I get to deal with ED daily. I have yet in 48 years found any ED without major wait times, inadequate staff, and lack of information to family or patient.
We usually wait and hope the oncall guy is going to make the decision we already know needs to be made. Only on 2 occasions have we pulled the “I know people, and am not afraid to wake them up” card.
No hospital staffs for high season. Staffing is scheduled months in advance, and if ED can no longer handle the influx of patients, it is officially closed to any more incoming patients. Except for trauma level, which the ED staff steps back while trauma teams take over.
At facilities I work at there is a 30 minute guarantee you see a physician. Of course once you are seen, there is no guarantee on how long before any measures are taken.
Most EDs are overwhelmed with people that should have gone to an urgent care, or called their physician. While those who are in direct need of a true ED department gets attention quickly, it tend to upset those with less issues wait longer
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Do not worry about things you can not change
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