What are people thinking?

[GoNzO]

I am starting this tread to basically get some info on "what are people thinking".

I work in the ER. I have been doing that for 8 years now. I hear people complain all the time on wait times, lazy staff, etc. Have any of you thought to walk in a staff members shoes? We use a triage system that is well proven. We are understaffed, over worked(liked most people), and it gets a little annoying to hear people complain about NON LIFE threatening stuff all the time. Lets face it....your sore throat or cough isnt life threatening!
I work in between two reserves and it never surprises me what I see. At first it did and I laughed but now its annoying. What brings a person in at 3am for a runny nose? Or wanting sutures after the wound has been open for 3 days? I am for public health care to a point but we need to rethink the cost. For me to print up an ER form is $600. Thats average. Any testing it goes up from there. So with ALL regions not having enough money right now does your bump or bruise really matter? I wish ALL ERs could appoint a person to charge those people who wish to bombard our system(that has good intentions) with non sense. I tell you a $600 bill for your runny nose would really make you think next time. Plus that money could offset our ever esculating health care. Even a $50 charge would end most stupid things from coming in. Maybe we could call it the "think first" charge. If I was doing the billing regions would be making cash hand over fist. There wouldnt be a money shortage, we would have modern equipement(we are at least 5 years behind the USA), wait times would be down drastically, staff moral would be higher, and I know I didnt study for 4.5 years to treat a runny nose!

Maybe our system needs an over haul. More money doesnt solve the problem. We have to learn to work with what we have and cutting visits is the first step. How about a triage nurse who instead of getting you to sit in a busy ER can refer you to a clinic for bogus stuff? How about having 1-2 drs doing ER clinic that would free up lots of room. How many of you work 12 hour shifts with no breaks and speed walking? An hour of OT each day doesnt make up for this. How many deal with the stupidest people on the planet all day?

Than again I am stupid for picking this profession. I do enjoy the human body and helping others....that soft side fades very quick and general population cant figure it out. GO FIGURE!

[Khyron]

Re: What are people thinking?

I thought you were allowed to tell them to piss off and go to a clinic during normal business hours?

[Duby T]

Re: What are people thinking?

Dude, I completely agree. I work as a Special Constable for the Caritas Health Group and I absolutely hate seeing people plug up the ER with bogus medicenter $hit. I usually end up getting calls from nursing staff to speak to patients in the ER who continuously harass the triage nurse over wait times.

Word of advice to everyone on this forum, don't go to the ER expecting to be seen in less than 5hrs.....unless you are in dire need of medical attention (ie. an actual emergency)

I really wish triage nurses had the ability to turn people away if they truely didnt belonged in the ER. Unfortunately, that wish will never come true due to liabilities.

[hifiguy]

Re: What are people thinking?

I am all for user fees, especially in this situation. My guess that even a $25 bump to be looked at via the ER would reduce the moron attendence by 1/2.

A hospital is not the place to go unless you are seriously ill.

[Smartiepants]

Re: What are people thinking?

I'm for user fees, but also do not want to go the cutting people off that need it.

I'd say something, like 50-100 dollars for a visit to the ER is fine, it can be waived by staff if they deem it necessary for you to be there.

And for people that can't pay, something like a stack of papers where you have to sign like 8x saying you cannot afford to pay, and then its free. Although there would be some abusers of that, most people would just pay it imho

[RobG]

Re: What are people thinking?

I agree there should be a way to weed out the people who panic about the smallest things.

I have no real complaints, I spent a night in the ER a few months ago, I like the fact how head injuries get fast tracked to the front tof the line.

[GoNzO]

Re: What are people thinking?

One of the stupidest thing our health care system has done to combat the visits to the ER is the HEALTH LINK. Due to legal reason they cant tell you its not an emergency and not to seek help. So we still get flus, colds, hang nails, etc. What a waste of money to call a person on the phone who is getting full wage (RN) to talk to them and have them tell you they cant recommend what you should do. Isnt that why they call the number. I have been working when 90% of my patients are non ER stuff and they have commented that 'health link' has sent them to the ER. A better idea is taking that person off the phone and put them to work in the ER to give us extra help. There are so many solutions to this problem but when I see an ER that has 3 trauma rooms and 12 "sick" rooms something is really wrong with this system.
I spent 10 days in California working with a guy I went to school with. NO sick beds, modern equipement, proper staff levels(cause it is illegal to be understaffed) and one person taking their money and billing. He did admit they have 2-3 habitual people who seek attention for anything but thats between them and the insurance company. Not like the numbers that come in here. Have any of you ever listened to a ambulance radio. We sit back and make a bet on who it is when we hear the dispatch go out. You can predict who is coming in just by the description of symptoms over the radio. LOL.

A system full of abuse and legalities.....but its cheap so it continues.

[nordex]

Re: What are people thinking?

I am all for user fees, especially in this situation. My guess that even a $25 bump to be looked at via the ER would reduce the moron attendence by 1/2.

A hospital is not the place to go unless you are seriously ill.

Yup so the poor don't deserve healthcare and once you implement a charge there is no way to control it next you know we are looking at a $500 charge to go to the hospital.

[nordex]

Re: What are people thinking?

One of the stupidest thing our health care system has done to combat the visits to the ER is the HEALTH LINK. Due to legal reason they cant tell you its not an emergency and not to seek help. So we still get flus, colds, hang nails, etc. What a waste of money to call a person on the phone who is getting full wage (RN) to talk to them and have them tell you they cant recommend what you should do. Isnt that why they call the number. I have been working when 90% of my patients are non ER stuff and they have commented that 'health link' has sent them to the ER. A better idea is taking that person off the phone and put them to work in the ER to give us extra help. There are so many solutions to this problem but when I see an ER that has 3 trauma rooms and 12 "sick" rooms something is really wrong with this system.
I spent 10 days in California working with a guy I went to school with. NO sick beds, modern equipement, proper staff levels(cause it is illegal to be understaffed) and one person taking their money and billing. He did admit they have 2-3 habitual people who seek attention for anything but thats between them and the insurance company. Not like the numbers that come in here. Have any of you ever listened to a ambulance radio. We sit back and make a bet on who it is when we hear the dispatch go out. You can predict who is coming in just by the description of symptoms over the radio. LOL.

A system full of abuse and legalities.....but its cheap so it continues.

For someone who is so busy it surprises me you have time to "sit back" and make guesses on whos coming in or is that your job to listen to the radio

[nordex]

Re: What are people thinking?

I also find it hard to say health link is a waste unless there is some sort of study that shows EVERYONE who is intending on going to the ER, call's healthlink, and then goes to ER. Last I heard it has been a great success.

[GoNzO]

Re: What are people thinking?

When has the government ever said one of the implementations in our health care system has been a waste of tax payers dollars? I dont recall ANY in the last 8 years. I also dont recall ever seeing anything being done to correct a problem. Face it...people who work behind a desk dont know whats wrong but they can sure do surveys that continually come up with the same results(costing millions). The system has had the same problems for years. Money doesnt solve the problem. People need to be more responsible. Held accountable for not using their heads.

I am not claiming poor people shouldnt be able to goto an ER. But EVERYONE who comes in should be aware of a charge if its a bogus issue thats NOT an ER case. I am not sure if you are habitual abuser of the system or just wanting to defend something you know nothing about? I like the discusion but anyone who has any knowledge of an ER would be able to tell you the radio is loud. At least half of the ER can over hear whats coming in. So YES you do hear whats coming in and no matter what you are doing you have time to think..."must be ______ again".

I guess if you are a believer its no ones responsibility and abuse of a free system is okay then you have that right(you should pay the extra for these abusers to come in). The system was never set up to handle or deal with the abusers. It was set up to deal with the sick. I dont classify your common cold as being sick and neither should you. Thats the issue. Not a broken leg or a car crash but common ailments that there are family drs for. No one thinks they should have to wait. Wait 2 days for a family dr visit or a minimum of 8 hours in a dirty germ infested ER....guess you take the second one. Come in for one common germ and leave with 6 others...way to spread it around.

[VWSM]

Re: What are people thinking?

when i went to ER there was a room full of people,the girl behind the desk had one look at me and i was in 5 minutes tops.
they know how to book in people.

P.S stay off ladders.

[nordex]

Re: What are people thinking?

When has the government ever said one of the implementations in our health care system has been a waste of tax payers dollars? I dont recall ANY in the last 8 years. I also dont recall ever seeing anything being done to correct a problem. Face it...people who work behind a desk dont know whats wrong but they can sure do surveys that continually come up with the same results(costing millions). The system has had the same problems for years. Money doesnt solve the problem. People need to be more responsible. Held accountable for not using their heads.

I am not claiming poor people shouldnt be able to goto an ER. But EVERYONE who comes in should be aware of a charge if its a bogus issue thats NOT an ER case. I am not sure if you are habitual abuser of the system or just wanting to defend something you know nothing about? I like the discusion but anyone who has any knowledge of an ER would be able to tell you the radio is loud. At least half of the ER can over hear whats coming in. So YES you do hear whats coming in and no matter what you are doing you have time to think..."must be ______ again".

I guess if you are a believer its no ones responsibility and abuse of a free system is okay then you have that right(you should pay the extra for these abusers to come in). The system was never set up to handle or deal with the abusers. It was set up to deal with the sick. I dont classify your common cold as being sick and neither should you. Thats the issue. Not a broken leg or a car crash but common ailments that there are family drs for. No one thinks they should have to wait. Wait 2 days for a family dr visit or a minimum of 8 hours in a dirty germ infested ER....guess you take the second one. Come in for one common germ and leave with 6 others...way to spread it around.

For someone who is right in the middle of it your logic is funny... especially seeing your a medical professional. The comment about the radio- you said "We sit back and make a bet" so you don't sit back and bet then? How am I suppose to know ?

I am not sure who your family doctor is but last I checked it appears we have a shortage and therefore for some it may be 2 days but for my dr. it's 25-35 days to get in and that's if you have a doctor.

The american health system is a complete and udder mess and to propose that we move to anything that resembles that is pretty funny.

I also find it hard to believe that these people that are clogging up the ER are just there to be there and enjoy sitting there and waiting. If someone feels they have an issue thats worth sitting in an ER for 5 hours that up to them really.

[GoNzO]

Re: What are people thinking?

Nordex

Obviously we live in different cities. There is an abundance of GPs here in Southern Alberta. Maybe not in Calgary but look at the living conditions. In fact we have locums who travel to our region cause they dont want the work there. Along with all the other problems of a huge population growth guess some DRs dont want the Calgary area. Well maybe thats just the GPs cause you have many specialties. Guess pay and cost of living has the most to do with it. I do NOT support a US system. I do support the offset of people who use the system improperly. So if you have to wait 20+ days to see a family dr then thats part of living in Calgary. Thats your choice. I can see one within 3 hours here. Wanna name of a DR? I will tell you my "sitting around" is filling out charts. That is a break for us.

Sit back in your chair. Think to yourself this....there are more people retiring then graduating. Then calculate in maturnity leave, burn out, injury etc.... How much do you like the system now? That system is getting worse by the day. Last year was worse then the year before. Its been that way for at least 10 years. The fact is do we wait for it to collapse before we sit back and look for solutions? MONEY isnt a solution(thats what the opposition wants us to believe)! SO come up with an idea. Many studies over the past 7 years all came to the same conclusions. There is an overwhelming agreement down here to start charging some sort of user fees to balnce things out. Cause right now the little you contribute does NOTHING to pay for health care. Maybe we should tax more! Why not! Canadians love to pay tax. Lets pay more tax on tax. We need to do cuts. A great cut is to stop the abuse. That is what this whole discussion is about...ABUSE! You are standing your ground saying its okay?

[nordex]

Re: What are people thinking?

I am actually from edmonton. yes that's a choice and granted that, isn't it my choice to go sit in an ER if I can't see my Dr. and his receptionist suggest going to the ER? Who cares if people are sitting in the ER with a papercut if that's what they want to do, go ahead and sit there, maybe they are concerned and would like to have it checked out...

in terms of the serious abusers who may have some psychological issues that lead to this abuse maybe they need treated not just told to pay as that is not dealing with the issue is it?

Lastly, what is the issue with them sitting in the ER? so what if there is always a long wait? the people who need the most serious treatment are treated first aren't they?