Getting Emergency Care is Insane

[Flopper]

In Washington state which is not one of the worst covid states, major hospital ERs are swamped with patients. I took my brother to an ER and we had to wait 3 hours in an ER waiting room. After another 2 hours, he was put in a spare room with 3 other patients, one was psychotic and was strapped to a gurney. The nurse said it would be at least two hours before he saw a doctor. I asked for some medication to relieve pain which didn't happen and after an hour I took him to a friends house in Seattle and called 911. The EMS took him to Harbor View, one of the largest hospitals and a regional trauma which was a wise decision because there was a line at the door of the ER waiting room just waiting to get in. After a fairly short wait, he saw a doctor who ordered tests, medications, and admitted him to the hospital. However, he's on a gurney outside the ER waiting for a room. The nurse said there are no rooms available and it may be hours before he has a room.

Keep in mind this is not a Covid hot spot. I can't imagine what it must be like in hospitals in places like Miami.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but there has got to be a lot of people that are dying and suffering due to Covid 19 that don't have it simply because they can't get emergency care, medical equipment, and supplies when they need it.

 

[White 6]

In Washington state which is not one of the worst covid states, major hospital ERs are swamped with patients. I took my brother to an ER and we had to wait 3 hours in an ER waiting room. After another 2 hours, he was put in a spare room with 3 other patients, one was psychotic and was strapped to a gurney. The nurse said it would be at least two hours before he saw a doctor. I asked for some medication to relieve pain which didn't happen and after an hour I took him to a friends house in Seattle and called 911. The EMS took him to Harbor View, one of the largest hospitals and a regional trauma which was a wise decision because there was a line at the door of the ER waiting room just waiting to get in. After a fairly short wait, he saw a doctor who ordered tests, medications, and admitted to the hospital. However, he's on a gurney outside the ER waiting for a room. The nurse said there are no rooms available and it may be hours before he has a room.

Keep in mind this is not a Covid hot spot. I can't imagine what it must be like in hospitals in places like Miami.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but there has got to be a lot of people that are dying and suffering due to Covid 19 that don't have it simply because they can't get emergency care, medical equipment, and supplies when they need it.

Pretty interesting for what is trumped up as the best healthcare system in the world. We rely on convenient care facilities and personal doctors instead of the emergency room doors when possible, as our doctors can arrange admitting and order tests as necessary, if one of us is not in imminent danger of death.

 

[night_son]

In Washington state which is not one of the worst covid states, major hospital ERs are swamped with patients. I took my brother to an ER and we had to wait 3 hours in an ER waiting room. After another 2 hours, he was put in a spare room with 3 other patients, one was psychotic and was strapped to a gurney. The nurse said it would be at least two hours before he saw a doctor. I asked for some medication to relieve pain which didn't happen and after an hour I took him to a friends house in Seattle and called 911. The EMS took him to Harbor View, one of the largest hospitals and a regional trauma which was a wise decision because there was a line at the door of the ER waiting room just waiting to get in. After a fairly short wait, he saw a doctor who ordered tests, medications, and admitted him to the hospital. However, he's on a gurney outside the ER waiting for a room. The nurse said there are no rooms available and it may be hours before he has a room.

Keep in mind this is not a Covid hot spot. I can't imagine what it must be like in hospitals in places like Miami.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but there has got to be a lot of people that are dying and suffering due to Covid 19 that don't have it simply because they can't get emergency care, medical equipment, and supplies when they need it.

Hope your brother is well and recovers soonest.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

You didn't mention what was the first hospital

 

[iamwhatiseem]

Reason I say that is your experience is anecdotal.
About a month ago I took my mother to the E.R. for severe dizziness/vomiting etc. She is 80 years old.
She received care immediately, and did not have any issues like you say. So you have your morons like "White 6" who immediately creates a narrative based on what one person said on an online forum. That is how easy it is to trigger the left.
Nevermind the fact we have the worlds lowest death rate by Covid.

 

[strollingbones]

rural area here....er is always iffy....all hell breaks loose on weekends...

and they do it by need....heart attacks go first etc...unless you are bleeding ...but hey all bleeding will stop sooner or later....i worked er admitting long ago...and the system is set up to deal with emergencies...unfortunately they get a lot of bullshit...like a broken toe at 3 am

 

[Likkmee]

I rode by the ER earlier and took them some Bell Peppers. One guy there with a muffler burn from his weed eater.

 

[Dekster]

In Washington state which is not one of the worst covid states, major hospital ERs are swamped with patients. I took my brother to an ER and we had to wait 3 hours in an ER waiting room. After another 2 hours, he was put in a spare room with 3 other patients, one was psychotic and was strapped to a gurney. The nurse said it would be at least two hours before he saw a doctor. I asked for some medication to relieve pain which didn't happen and after an hour I took him to a friends house in Seattle and called 911. The EMS took him to Harbor View, one of the largest hospitals and a regional trauma which was a wise decision because there was a line at the door of the ER waiting room just waiting to get in. After a fairly short wait, he saw a doctor who ordered tests, medications, and admitted him to the hospital. However, he's on a gurney outside the ER waiting for a room. The nurse said there are no rooms available and it may be hours before he has a room.

Keep in mind this is not a Covid hot spot. I can't imagine what it must be like in hospitals in places like Miami.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but there has got to be a lot of people that are dying and suffering due to Covid 19 that don't have it simply because they can't get emergency care, medical equipment, and supplies when they need it.

All about the timing. You can go into our ER and go straight back for nothing too serious and you can be at death's door and waiting forever just depending on what time and day you happen to go there. If I need to go, I try to shoot for about a 6-7 am arrival when possible as the shifts change at 8. Gives you time to get processed in to beat the 9 am rush and for them to have mostly cleared the night before's mignight-1am patients.

 

[BULLDOG]

In Washington state which is not one of the worst covid states, major hospital ERs are swamped with patients. I took my brother to an ER and we had to wait 3 hours in an ER waiting room. After another 2 hours, he was put in a spare room with 3 other patients, one was psychotic and was strapped to a gurney. The nurse said it would be at least two hours before he saw a doctor. I asked for some medication to relieve pain which didn't happen and after an hour I took him to a friends house in Seattle and called 911. The EMS took him to Harbor View, one of the largest hospitals and a regional trauma which was a wise decision because there was a line at the door of the ER waiting room just waiting to get in. After a fairly short wait, he saw a doctor who ordered tests, medications, and admitted him to the hospital. However, he's on a gurney outside the ER waiting for a room. The nurse said there are no rooms available and it may be hours before he has a room.

Keep in mind this is not a Covid hot spot. I can't imagine what it must be like in hospitals in places like Miami.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but there has got to be a lot of people that are dying and suffering due to Covid 19 that don't have it simply because they can't get emergency care, medical equipment, and supplies when they need it.

Starr County Memorial Hospital, in Texas is currently using a Death Panel, (they call it an "ethics" and "triage" committee) to determine which covid 19 patients to send home,even if they are likely to die. They just don't have the capability to serve all the patients they have.
The right finally has an example of a real Death Panel after whining about all those nonexistent ones for so many years.they

 

[Flopper]

In Washington state which is not one of the worst covid states, major hospital ERs are swamped with patients. I took my brother to an ER and we had to wait 3 hours in an ER waiting room. After another 2 hours, he was put in a spare room with 3 other patients, one was psychotic and was strapped to a gurney. The nurse said it would be at least two hours before he saw a doctor. I asked for some medication to relieve pain which didn't happen and after an hour I took him to a friends house in Seattle and called 911. The EMS took him to Harbor View, one of the largest hospitals and a regional trauma which was a wise decision because there was a line at the door of the ER waiting room just waiting to get in. After a fairly short wait, he saw a doctor who ordered tests, medications, and admitted to the hospital. However, he's on a gurney outside the ER waiting for a room. The nurse said there are no rooms available and it may be hours before he has a room.

Keep in mind this is not a Covid hot spot. I can't imagine what it must be like in hospitals in places like Miami.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but there has got to be a lot of people that are dying and suffering due to Covid 19 that don't have it simply because they can't get emergency care, medical equipment, and supplies when they need it.

Pretty interesting for what is trumped up as the best healthcare system in the world. We rely on convenient care facilities and personal doctors instead of the emergency room doors when possible, as our doctors can arrange admitting and order tests as necessary, if one of us is not in imminent danger of death.

Having had a ton of experience with both myself and family with ER's and doctor visits, I can say without a doubt, going to an ER is by far the fastest and most sure way of getting a diagnosis and treatment. Yes, you take that gut pain to your family doctor and he will probably order tests which will have to be scheduled. So after a week or so the results of test get back to your GP who takes a quick look and refers you to a gastroenterologist who will schedule you for tests of upper GI system. Then about a week later, you learn you most likely have cancer and are told, if had only sought treatment sooner....

The alternative of going to your family doctor is of course the ER. Within 24 hours, you have the same diagnostics and a diagnosis with either admittance to the hospital or referral for treatment. Going to the ER with any problem that could serious is best way of saving your life.

We should not have to use the ER in this way.

BTW The delays in the ER I described are not systemic. It is due to Covid 19 and the reaction of public to it.

 

[Flopper]

In Washington state which is not one of the worst covid states, major hospital ERs are swamped with patients. I took my brother to an ER and we had to wait 3 hours in an ER waiting room. After another 2 hours, he was put in a spare room with 3 other patients, one was psychotic and was strapped to a gurney. The nurse said it would be at least two hours before he saw a doctor. I asked for some medication to relieve pain which didn't happen and after an hour I took him to a friends house in Seattle and called 911. The EMS took him to Harbor View, one of the largest hospitals and a regional trauma which was a wise decision because there was a line at the door of the ER waiting room just waiting to get in. After a fairly short wait, he saw a doctor who ordered tests, medications, and admitted him to the hospital. However, he's on a gurney outside the ER waiting for a room. The nurse said there are no rooms available and it may be hours before he has a room.

Keep in mind this is not a Covid hot spot. I can't imagine what it must be like in hospitals in places like Miami.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but there has got to be a lot of people that are dying and suffering due to Covid 19 that don't have it simply because they can't get emergency care, medical equipment, and supplies when they need it.

Hope your brother is well and recovers soonest.

Thanks, he has a room in the hospital and the prognosis looks good.

 

[Papageorgio]

Lots and lots of anecdotal evidence in this thread with no real facts. I live in Washington and went to the ER with kidney stones, was in and out within two hours, with the tests run, x-rays and a toradol shot.

 

[BULLDOG]

In Washington state which is not one of the worst covid states, major hospital ERs are swamped with patients. I took my brother to an ER and we had to wait 3 hours in an ER waiting room. After another 2 hours, he was put in a spare room with 3 other patients, one was psychotic and was strapped to a gurney. The nurse said it would be at least two hours before he saw a doctor. I asked for some medication to relieve pain which didn't happen and after an hour I took him to a friends house in Seattle and called 911. The EMS took him to Harbor View, one of the largest hospitals and a regional trauma which was a wise decision because there was a line at the door of the ER waiting room just waiting to get in. After a fairly short wait, he saw a doctor who ordered tests, medications, and admitted to the hospital. However, he's on a gurney outside the ER waiting for a room. The nurse said there are no rooms available and it may be hours before he has a room.

Keep in mind this is not a Covid hot spot. I can't imagine what it must be like in hospitals in places like Miami.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but there has got to be a lot of people that are dying and suffering due to Covid 19 that don't have it simply because they can't get emergency care, medical equipment, and supplies when they need it.

Pretty interesting for what is trumped up as the best healthcare system in the world. We rely on convenient care facilities and personal doctors instead of the emergency room doors when possible, as our doctors can arrange admitting and order tests as necessary, if one of us is not in imminent danger of death.

Having had a ton of experience with both myself and family with ER's and doctor visits, I can say without a doubt, going to an ER is by far the fastest and most sure way of getting a diagnosis and treatment. Yes, you take that gut pain to your family doctor and he will probably order tests which will have to be scheduled. So after a week or so the results of test get back to your GP who takes a quick look and refers you to a gastroenterologist who will schedule you for tests of upper GI system. Then about a week later, you learn you most likely have cancer and are told, if had only sought treatment sooner....

The alternative of going to your family doctor is of course the ER. Within 24 hours, you have the same diagnostics and a diagnosis with either admittance to the hospital or referral for treatment. Going to the ER with any problem that could serious is best way of saving your life.

We should not have to use the ER in this way.

BTW The delays in the ER I described are not systemic. It is due to Covid 19 and the reaction of public to it.

The purpose of an emergency room is to treat acute medical problems. Stop the bleeding and sew you up, help you survive a heart attack, set your broken bones, and pump your stomach if you swallowed poison. They aren't designed for the in depth evaluations and treatment which are better left to your GP or a specialist.

 

[JustAGuy1]

Reason I say that is your experience is anecdotal.
About a month ago I took my mother to the E.R. for severe dizziness/vomiting etc. She is 80 years old.
She received care immediately, and did not have any issues like you say. So you have your morons like "White 6" who immediately creates a narrative based on what one person said on an online forum. That is how easy it is to trigger the left.
Nevermind the fact we have the worlds lowest death rate by Covid.

I took my wife to the ER last Friday, got right in, got seen right away.

 

[EvilCat Breath]

It depends on the hospital. 25 years ago I waited in a county hospital ER for 36 hours so my Dad could be seen. I was at the hospital last week and again today. The ER was empty both times.

 

[WelfareQueen]

In Washington state which is not one of the worst covid states, major hospital ERs are swamped with patients. I took my brother to an ER and we had to wait 3 hours in an ER waiting room. After another 2 hours, he was put in a spare room with 3 other patients, one was psychotic and was strapped to a gurney. The nurse said it would be at least two hours before he saw a doctor. I asked for some medication to relieve pain which didn't happen and after an hour I took him to a friends house in Seattle and called 911. The EMS took him to Harbor View, one of the largest hospitals and a regional trauma which was a wise decision because there was a line at the door of the ER waiting room just waiting to get in. After a fairly short wait, he saw a doctor who ordered tests, medications, and admitted him to the hospital. However, he's on a gurney outside the ER waiting for a room. The nurse said there are no rooms available and it may be hours before he has a room.

Keep in mind this is not a Covid hot spot. I can't imagine what it must be like in hospitals in places like Miami.

I don't know if anyone has

In Washington state which is not one of the worst covid states, major hospital ERs are swamped with patients. I took my brother to an ER and we had to wait 3 hours in an ER waiting room. After another 2 hours, he was put in a spare room with 3 other patients, one was psychotic and was strapped to a gurney. The nurse said it would be at least two hours before he saw a doctor. I asked for some medication to relieve pain which didn't happen and after an hour I took him to a friends house in Seattle and called 911. The EMS took him to Harbor View, one of the largest hospitals and a regional trauma which was a wise decision because there was a line at the door of the ER waiting room just waiting to get in. After a fairly short wait, he saw a doctor who ordered tests, medications, and admitted him to the hospital. However, he's on a gurney outside the ER waiting for a room. The nurse said there are no rooms available and it may be hours before he has a room.

Keep in mind this is not a Covid hot spot. I can't imagine what it must be like in hospitals in places like Miami.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but there has got to be a lot of people that are dying and suffering due to Covid 19 that don't have it simply because they can't get emergency care, medical equipment, and supplies when they need it.

I worked for many years at the busiest ER in Virginia. We saw over 100,000 patients a year. This translates to between 300-500 patients a day.

What you describe is very typical. In fact normal. Covid has nothing to do with it. It often depends on the time of day. Roughly 2pm until 2am is prime time. I took my Dad to the ER here in Florida with a BP of 220/140. It took 4 hours until he was finally taken back to the see the doc.

His BP was obviously medically emergent. We were in the ER for a total of 8 hours.

Yes it is ridiculous, but that is often the reality. Again, not a Covid issue.

What you describe is very typical. In fact normal depending of time of day. It likely has nothing to do with Covid.

 

[Flopper]

You didn't mention what was the first hospital

No, I didn't because our family has gone there for years and we have had excellent care. I believe this problem is due to the crazy shit that is going on now. ER's are slammed most everywhere.

Covid 19 and resulting problems such as unemployment, closed businesses and schools leaves people with a lot of time on their hands and worries and that always leads to mental stress and a lot of people breakdown. The nurse at the ER said they are being flooded with mental patients. Their psych ward is filled as are all the nearby hospitals. So these patients are in the ER for extended periods simply because there is no place to transfer them. They call the police to take the ones they believe are dangerous to themselves or others. The police just dump them in another ER that doesn't have room. For those that don't seem to be a danger to others, they try to find a caregiver to take them. If they can't they show them the door and the community has another problem to deal with.

 

[WelfareQueen]

You didn't mention what was the first hospital

No, I didn't because our family has gone there for years and we have had excellent care. I believe this problem is due to the crazy shit that is going on now. ER's are slammed most everywhere.

Covid 19 and resulting problems such as unemployment, closed businesses and schools leaves people with a lot time on their hands and a lot of worries and that always leads to mental stress and a of lot people breakdown. The nurse at the ER said they are being flooded with mental patients. Their psych ward is filled as are all the nearby hospitals. So these patients are in the ER for extended periods simply because there is no place to transfer them. They call the police to take the ones they believe are dangerous to themselves or others. The police just dump them in another ER that doesn't have room. For those that don't seem to be a danger to others, they try to find a caregiver to take them. If they can't they show them the door and the community has another problem to deal with.

I did mental health exams in a big city ER for years. I am an LCSW. What you stated is spot on. That is likely the issue, not Covid directly.

 

[Flopper]

Reason I say that is your experience is anecdotal.
About a month ago I took my mother to the E.R. for severe dizziness/vomiting etc. She is 80 years old.
She received care immediately, and did not have any issues like you say. So you have your morons like "White 6" who immediately creates a narrative based on what one person said on an online forum. That is how easy it is to trigger the left.
Nevermind the fact we have the worlds lowest death rate by Covid.

Lowest death rate and the highest number of deaths. I'm not saying my experience is representative of the whole country. I was at the same ER about 6 weeks ago and had no serious problem but things are changing.

 

[WelfareQueen]

Reason I say that is your experience is anecdotal.
About a month ago I took my mother to the E.R. for severe dizziness/vomiting etc. She is 80 years old.
She received care immediately, and did not have any issues like you say. So you have your morons like "White 6" who immediately creates a narrative based on what one person said on an online forum. That is how easy it is to trigger the left.
Nevermind the fact we have the worlds lowest death rate by Covid.

Lowest death rate and the highest number of deaths. I'm not saying my experience is representative of the whole country. I was at the same ER about 6 weeks ago and had no serious problem but things are changing.

I worked in the busiest ER in Virginia for many years. We would see 100,000-200,000 patients per year. 400-600 daily.

Mental health cases can absolutely slam an ER. All of them have to be seen both medically and psychiatrically.

2pm-2am is the busiest time typically. All depends on time of day and general bullshit that is beyond anyone's control.