Appropriate use of the ER

March 18, 2020, 11:19 AM

BurtonRW

Mrs.BurtonRW works in an Urgent Care facility. I couldn't begin to tell you the stories from the last few weeks.

Recently, they posted big signs on the doors advising everyone that they can't test for COVID-19, so go away if that's why you're here. They also won't see you if you've been out of the country, a handful of specific locations here, or otherwise have a known exposure. Doesn't stop people from LYING about their exposure to get in the door and then telling doc they wanted to be checked out because they've been out of the country, in one of the hot spots, or otherwise exposed. All this, knowing full well that they CAN'T be tested there.

IDIOTS & ASSHOLES.

-Rob

March 18, 2020, 01:10 PM

egregore

quote:
Originally posted by 2000Z-71:
Coming to the ER and demanding to be tested for Corona Virus ...

What action, if any, is taken? Do you turn them away? Or do you take them in and use up whatever test kits you may have, or have left, to test them?

quote:
Originally posted by BurtonRW:

They also won't see you if you've been out of the country, a handful of specific locations here, or otherwise have a known exposure.

By "here," do you mean the country? Your state? City? I imagine some neighborhoods in, for example, Baltimore, are a breeding ground.

March 18, 2020, 04:20 PM

ZSMICHAEL

One of our local hospitals has set up a fever and cough clinic where people can be seen. It has been helpful keeping nonemergent patients out of the ER and also helped with the Urgent Care Clinics. There are also numbers to call where you can speak with a nurse to be screened without leaving the house. Of course not everyone is prudent and follows these guidelines.

March 18, 2020, 05:01 PM

PowerSurge

Should’ve told them the new Wuhan Flu test requires an enema, stat.

March 18, 2020, 06:09 PM

egregore

quote:
Should’ve told them the new Wuhan Flu test requires an enema, stat.

To some people, that might be encouragement, not a deterrent. Just saying.

March 18, 2020, 06:10 PM

Eponym

I sneeze if I tickle the hair of my right eyebrow on the upper, outer edge just right.
Strange, isn't it. (Rhetorical question.) I've known this (both) for years.
You'll be glad to know I've never felt a need to go to the ER for these conditions.

ETA: This could be handy as a people repellent. "I don't need a gun; I've got a sneeze." Crocodile Dundee

March 18, 2020, 07:37 PM

2000Z-71

quote:
Originally posted by egregore:
What action, if any, is taken? Do you turn them away? Or do you take them in and use up whatever test kits you may have, or have left, to test them?

We can't turn them away, we have to treat everyone who comes into the ER, for now. That will be changing if the situation worsens. It's now the doc's discretion on testing. Used to be approval had to come from the state/CDC. That said, sniffles are not getting tested, unless they just got off a plane from Wuhan.

March 19, 2020, 03:56 AM

BurtonRW

quote:
Originally posted by egregore:
quote:
Originally posted by 2000Z-71:
Coming to the ER and demanding to be tested for Corona Virus ...

What action, if any, is taken? Do you turn them away? Or do you take them in and use up whatever test kits you may have, or have left, to test them?

quote:
Originally posted by BurtonRW:

They also won't see you if you've been out of the country, a handful of specific locations here, or otherwise have a known exposure.

By "here," do you mean the country? Your state? City? I imagine some neighborhoods in, for example, Baltimore, are a breeding ground.

I mean certain states in CONUS, like Washington. There’s a short list which doesn’t make particular sense (more based on wherever the current national press coverage has focused) and wasn’t being updated as other hot spots started to appear. The chain she works for is pretty much a clusterfuck of incompetence in terms of executive leadership and overall management on a good day, so the fact that they’re winging this completely isn’t particularly surprising.

-Rob

March 19, 2020, 09:35 AM

sns3guppy

quote:
Originally posted by BurtonRW:
Mrs.BurtonRW works in an Urgent Care facility. I couldn't begin to tell you the stories from the last few weeks.

Recently, they posted big signs on the doors advising everyone that they can't test for COVID-19, so go away if that's why you're here. They also won't see you if you've been out of the country, a handful of specific locations here, or otherwise have a known exposure. Doesn't stop people from LYING about their exposure to get in the door and then telling doc they wanted to be checked out because they've been out of the country, in one of the hot spots, or otherwise exposed. All this, knowing full well that they CAN'T be tested there.

IDIOTS & ASSHOLES.

-Rob

I have been to the "hotspots" and out of the country, a lot.

I'll have to be bleeding to death or suffocating before I'll drag myself to an ER or urgent care: that's most likely where I'll get infected.

I haven't been tested. I won't be getting tested, either. If I'm not showing symptoms, it doesn't matter: I'm not interacting. If I am showing symptoms, then I'll ride it out until I can't, at which time I'll be tested for everything but the virus, and eventually tested for that if nothing else plays out. Otherwise, beyond a few necessities that need to get done, it's home, then back to the "hot spots."

March 19, 2020, 11:37 AM

2000Z-71

The disgusting part of this is how much many supplies have been stolen from the hospital over the past week. Last week, 7 cases of face masks were stolen. Disinfectant wipes are no longer kept in patient areas, estimated that over 150 of them went out the door over the last week. Earlier this week I had a patient steal 4 boxes of gloves out of a room.

March 19, 2020, 11:50 AM

Fredward

The last place I want to be right now is an ER. Maybe if I get shot or sever a limb. They're cesspits of infection and lunacy.

March 19, 2020, 12:50 PM

captain127

I am greatly relieved to have left working urgent care medicine last month. My new non ER/ urgent care job starts next week. I will be happy to tell people I only do bones and joints now- cough and fever not my lane anymore

March 19, 2020, 07:12 PM

Jus228

I have to admit that made me laugh out loud.

March 19, 2020, 09:22 PM

Appliance Brad

I worked the Boo Boo Bus Sunday. Every patient we transported was ALS. ER was pretty deserted. It's a PITA to get in now. Hospital did set up a drive through testing site about half a mile from the hospital. That was probably a decoy to keep them away from the ER.