ER Treatment

[Caligurl]

This may not belong here but I couldn't think of anywhere else to post this.

About 3 weeks ago I went to the ER for tooth pain at about 3 in the morning. I couldn't wait any longer and I couldn't get in to see my regular dentist for another two weeks and I had put off going to the ER because the one we have here...well..the doctors are RUDE.

When I checked in, the nurse said "You know we don't treat dental emergencies?" I was shocked because my husband went there months before at the advice of his dentist because he coudln't get in to see his dentist either at the time and his face was swollen and they didn't treat him that way.

Well, after I was taken to a bed a doctor came out and stood across the room from me and said "We don't treat tooth pain here. Why don't you go see your dentist?" I told him that I had an appt but the soonest I could get in was in two weeks and I only need an antibiotic." He just stared at me for a minute or two, huffed and puffed and walked over to me and looked in my mouth, stood back far away from me again and said "I don't see anything wrong. Your face isn't swollen. What are you doing here? We don't treat tooth pain." and he walked away and back into his little room where he was before and started watching TV.

My husband was very upset and so was I. My husband then said "Why is he treating my wife with such disdain? Such disrespect?" And the nurse that was there said "You're on medi-cal." We looked at eachother and then looked at her and said "That's why you won't help me because you think I'm on medi-cal?" She said "Well yes. Medi-cal won't pay for that type of treatment here." I looked at her again and said "Check my chart. I'm not on medi-cal. I have blue shield/blue cross." She just stared at me in amazement.

I could not believe that they were treating me according to the type of insurance they thought I had!!!! I work for social services and they knew that.

I did get in to see my dentist soon after that and he prescribed an antibiotic for me which worked but yesterday I came home early from work because all the sudden my tooth flared up again and now my face is swollen, I haven't slept, and I'm in terrible pain. Everything I've taken I've vomitted up all night long and my husband begged me to go to the ER but I refuse to. I do have to see an oral surgeon but I can't get in there until the 21st. So today I am going to look around and find a dentist who can see me and maybe get rid of the swelling because the antibiotics are not working right now.

I just don't understand why some doctors are so rude and others are just happy to help. The happy ones make me happy that I went and got treatment. It's not often that I go to the ER either. Once in a blue moon but c'mon!! Are some doctors like this no matter where they go?

Sorry for the long story but I just had to get it out. :angryfire

[nickola]

I would write to the admin. as well as the patient advocate, the DON, & whomever else there is in the chain of command. Unfortunately, in small towns, there is often "small town mentality" meaning, narrow-minded, clannish, & protecting each other at all costs- so it may not get you anywhere. It IS discrimination though, & I'd report the Dr. to the state medical board as well. I have worked ERs where the doc would look at the insurance b/f treatment- & believe me- it's not just ER docs that do this either- unfortunate, but a sad fact in alot of places!!

[fotografe]

I guess those bad dentists and doctors have to graduate from somewhere! I had previously gone to a dental school (a different one) when I had to have wisdom teeth removed. The experience was fine and it only cost $25 per tooth. That is why I didn't have a problem going to this other, well known school where I would be treated by a graduate student (someone already licensed as a dentist and studying a specialty). Because they have you sign all this paperwork in the beginning, it is darn near impossible to get anyone to admit an error.

Oh, my, foto. That sounds truly awful!

I'd just never heard a bad report in over a decade of practice, so assumed it was a wonderful and safe alternative for those who had the time. I guess it does depend a lot on the school, though.

I hope that instructor, at least, has had hell to pay for such unforgivable treatment of you.