[StarbuckSammy]

I just noticed on The Villages Hospital (CF Alliance) web site that they are now posting the ER wait time. As of July 11 at 5:27 PM the wait time is 6 minutes. The wait time is defined as from arrival to medical practitioner.

I do understand that this does not represent the time to be admitted etc but does give you a sense of expectation of how long or short of a time it may be.

I tip my hat off to the Administrator for incorporating this feature and I apologize if this item had been there previously.

[KARENNN]

Could you post a link?
Thank you!

[kittygilchrist]

I went in recently w/ a friend in distress. She was triaged immediately and completed tests, diagnosed, and sent out with RX in less than 40 minutes. Staff said it's not always like that in high season.
I'm from Gainesville, so highly thought of for ERs, where I never spent less than 6 hours waiting.

[gomoho]

Proves Russ' point - they are highly competent - but grossly overwhelmed in high season.

[njbchbum]

perhaps in the high season they could post the wait time at the curb by the door to the e.d. so one knows whether to wait, go to an urgent care center or go home and call an ambulance!

our motor vehicle station has a machine that posts the wait time to the inspection bay so you can decide whether to wait or come back or go to another inspection site!

[thelegges]

in most hospitals the wait time is when a doctor sees you...which means he comes in says hello i am Dr so and so..may not mean you will be treated any quicker..

[Blessed2BNTV]

Originally Posted by KARENNN

Could you post a link?
Thank you!

Central Florida Hospitals | Leesburg Regional | Villages Hospital | Central Florida Health Alliance

Link for wait time.

[rubicon]

I commend the hospital first for recognition that they have a problem and then for making a commitment to correct the problem . finally for have the foresight to produce their results.

However, ER are characteristically wild west shows by nature. So it would seem that along with the postings the hospital makes now should be a benchmark against what occurs among all ER around the country.

It would appear that again that the law of large numbers apply. A respectable period of time will be needed to develop a pattern vis a vis other ER's.

From my view point the measurement should be from the moment of arrival until a patient begins treatment with a respective medical provider.

Another measure would be the appropriateness of the triage.

[gomoho]

[QUOTE=njbchbum;706669]perhaps in the high season they could post the wait time at the curb by the door to the e.d. so one knows whether to wait, go to an urgent care center or go home and call an ambulance!

Why would you go to the emergency room in the first place if you had other options?

[TraceyMooreRN]

The Emergency Room is for EMERGENCIES and for when Urgent Care Centers are closed. Urgent Care Centers are capable of treating fractures. They now have CT scans, Xray Machines, ability to take labs, urine samples, blood sugar samples and an MD there on site. If you passed out (fainted) and feel okay--urgent care can assess you and determine the need for the hospital.
If we could all spread the word--ER is for true emergencis. Possible STROKE patients, Acute Chest Pain...
When to go to the ER vs Urgent Care:
Coughing for a week, then decide you "can't take it anymore"--URGENT CARE
Trouble urinating --either pain, discomfort, lack thereof--URGENT CARE
Fever for a few days--URGENT CARE
Abdominal Pain--Scale of 10 (worst in your life THAT JUST STARTED)--ER..if the pain has been there and getting worse--URGENT CARE
Chest Pain- Left Arm Pain, Numbness/Tingling in Arm, Jaw Pain, Shoulder Pain--All new and nothing can be related to injury---ER, (CALL 911)
Unable to speak, slurred speech, weakness on one side of body (ER, CALL 911)

These are my opinions only as a RN. My opinion is --if you feel that you need to call 911 then you should be calling or head to the ER. If you feel you can drive yourself or get your neighbor to drive--then most times Urgent Care can meet your needs. If not- they will call 911 and transport you. Never delay treatment--if you feel something isn't right with yourself or a loved one--it probably isn't right and you need medical attention.

I hope with the new expansion of the TVRH ER department that the flow will work better for the community. However, without the community awareness of when to go to the Emergency Room vs Urgent Care--then you will continue to fight the long lines.

[njbchbum]

[quote=gomoho;706841]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

perhaps in the high season they could post the wait time at the curb by the door to the e.d. so one knows whether to wait, go to an urgent care center or go home and call an ambulance!

Why would you go to the emergency room in the first place if you had other options?

it was a joke! and not a solicitation for criticism.

[Russ_Boston]

As I've said before: Posting wait times is strictly a marketing gimmick. It makes you feel good but doesn't really change any of your ER experience. If you go when it's busy and see a doctor within X minutes you will still have to wait a very long time after that if your condition is not emergent. But they SAW you in X minutes.

Plain and simple - law of supply and demand in any business.

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

As I've said before: Posting wait times is strictly a marketing gimmick. It makes you feel good but doesn't really change any of your ER experience. If you go when it's busy and see a doctor within X minutes you will still have to wait a very long time after that if your condition is not emergent. But they SAW you in X minutes.

Plain and simple - law of supply and demand in any business.

Russ: I agree wit you ergo my comments regarding this thread to wit benchmarks etc.

[Jerseygirl08]

Originally Posted by TraceyMooreRN

The Emergency Room is for EMERGENCIES and for when Urgent Care Centers are closed. Urgent Care Centers are capable of treating fractures. They now have CT scans, Xray Machines, ability to take labs, urine samples, blood sugar samples and an MD there on site. If you passed out (fainted) and feel okay--urgent care can assess you and determine the need for the hospital.
If we could all spread the word--ER is for true emergencis. Possible STROKE patients, Acute Chest Pain...
When to go to the ER vs Urgent Care:
Coughing for a week, then decide you "can't take it anymore"--URGENT CARE
Trouble urinating --either pain, discomfort, lack thereof--URGENT CARE
Fever for a few days--URGENT CARE
Abdominal Pain--Scale of 10 (worst in your life THAT JUST STARTED)--ER..if the pain has been there and getting worse--URGENT CARE
Chest Pain- Left Arm Pain, Numbness/Tingling in Arm, Jaw Pain, Shoulder Pain--All new and nothing can be related to injury---ER, (CALL 911)

Unable to speak, slurred speech, weakness on one side of body (ER, CALL 911)

These are my opinions only as a RN. My opinion is --if you feel that you need to call 911 then you should be calling or head to the ER. If you feel you can drive yourself or get your neighbor to drive--then most times Urgent Care can meet your needs. If not- they will call 911 and transport you. Never delay treatment--if you feel something isn't right with yourself or a loved one--it probably isn't right and you need medical attention.

I hope with the new expansion of the TVRH ER department that the flow will work better for the community. However, without the community awareness of when to go to the Emergency Room vs Urgent Care--then you will continue to fight the long lines.

Well stated TraceyMRN. The UC's in TV are very good. Unless I was having a heart attack, stroke, or traumatic injury, anaphylaxis, etc., I'd much rather go to UC. I'm sure many will appreciate your post, even though it might be a little passionate (nurses are passionate about what they do).

[champion6]

Originally Posted by KARENNN

Could you post a link?
Thank you!

Use this link: TVRHFasterER