[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by ronsroni

In most cases of "waiting an eternity", I recognize that 'eternity' can be as short as 20 minutes. That said, when one is in pain; agonizing PAIN', 5 minutes can be an eternity.
Sadly, I honestly can see someone waiting upwards of 15 hours to be evaluated; forget about treated. My dear friend got to TVH-ED after experiencing what he thought were heart attack symptoms. He complained of chest pains upon his arrival there at 10:45PM. He sat in chairs till 11:25PM and was taken back to a room. Clutching at his chest continued and he yelled out for help. He said a Dr????" stuck his head in and said he was sending help.
At 1:45AM, he was visited by a CNA and vitals were done. Pain level at that point was a 7-8. Improved but he was tachy (tachycardia- fast heart rate) and sweating. No IV line. CHEST PAINS, DIAPHORESIS (excessive sweating).
NO O2 was placed. No LABS!!!
At 3:30AM, he got to his feet and headed for the exit. He collapsed in the lobby; passed out.
He was brought back to the room, had a CXR and WAITED till 4:15AM for labs and a room. His temp at that point was 103.8 and climbing. He was taken to the OR at 1PM and had his abscessed gallbladder (never had a symptom before) removed. Shocker here, infection followed. So, to wonder if someone really waited that long' it pains me to say yes, I can believe it. It is terrifying.
I, typically, give time estimates a pass. My time is different from your time in urgent situations sometimes. Horrific care is just that.
I use Santa Barbara United Healthcare and I have been thrilled. Yes, I am very observant and I ask questions. Some folks, especially elders, are trusting of the people who hold their life in their hands. Respect. Tough to change an entire lifes behavior that readily.
I just hope that the care there improves. It will never be a Level 1. It NEEDS improvement. NOMESAYIN??

Originally Posted by dbussone

Another is that your friend should immediately been treated with a cardiac protocol to ascertain whether a heart attack was underway. Any patient presenting with chest pain should become an immediate priority. As an aside, your friend should have called an ambulance to get to the ER. If he was having a cardiac event, he could easily have died on his way to the hospital.

I'm hoping GE sees this and weighs in on your post.


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Yes, I see it and it is totally unacceptable. 5 1/2 hours to be seen with chest pain? 5 1/2 minutes is more the norm. No lab/EKG for 5 1/2 hours---a disaster waiting to happen. Admittedly, it's not 22 hours, but this could be a lot more serious than a hip fx. Apparently they have never heard the term "myocardial salvage". I've had patients in a cath lab 30 miles away in less than 1 1/2 hours. I had one come in for a routine office visit and then said, "by the way, I started having chest pains about an hour ago. He had classic EKG changes and I sent him directly to Syracuse where he was in the cath lab 52 minutes after stating he had chest pain. This is nothing to mess around with. You may be right, DB, it may be time for a change in ER groups with more oversight as well.