AVERAGE E.R. WAITING TIME INCREASED
The average total awaiting time in a U.S. Emergency Room in 2008 was 4 hours and 3 minutes. Sadly, it is a 27 minute increase in nationwide average wait time from 2002. What is causing the added wait time and what can be done to prevent such long waits?
First, according to the American College of Emergency Physicians, a January 2009 press release indicated that physicians believe that the recession is the one chief reason for the increase in emergency room visits. Many of these people that were once seen by a primary care physician are now going to the emergency room due to the loss of their health insurance. Unfortunately, this delay in care can end up proving to be a much more serious condition for patients in an already already overburdened emergency room system.
What do you do when you are confronted with a potentially four hour wait? Here are some tips for working with emergency room personnel:
1. Request that the triage nurse do a quick re-assessment of the patient, especially if you believe the patient is getting sicker while awaiting treatment in the emergency room. As the saying goes, the squeaky wheel does get the grease, however, make sure that you are not using inappropriate or threatening language. Be respectful.
2. If dealing with the triage nurse, request to speak with the charge nurse or a charge physician if there is a problem.
3. If you cannot speak with a charge nurse or a charge physician, request to speak with the administrator on call.
4. The last resort may be to dial '0' from the emergency room department waiting room phone and request to page the patient advocate or hospital administrator.
Belligerence or request for VIP treatment usually will backfire. Everyone in the emergency room is there because of a sickness or problem. However, make sure that you are adequately observing any changes in the patient’s condition.
The Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll has attorneys who handle medical malpractice cases in Chicago and throughout the country. Our experienced attorneys have handled a number of cases involving failure to timely and properly administer care to patients in the emergency room.
