Anne-Sorry you had a bad experience. I assure you I have heard many of great stories about The Villages ER. As with every topic-especially in the healthcare field most only pass on "horrible" things that happen. It is a shame that it happens but I assure you every system has a flaw and every system can be approved. Thank you for writing to administration--I hope you get a response.

It may appear shifts wait for others-but having been behind scenes in ERs --that is usually not the case. Waiting on a bed and nurse to cover that bed is usually the only reason for a wait time in from the waiting room. Most hospital staff work 12hours-some floaters, so nurses really don't care if we get a patient 15 min before end of shift--we have just reported off and go.

Again, sorry for your bad experience. Most of the nurses are compassionate and certainly are in the field to help others the best we can with the resources we have available to safely practice medicine.

I couldn't agree with you more regarding communication between triage and the ED. I am a retired RN. My husband presented to the ED with altered mental status and loss of strength to the point he could not stand. We waited in the ED for 5 hours and finally found my husband had a large brain bleed that had caused his brain to shift from midline. He was taken to surgery for a craniotomy and, I thank God for his surgeon, he is doing fine. Dr. told me he could have had brain damage or death if not caught when it was. What upset me the most was the triage nurse was putting flu patients (who had spent several hours laughing, chatting, and texting) before my husband. My husband would have waited longer had I not intervened.
I believe they are understaffed and those that work there a pushed to the max. Once management stops focusing on the almighty dollar and their bonus checks, maybe we will get decent healthcare.:22yikes:

Not that I doubt you but I have a question:


Are you saying that you presented to the Villages ER with altered mental status and your husband was NOT given a CT scan? I work in the neuro unit (RN) and our policy is to have a CT done within the first hour of arrival in the ER for any neuro symptoms. If you provide the patient's name and date this happened in a PM to me I can investigate why this happened and push it up the line for you. We strive for proper stroke care protocol.

Tracey, I am glad you are there for all of us. Thank you

Are you there? I'd like to help.

I just took my husband to the Munroe Regional in Ocala ER last Thurs. and we got right in. Very nice dr's and nurses and a positive experience, as far as a trip to the ER is concerned. However, I noticed 24 hours later as I was leaving at the exact same time of day we went (3 PM)...........the entire waiting room was filled with standing room only. I inquired to an employee as it seemed odd that only 24 hours earlier there was no one in the waiting room. They said that Fridays are always full because people that don't have insurance or a dr. just come to the ER. Sort of like.........oh, it's time to go to the dr (ER) when they only needed something minor. I was told that this heppens on a regular basis, as the patients know the ER has to take them.
I was shocked that the ER is used so casually. Hopefully we won't have to ever go there on Fridays. However, we did like Munroe a lot.

Would ACA remove non emergency cases from the ER here in The Villages thereby freeing up ER Doctors to get to the true emergencies quicker. I would like to hear from folks that know this problem without any "P" spin thrown in.

The ERs will always be a first and last resort for complaints. Some go with colds, some with heart attacks. Doesn't matter about ACA or not--true emergencies, non emergencies and even the lady who drops a pencil and punctures her skin will come to an ER--The ER can not and will not ever turn down any patient.

I also went to TV ER for a very high BP of 210/100 and had to wait an hr to be taken!! And that was only b/c I started asking the other patients (that were waiting) how long they were waiting,etc., right after these conversations..I was called back for treatment..this is why I now go to Munroe.

Russ, I appreciate your concern. CT was NOT ordered until he was seen by the Dr. I just do not feel it is worth giving the details as I do not see any benefit. This was in the past and, thank God, my husband is ok. Again, I think management needs to look at staffing, provide the public what they need, and quit thinking about their bonus checks.

Tucson- waiting an hour for that blood pressure is a long time. However, if the triage does the full assessment and finds this is a crisis vs chronic problem that will determine if you go back faster.
Ex: Do you take BP medication? Did you miss any doses today? Did you take an extra dose today? All of these questions play into concern. Also--Have you had this blood pressure all day and finally decide ER is the last resort? OR Did you attempt to call your own doctor first and come in to get further checking. I am not trying to say waiting is okay- what I am saying the data you gave BP 210/100 is not enough data for a triage nurse to even determine what acuity you are and where in line you fall.

Tracy, I do now. Never did before that incidence. I always had good BP and even low at times. I did have high numbers from time to time, but while I was there, I had tests and they were normal. I was sent home with a script for 5mg Lisinopril and Potassium pills. But, what got me really upset was I could've had a stroke in the waiting room, so I just got sick of sitting there and got up and told the triage nurse that if they were too busy, then I'll just drive myself to Munroe. Right away they brought me back for treatment. That was the only way I knew to make them take me... sad,huh????!!!

Aed
 

To all who are reading these posts --- Our community of "Upper" Gilchrist has 8 AED's posted throughout our neighborhood with 30 + people trained in emergency response. This came about by a wonderful group of community members who formed a committee, went door to door to get funding and gather support. IF someone experiences a loss of consciousness and ceases breathing, the 911 call will be screened and all first responders get a text and a phone call alerting them to the location. Hopefully this community response will make a difference when there are competing emergencies and limited ambulances. I mention this to encourage all communities to consider exploring this option.

Ok but obviously something that someone said must not have pointed to possible stroke. I know for a fact that ALL possible stroke victims (and many others who I don't feel fit the protocol) are ordered for CT within 1 hour. I have zero idea why your symptoms would not have fallen within protocol.

I am hoping the triage nurse maybe bumped you ahead-based on high bp and then anxiety about waiting (which can certainly elevate the bp). Sorry about BP being so high and glad you well now :-)