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Originally Posted by Baby Blessing What really is scarey is the long waits at our local hospitals, upon going to the Emergency Room one can expect to be there waiting up to 12 hours before being seen, that is really bad, been there done that and was too sick to know what, or when I was finally admitted as an in patient, and then kept in a hall on a guerney outside the emergency room waiting for a room within the hospital  was told I was on hold there for 12 hours before finally getting into a room, which in some instances can be as long as 24 hours, that is big time bad situation. Is it like this in other places through out the country? Patti |
Morning Patti! Unfortunately, I think ER's across the country have this problem - I know ours does. If a patient does not come in via ambulance (those patients are taken straight into a room), then the others who walk in (or are wheeled in) the waiting area and check in have to wait. At our local ER, patients are triaged and those who are the sickest are taken to the back first - ex: patient throwing up, stomach pains, obvious broken limb, chest pains, difficulty breathing, etc. are taken back before someone with a laceration that will probably just need cleaning and stitches or someone who came in with a sore throat or ear ache. I also know, because I used to supervise the clerks in our local ER, that some people will wait until the doctor's offices close to go to the ER because they can't be refused treatment (have to pay co-pay up front in the physician office whereas the ER, if you don't have the $$, will still see you). That puts a strain on the ER and staff and those who really need the use of the ER are made to wait because of it. I'm so sorry you had that experience - know that it does happen elsewhere. Suzi