Emergency Rooms And The RELENTLESS WAITING!

I told you about one ER experience in your other post already but I have plenty more stories about not so good ER trips. Not counting the two big emergencies we've been through, I've never gotten out of there in under 3 hours even though it's a really small hospital. Once my s/o broke his ankle, I drove him there and we waited 4 hours before they even took him back to a room. Then another hour for the x-rays. They came back unclear because of the swelling so they told him they didn't think it was broken because if it was broken he'd "be in more pain". That was their only reasoning. They sent him home on crutches but didn't feel the need to give him a light duty notice for work. His ankle still isn't right. One of the major trips was to the bigger hospital here. There was no wait because they life flighted him there. He'd wrecked his son's bike and laid out in the driveway (on a 90 degree plus day in the full sun) for an hour and a half before anyone found him. He had a broken collar bone and had hit his head really hard. He was dehydrated and in shock. They ran all the tests and scans but because of the HIPPA laws they couldn't tell us anything, instead they told him privately. The problem was, he was so out of it that he didn't even know where he was much less what they were saying! Then they said that as soon as he could go to the bathroom and stand up he could be released. Well I guess they needed his room or something because after only being there for a few hours they said it was good enough when he "went" in a jug while still laying in bed and stood with the help of two nurses, me and his mom...if us helping him out of bed and directly into a wheelchair counts as "standing". Anyway, it was two days before he even realized I was there at the hospital, he had no idea how he got there until I told him and didn't remember the accident at all...still doesn't. This happened on a Tuesday afternoon and it was Saturday before he could walk to the bathroom alone and without needing to sit down in between...pretty bad considering it was a trailer and the bathroom is 20 feet from the couch he was sleeping on! But the "better" hospital said he was just fine...it's been two years almost and I still don't think his head is ok.

Gee--you had a "short" wait compared to our ER in our hospital...My mother's passed away now, but during the years 2005 to 2006 my mother had to often go to the ER for numerous reasons, and the average waiting time was at least 8 hours before anything was really done for her...and like yours there weren't any dire emergencies, no one with gunshot wounds or heavy bleeding or heart attacks...nada

Are you saying, that they should not have stitched him up at all? OMG, if you don't feel something is right. Don't let them do it. I have had to stop them from doing things before. I would go straight to the administration of that hospital and do some complaining. It is ridiculous how long it takes to get in, and to be treated like this, is horrifying!!

well i havent experienced that yet God forbids..but i have read such same situation as yours..thats was frustrating i guess since it is your son..the patient

Im sorry about your son and for you also. When someone close to us is in pain we also want to end that pain coz we are also feel the pain they are feeling we want to end it coz the pain we feel will also end. Its also the situation in our public hospitals here in the Philippines and I feel sorry for the patients and their loved ones.

I think all ers are just about the same, of the two times I've had to go to the er in, all of them are pretty slow no matter what the reason. that is very sad that they did that do your son. It doesn't seem like they should've been in a rush like that as long as it took them. I know when I had some stitches taken out, the doctor just ripped em out with no regard if it hurt or no. I think after so many years, some doctors lose their compassion for people and just see people as a sick body.

I think all ERs are just as bad , but seriously, yours was real bad in this situation! I mean, bleeding? Opened wound? Like come on! They should've sown that up right away!!

I've seen stuff like this in ER's before. I once took one of my children in and a man came in with his son whose arm was obviously broken. The poor kid was in so much pain I couldn't take it anymore after a few hours of watching him. I got up and started screaming and yelling until they finally sent a doctor out to the waiting room. He examined him and ordered pain meds and xrays right there from the waiting room! I was just floored that they would let that young boy sit for hours in so much pain. I paid for it of course,it was about 6 hours before they finally saw my daughter, though I had made them give her something for her fever while we were in the waiting room as well. It's just ridiculous the way hospitals are these days. It pays to complain! If you don't feel like you are being treated fairly or that people are suffering in the waiting room..speak up. yaya works for me:)

I’ve never heard that you can’t do stitches after an hour- How do you stop it from bleeding- or fix the cut?? Our ER- is bad also- You wait and wait for hours- and then the visit is quick- and usually nothing is done- they send you to your regular doctor the next day- I’m lucky that I have not had to take my daughter to the ER.

OMG! I'm so sorry about you and your son! I wish there was somethign I could do..You should of called me and I would of been there with you..I know i couldn't make the wait any faster but I could of been there for you and your son for support! I know how bad that hospital is and it just seems to be getting worse than better! And most of the Drs there suck so bad they shouldn't be Drs. Thats why I take my kids to Corry Hospital! The Drs is much better and they get you right in! I'm sorry I wasn't there for the both of you! Love Ya

after reading the replies you got i am really shocked! why the long wait? i know that patients are taken in according to priority BUT 4 hours!!??? is the stupid ER saying there are 4hours long of people dying behind those curtains?? i feel so sorry that you have to wait that long and whats so bad is its your son and whats worst is the helpless feeling a parent gets when there is nothing we can do to help ease our children's pain.

well first of all i hope your son gets better soon.yes our er rooms you wait forever,no matter what the case is.theres times where i had to wait 6 hours and all 3 of my babies were trowing up and fevers.its such a shame how long they make os wait unless we are dying then we get taken quick,sometimes.they always apologize but it doesnt make us feel better because we are so frustrated, and the person we brought in is in pain.