I'm going to try this again.LOL.:chuckle I posted yesterday and got one reply, so I took things into my own hands. I ended up calling my own PCP for a script to avoid the ER, and asked her if she thought I would be labelled a FF due to my visits that occur once a month, to every 4 months, for stubborn migraine. She said that if the staff sees that I've done all they've asked (ie; letter from PCP validating diagnosis and treatment, all follow ups honoured)...then there shouldn't be a problem. Do these actions really help? I'm sure when I get my degree, I'll be just as skleptical as some of you. I'll probably have to delve DEEP into my memory banks , in order to remember how humiliated I felt walking into the ER for yet; another migraine.
uh, ff are those that abuse the system......as far as curing a migraine condition.........i got 3 or 4 a year for a decade.....i got divorceed and have only had 2 in ten years........who woulda thought i was allergic to the stressful idiot! in reality, you may do better when the stress in your life reduces? just an encouranging thought.....happy graduation!
I agree, give them what they need and life is simpler. However, a first time visitor may be a frequent flyer who is just new to our system, been kicked out of the other ERs.
Had one recently who came over from Ft Worth. Said he was just passing through. So Silly
As soon as the list of allergies is 10+ and includes Tylenol, ibuprofen, toradol, benadryl, compazine, tramadol, darvocet... and they say, "usually they have to give me Dilaudid for my headache." That is when red flags are flying. Could be visit 1 or visit 100.
I think some people are trying to be P.C. but Truth is you might be labeled a frequent flyer with the number of times you said you had to go to the ER but i don't mind taking care of frequent flyers that are pleasant. It is the demanding, rude, entitled people that come in. Just don't be a jerk and it wont matter how many times you come in.
Oh and the prev reply about narcotics exacerbating, you can have rebound headaches related to narcotic use for headaches.
I have always thought, be pleasant about it. I will be like your waiter at Denny's, I will give you your water, and napkin and hand you a menu. Tell you the daily special. Take your order. After all, nowadays it is about customer satisfaction. I do want you satisfied to help keep the press gainet ratings up. We are competing for your business.
There are frequent fliers and frequent fliers right? Some people are chronically ill, even maybe difficult to deal with, but LEGIT; and some are just full of beans(to be very delicate.) The allergy list is definitely a red flag. Also when you(the pt) are instructing the nurse how to give your IVP med!! as in "it won't work on me if you dilute it...push it real fast..."
There are frequent signs and symptoms of those with a drug dependency, more than just frequent visits. A list of allergies with the usuals (everything except dilaudid and phenergan). Scarring on the ARMS so extensive you have to EJ em just to get IV access. So on and so fourth...
But just remember no matter how many times they have been there, everybody has to die sometime, and FF are not exempt from this rule.
I agree with a lot of the other posters, it doesn't take long for you to learn em.. I for one can spot them from a mile away. And that's really all I have to say about them-I hate wasting my precious time on them!
I agree with a lot of the other posters, it doesn't take long for you to learn em.. I for one can spot them from a mile away. And that's really all I have to say about them-I hate wasting my precious time on them!
Right! You and I both know ER nurses can spot a frequent flyer from a mile away. Unless you wear the ERRN clog....you haven't walked in our shoes so the saying goes.....
How 'bout starting a thread about medicating frequent flyers and then allowing them disharge to drive out on the streets where our loved ones and innocent people drive to and from? Yeah....let's just give them all the drugs they want, ya know....cause they have pain....and neither you or I KNOW what real pain is like, right?...lol
Sometimes the truth is a bit like......tasting bad water when you are thirsty......you know, like well water.....still, it's water, you're thirsty, and you drink it anyway.
catchup82
6 Posts
uh, ff are those that abuse the system......as far as curing a migraine condition.........i got 3 or 4 a year for a decade.....i got divorceed and have only had 2 in ten years........who woulda thought i was allergic to the stressful idiot! in reality, you may do better when the stress in your life reduces? just an encouranging thought.....happy graduation!