Your concerns are valid and I truly think the wait times are extended due to capacity. Please know as I have said it before Triage is the key. The patient with a hypertension emergency- some would ask what was the pressure? As Triage-if the pressure is 200 over 100 or greater-you can actually receive medication in the waiting room. The triage nurse can administer medication (depends on what medication)--but certainly can't write the order. Communication between the triage nurse and the physicians is key.
Vitals are checked approx. every two hours in the ER waiting room. They encourage people to notify staff of any change in symptoms. Also- remember you can always contact your primary physician and ask him/her if you can repeat your prescribed medication one time to see if that helps. Again-you must call your MD before doing that as that is the safest practice.
As far as the person texting and going back before you--most ER hospitals triage patients in "color". Highest to the patient who didn't even need to be in the ER. So-if you were triaged stable say (blue) and someone else was also stable (blue)...you go in the order you arrived. Higher acuity would be seen first.
For the person who's husband had a brain bleed--was the CT not done from triage? Most facilities allow the triage nurse to enter "protocol" orders so that patients waiting in the waiting room can have an initiation of treatment--including CT, x-rays, lab test, urine samples. Was he transferred to another facility? I didn't know the villages had a neurosurgeon. I am sorry that happed to you.
It is hard for me to believe a triage nurse told anyone they could not have a mask! If that is the case--you have the time you were there and probably remember what the person looks like--please notify administration. That is certainly unacceptable. I am sorry that happened. I do think there are several people in the ER (registration, security, housekeepers) and all should be trained to assist with basic needs- basin for vomit, privacy screens if needed, mask and location of where the hand gel and bathrooms are located. I would love to walk in an ER and have everyone wearing gloves and a mask (sorry--but I would).
Yes, ambulance services pick people up and then a triage nurse will determine if stable for the waiting room. I have even seen people come to an ER, believe the wait is too long and drive off the property call 911 and come in by rescue--most end up right back in waiting room and now to the back of the line based on the triage color.
There is no simple answer for a community with 100,000+ residents and I think a 21 bed ER. If the hospital is full (no beds available)--the ER is at a standstill. That does not mean EMERGENCIES are not seen. Yes, they are. That hospital has had 41 people in the ER. Hallways, opened recovery rooms at night...etc. Unless the hospital is on diversion emergencies will be seen.
Urgent Care--can stitch patients, they can have IV fluids for dehydrated people, the can cast a fractured leg, complete an ultrasound to find out if you have a blood clot, x-ray and determine if you need medication for pneumonia, can pull a tooth, can check children out for a fever/cough/pink eye, run urine samples and determine if you have kidney stones, do a CT to determine if you have had a stroke. These are just a few of the things they do....what the Villages needs is 24 HOUR Urgent Care that connects to a Hospital. This would significantly decrease wait times in the ER. Triage in one common area and then door to right ER waiting, door to left ER Urgent Care. That would certainly keep the flow going. I wonder how many patients are seen in the ER that are discharged? Didn't need to go and could have simply gone to an urgent care of their own physician? Just because you are from out of state doesn't mean you have to go to an ER. If you start feeling bad--see an urgent care (I think they all close by 8pm)...
I also heard Leesburg is opening an Urgent Care on the property of the hospital? I know The Villages Urgent Care is located across the street on 441, but believe they close at 8pm.
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