Reducing misuse of Emergency Departments!

Stitchie · Feb 22, 2004

Well, how about NOT calling 911 because you haven't moved your bowels for 2 days?

RNin92 · Feb 23, 2004

After reading much of the posts about ED Nursing, my first suggestion would be for people to stop inserting objects where they do not belong!.On a more serious note, i just read an article in the paper about a study completed which showed that 41% of parents undermedicate their children for fevers. the study examined Emergency room visits, and it determined that those visits could have been avoided had the children been dosed appropriately. What are your suggestions to reduce unecessary visits to the ER?

I think it is a HUGE complex social problem, with no simple solutions.

Education-fevers need medication EVERY 4-6 hours, not just once

viruses need to run their course

every bump and bruise does not require an x-ray and pain meds

when to call their pcp

:chuckle

Resources-attendings to have office hours in the EVENING and WEEKENDS

pcp who will take public aid pts

clinics available more than monthly

Unforutnatley all of those things take the big resource...money.

Of course...not much to do for the stupid people in the world...except consider them job security!!

:chuckle

RNin92 · Feb 23, 2004

Well, how about NOT calling 911 because you haven't moved your bowels for 2 days?

Gotch beat!!

Another post I told this sad tale...

EMS brings in a young female with cc...cut her leg shaving

No bleeding...heck, I could hardly find the abrasion!!!

Her REAL problem was atrophy of a major organ...her brain!!

:rotfl: :rotfl:

Trauma Columnist · Feb 23, 2004

Marcie (RN in 92) ain't that the truth???

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Feb 23, 2004

Last week, a 20 y M came in because he bent his finger back and it hurt. No wonder health insurance costs out the rear.

petiteflower · Feb 24, 2004

I recently was at a pediatric emergency symposium and one of the speakers was Dr Broselow I guess they are working on an otc version of the broselow system for medication dosing--Tylenol etc.

Of course, knowing my luck, they would a) be color blind or b) use the tape upside down.

NurseJacqui · Feb 24, 2004

Or we should tell women to stop getting their prenatal care in the ER. We have young girls who come in every few weeks complaining of abdominal pain so they can get an ultrasound. I had one girl try to tell me that she needs a copy of the ultrasound for her insurance(she had NJ Family Care) or they wont't pay. Yeah, whatever. Get a job. :angryfire

Also, do you get the parents who rush their children to the ER because they say they have been vomiting or they can't breathe and the kid is running around laughing and playing? I had one mother tell me her child was vomiting all day yet he was the healthiest happiest kid I had ever seen. Then she told me, " I thought you ought to know that he eats play-dough every day," If you know he eats it, why do you let him play with it. I don't get it! :chuckle

petiteflower · Feb 24, 2004

Don't you know that playdough is part of a balanced diet?? :rotfl:

I know what you mean about the prenatal care part. We get a few of those too.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Feb 25, 2004

Locking the doors. Of course some fool would put their fist through the glass...

NurseJacqui · Feb 25, 2004

Come to think of it...I used to eat a lot of play-dough as a kid. It was pretty good. Salty. I ate a hotdog once made entirely out of playdough. :rolleyes: But anyway, do you guys get the people who fake faint? It's always females. They always look so pretty and graceful, taking care not to hurt themselves as they fall into someone's arms.. And our stupid ER doctors always admit them to telemetry too, for syncope. I can't stand it! :angryfire

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2004

As long as it stays easier to get into the ER, misuse will continue. Icall my Doc when I have bronchitis and the earliest I can get in is in a few days, they are just to booked up. The ER is easier and quicker to get into. And we generally pass out more drugs also.

I now just take it all with a smile on my face and think about my golf game, while listening to these non emergent er visits. I no longer stress over it.