What was the MOST ridiculous thing a patient came to the ER for?

And did you have to treat them?

I am just curious. Your stories always seem to either crack me up or shake my head in amazement.

Thanks for sharing ?

Why can't the ANA, ENA, AMA, and every hospitalkick into a kitty and pay for educational puplic service announcements on TV and radio explaining what a real emergency is and isn't?

They can also mention, that if you have an income and come in for a non-emergency you WILL pay for it one way or another.

It won't stop everybody, but it might help stem the tide somewhat.

Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

We were so busy the other night 3 people in the wairing room eloped all at the same time with their very minor maladies, went across the street and called 9-1-1.

They were all taken off stretchers and sent out to the triage desk to sign in, and were followed by a police officer who gave them all citations for abusing EMS

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
we were so busy the other night 3 people in the wairing room eloped all at the same time with their very minor maladies, went across the street and called 9-1-1.

they were all taken off stretchers and sent out to the triage desk to sign in, and were followed by a police officer who gave them all citations for abusing ems

i'm glad they got their just deserts!

Specializes in ICU/CCU/CVICU/ED/HS.
WOW!! Here in Memphis, the paramedics/emts are no longer allowed to refuse transport. Apparantly, several years ago, they had refused transport for a seemingly non-emergent patient...and he died. Now, they have to bring any and everybody that calls for an ambulance. We've seen pts call an ambulance because they ran out of refills. Basically, some people use it because they have no other means of transportation.

ERslave...What I meant was, the PATIENT refuses...We have a form for them to sign, but, WE are not allowed to refuse services either. (WVa) Does have a protocol, I forget the number, that "allows" us to refuse, but leaves us open to lawsuites...(good ol' sharks, I mean lawers:rolleyes: ). What we do now is...:roll load the patient in the "bus"...Start the IV and give the D-50 while enroute. That way (I know...that is cheating), we start care under "implied consent" and when they come around they are already loaded and on the way. BTW...We are a RURAL E.M.S. agency, our average transport time is 30-45 minutes.

Specializes in LTC/Behavioral/ Hospice.

Sometimes I really feel like one of those stupid people. :o We now have a $700 ER bill because I didn't know how serious my son's injury was. Just last month we were at a picnic. My son and another boy got into an argument and the other boy decided to settle it by cracking my son on the head with a metal broomstick. Ben (my son) came running to me, blood dripping down him. It was a head wound and there was just so much blood! We went to the ER where he ended up with 5 stitches! I didn't know it wasn't severe. If I had, I would have taken him to the pediatrician's office. They would most certainly have seen Ben and taken care of him with the same care that he was given in the ER (they were awesome, btw), and I would have been given a $70 bill instead of a $700 .:crying2: We have no insurance, so we are working out a payment arrangement with the hospital. I just feel so stupid, though. I can't wait to get to the part in my nursing training where I can rationally decide what is and isn't an emergency. I saw the blood and freaked. I know you all are talking about some pretty silly reasons to end up in the ER, but I feel just awful about my own decision that landed us in this situation. Do a lot of people who just need a few stitches end up in the ER, or is just me? Ugh!

I personally think you did the right thing. You can never tell with a head injury. You pediatrician would probably sent you in so your son could get a head scan anyway.

    kids

    kids

    1 Article; 2,334 Posts

I personally think you did the right thing. You can never tell with a head injury. You pediatrician would probably sent you in so your son could get a head scan anyway.
I agree.

The 7 provider Peds clinic I worked at often sent kids to the ER for stitches.

Head wounds can be really scary because they bleed so much (which is why they generally heal so well).

I think this is a great pediatric info site. http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/pa_index.htm

Sometimes I really feel like one of those stupid people. :o We now have a $700 ER bill because I didn't know how serious my son's injury was. Just last month we were at a picnic. My son and another boy got into an argument and the other boy decided to settle it by cracking my son on the head with a metal broomstick. Ben (my son) came running to me, blood dripping down him. It was a head wound and there was just so much blood! We went to the ER where he ended up with 5 stitches! I didn't know it wasn't severe. If I had, I would have taken him to the pediatrician's office. They would most certainly have seen Ben and taken care of him with the same care that he was given in the ER (they were awesome, btw), and I would have been given a $70 bill instead of a $700 .:crying2: We have no insurance, so we are working out a payment arrangement with the hospital. I just feel so stupid, though. I can't wait to get to the part in my nursing training where I can rationally decide what is and isn't an emergency. I saw the blood and freaked. I know you all are talking about some pretty silly reasons to end up in the ER, but I feel just awful about my own decision that landed us in this situation. Do a lot of people who just need a few stitches end up in the ER, or is just me? Ugh!

Our ped sends facial (probably head wounds too) needing stitches to the ER anyway. So you probably would have ended up with two bills. The other kids mom needs to pay for part of the bill.

Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
Sometimes I really feel like one of those stupid people. :o We now have a $700 ER bill because I didn't know how serious my son's injury was. Just last month we were at a picnic. My son and another boy got into an argument and the other boy decided to settle it by cracking my son on the head with a metal broomstick. Ben (my son) came running to me, blood dripping down him. It was a head wound and there was just so much blood! We went to the ER where he ended up with 5 stitches! I didn't know it wasn't severe. If I had, I would have taken him to the pediatrician's office. They would most certainly have seen Ben and taken care of him with the same care that he was given in the ER (they were awesome, btw), and I would have been given a $70 bill instead of a $700 .:crying2: We have no insurance, so we are working out a payment arrangement with the hospital. I just feel so stupid, though. I can't wait to get to the part in my nursing training where I can rationally decide what is and isn't an emergency. I saw the blood and freaked. I know you all are talking about some pretty silly reasons to end up in the ER, but I feel just awful about my own decision that landed us in this situation. Do a lot of people who just need a few stitches end up in the ER, or is just me? Ugh!

your not stupid, most docs would have sent him in for a CT anyway

Specializes in LTC/Behavioral/ Hospice.

Thank you all! Your info does make me feel better! :) Great site, too!

Btw, the other kids parents insisted on paying for the bill, but we refused, since the father just lost his job the month before. He has insisted on coming over and doing little odd jobs around the house for us, though. He is coming over this week to fix our kitchen plumbing, and he has already spread a load of gravel in our drive with his tractor. They have all been wonderful about this. :)

A mother brought her 7 yr old son to the ER to get a "certification tha she did not abuse her son" she said it is needed by the social worker. She asked me how she can get certified of not abusing her own son....anyways, the ER doc didnt give her nothing. But referred her to a her son's pediatrician, come to find out her son has never seen a pediatrician, so we had to find a pediatrician for him. I dont know what the mother was thinking.

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