What would you do to get ahead in the Line at the ER?

Specialties Emergency

Published

Specializes in Med/Surg, ER, Hospice, Urgent Care.

This happened last night at a local hospital where I have actually shadowed a couple of times.

http://www.macon.com/198/story/169007.html

Hope you can follow the link.

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Wow that's intense.

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Specializes in Staff nurse.

Why would a person with known seizure disorder have a driver's license?

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

We had a guy call 911 from our waiting room to get an ambulance to bring him in. He had been waiting 3 hours with "abd pain". The greeter said he spent his 3 hours watching TV, talking to other pts, and constantly going to the vending machines, showing no distress. The ambulance came from behind the hospital, backed him up to the ambulance door, the ER charge qiuickly assessed him and sent him back to triage. Was he ever shocked and angry!!

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

Could have been a new seizure problem. Guy and mom maybe just wanted to leave so he could rest? Maybe he was getting an aura? We shoulnd't be quick to judge, 9 hours is like one shift in some places. Maybe triage needs re-eval? Who knows. I feel sorry for the guy, he obviously was symptomatic when they went to pull him from the truck. Waiting 9 hours may have sent him a message that he didn't need to be there, it wasn't important..........

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Could have been a new seizure problem. Guy and mom maybe just wanted to leave so he could rest? Maybe he was getting an aura? We shoulnd't be quick to judge, 9 hours is like one shift in some places. Maybe triage needs re-eval? Who knows. I feel sorry for the guy, he obviously was symptomatic when they went to pull him from the truck. Waiting 9 hours may have sent him a message that he didn't need to be there, it wasn't important..........

"From my understanding, the man had come down here for chronic back pain related to his seizure condition," said Joshua Wilkerson, a hospital visitor who waited and talked with the man from about noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday."

Can't have chronic pain from a new problem.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

The facts I've gleaned from reading the article:

1. Pt. chose to go to the Emergency Department for back pain. Pt. was able to ambulate, sit in a chair, and drive - his ADLs may have been uncomfortable but not impeded.

2. Pt. chose to act out of criminal intent - intentionally damaging a pulic building, risking the lives of many people, and injuring himself and his mother.

OP, I'm going to be blunt. I'm offended at the flip title you gave your thread. What would I do to "get ahead" in line at the ER? Nothing - ER visits are for life-threatening emergencies or after-hours injuries which require medical attention to prevent further complications. Period. ER triage is not a game to be played.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
Why would a person with known seizure disorder have a driver's license?

Because many people with seizure disorders lead normal lives with the use of anti-seizure medications.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
We had a guy call 911 from our waiting room to get an ambulance to bring him in. He had been waiting 3 hours with "abd pain". The greeter said he spent his 3 hours watching TV, talking to other pts, and constantly going to the vending machines, showing no distress. The ambulance came from behind the hospital, backed him up to the ambulance door, the ER charge qiuickly assessed him and sent him back to triage. Was he ever shocked and angry!!

I'll go you one better....we had a patient in the ICU who had been at another hospital in their ER.

He called 911 from his ER room, was there for severe abd pain, was transferred to our ER, seen immediately, taken to OR for ruptured appendix, had massive peritonitis.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ER, Hospice, Urgent Care.

OP, I'm going to be blunt. I'm offended at the flip title you gave your thread. What would I do to "get ahead" in line at the ER? Nothing - ER visits are for life-threatening emergencies or after-hours injuries which require medical attention to prevent further complications. Period. ER triage is not a game to be played.

MLOS,

Sorry you were offended! I agree with you wholeheartedly! ER is for Heart Attacks and Car Accidents as far as I am concerned. It is the people who abuse the system that make a game of the situation.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
MLOS,

Sorry you were offended! I agree with you wholeheartedly! ER is for Heart Attacks and Car Accidents as far as I am concerned. It is the people who abuse the system that make a game of the situation.

The ER is for alot more than heart attacks and car accidents, but I'm sure you know that, yes it is the idiots who continually abuse the ER who ruin it for the people who really need to be there.

BTW: The title didn't offend me in the least. I took it as the funny ha ha about the idiot in the article that you intended it to be. Cheers!

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Does anyone here have an issue with the fact he waited for NINE HOURS!

To me...that would drive you crazy...especially if you were in pain.

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