the pulp and partial nerve. Now Im in pain and suffering because I thought I was going crazy (he also had me believe that there could be no pain since he took the root out and that the sensitivity would go away after I healed from that procedure) when I told him that sometimes I feel a little pressure or stinging in that tooth. I won't be spending my hard earned money on his practice anymore.

I am happy to announce though that an oral surgeon has decided to do the emergency oral surgery I need on Monday morning. :) However I am still in pain and lemme tell ya I just want to drink a whole gallon of liquor right now but I can't do that. LOL

Caligurl · Mar 10, 2006

Another thing. I spent all morning looking for a dentist in this county and other counties who would help me and no one would. They all said that I should go see the dentist I have now. So guess they won't be getting any business from me. The oral surgeon was the only one who'd help. I'm paying for this procedure. What's the big deal anyway???

miss_fit · Mar 10, 2006

Another thing. I spent all morning looking for a dentist in this county and other counties who would help me and no one would. They all said that I should go see the dentist I have now. So guess they won't be getting any business from me. The oral surgeon was the only one who'd help. I'm paying for this procedure. What's the big deal anyway???

As a dental hygienist, my experience has been that dentists don't like to fix other dentists' problems (as unfair as that can be to the pt). With you in the midst of a root-canal (I assume he ran into a root that couldn't be thoroughly reamed) they would probably tell you to go to the oral surgeon, anyway.

Although, this dentist sounds so pathetic, it may just be his incompetence... and if he has a reputation, they may know/fear he's in the midst of trouble, and they don't want to get involved.

Could be a lot of things.

I'm so glad you get to the surgeon Monday. :) Once he has resolved that problem for you, find another dentist and call for a new pt exam & consult - start fresh - without referring to all this trouble right off.

If there is a dental school within 50 miles of you, it might be worth it to go there, btw.

Good luck!

PS. I hope you're on abx now - if not, and you think there's still infection present, make sure he knows, today.

Rio, ASN, RN · Mar 10, 2006

Hmmm... this is disturbing on many levels. Based on what you describe an argument could be presented that a medical screening exam was not adequately performed. Do you have a condition that predisposes you to pericarditis (rhetorical question) ?

But irregardless, since when do we not treat PAIN ? NSAIDS, dental block (I have yet to work in an ED that did not do dental blocks if appropriate) and heaven to bid if we need to resort to NARCOTICS !

You deserved to be treated as a human being... I would not treat an animal the way you were treated.

My op ? Call the ED director, nurse manager, administrator, risk manager, state department of health and follow up in writing.

GOOD LUCK

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2006

A couple of things:

There was a difference between you and your spouse's situation. He was obviously swollen and possibly showed signs of a systemic infection, not merely having pain and seeking preventative care. And patients with signs of systemic involvement rate more immediate care and therefore more of an emergency than someone with discomfort and seeking what should be preventative care.

And EDs are for immediate lifethreatening situations, not preventative care.

While pain is bad, the swelling/systemic issues could be fatal if the patient has certain conditions such as heart surgery, cancer, joint replacements, etc.

The next, is that your dentist should have found a way to fit you in, if the situation was that dire. Or your medical PCP could have seen you and prescribed something.

I personally would not have to the ED, nor expected from them, unless the situation was much more aggravated/systemic, such as having fever, severe swelling, abnormal drainage. And for that matter, I would have probably gone through every possible channel (dentist/PCP/employee health/Dr in a box) before the ED.

I actually called ahead/apoligized for coming in for a wild animal bite that occurred at 0100 in the morning. I would have waited for my MD to handle it; However, the ED has to handle the rabies vaccinations and followup. I was in pain, bleeding and quite swollen (bite to both sides of right hand), but I still would have cleaned the wounds, bandaged and managed on Ibuprofen until the office opened. Because quite honestly it wasn't what I considered an emergency.

They still should have been more civil to you. There is no excuse for rudeness.