Quote:
Originally Posted by dbussone
GE - I've selected this post rather than your longer and very detailed post several posts earlier. Just to save some space.
You comments are on target with two exceptions. You note that ER physicians and nurses are not the cause of jammed ERs. Generally this is true. However, if physician and nurse staffing is not altered to deal with higher volumes, they do become bottle necks. For example, if a hospital staffs the ER physicians at certain level during summer, and maintains that level in season, there is a high possibility of the docs becoming a cause of the waits and log jam. The same with ER nurses, lab and X-ray techs, etc.
Now this is not necessarily the fault of these professionals. It is more likely caused by management's failure to plan and staff properly. Having said that, management may well understand the problem, but may not be able to find sufficient staff in season to deal with the volume. Florida is a staffing nightmare for most hospitals when 50% of beds may be filled in summer, and the census might be 110% in season.
|
dbussone; You referenced some of my thinking. Again I said that any business not ready to make reasonable accommodations for its customers/patients should not be allowed to operate. I am sticking to my belief and believe this is especially essential for a medical facility whose first rule is "FIRST DO NO HARM"
Overcrowded chaotic emergency rooms are legendary so much so that for years they have been portrayed in movies and TV sitcoms. One would believe that this would have been enough for medical providers to invent a newer and better model by now? Historical statistical data can provide valuable information for optimum staffing and newer yet safe protocols, etc. Short of a catastrophic event every emergency room should be able to reasonable accommodate patients
Indeed the Rashamon Effect may be an element of story telling but when you are placed in a corner in an uncomfortable chair with cramping belly pains dry heaves and continuing retching you can throw that theory out the window.
As you sit there you watch other patients who can barely hold themselves in their chairs expecting anyone of them to drop to the floor. And when you are the one in such pain and understand that triage is necessary, it however affords little comfort.
And while a medical person does and must remain somewhat callous concerning pain and suffering I do not believe they are barrier to a better and more responsive emergency room.
I lay the blame at the feet of bureaucrats medical, insurance government.
Hospital management , insurance interested in profit margins and government interested in controlling 1/6th of our economy. Some medical providers do cash only business because they do not want to deal with the red tape and I can't blame them.
I was asked to manage a facility that was a complete disaster..there go to guy. I negotiated a great transfer package and said I would accept provided they granted me the freedom in which to act and the essential funds to get the job done. With this clear understanding I accepted. When I assumed that position my customers told me to my face that we were the last place they would do business. when I left these same customers were telling me we were the first place they go to. The fix was easy the problem or would be problem is always the bureaucracy.
Personal Best Regards: