Any event that brings us to the emergency room (ER) can create strong feelings of urgency within us. Otherwise, we would not have gone to the ER in the first place. But once there, we can experience what seem like long, frustrating waits. Have you ever wondered, “Why are we left sitting in the waiting room?” “Why does it take ‘forever’ for a doctor to come talk with us?” “Why am I seeing patients who have come in after me get help before me?” If you have ever asked these questions or felt these frustrations, you are not alone. Are there answers? Why does this happen?
What Happens When You Get to the ER
It is important to understand how the ER is operated. Although access to the ER has become easier, the main goal of the ER has not changed: determining and ruling out emergency conditions. Certain conditions are more life-threatening than others. Certain conditions are also more time-sensitive than others, causing permanent disabilities if they are not handled quickly. This does not mean that your concern is not serious or important, but it is crucial to remember that the ER does not operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
When you arrive, your symptoms, complaints, and vital signs (if indicated) are all taken. This information is then given to the triage team. Triaging is a way of organizing. It is the triage team’s responsibility to organize the order in which patients are seen. This is done not by who arrived first, but by how critical or severe the patient’s symptoms or injuries are. Patients with life-threatening or time-sensitive conditions such as trauma, stroke symptoms, or chest pain, will be given a higher level of priority. They will also have the attention of the doctor sooner than others, as their conditions can be critical.
Every day in the ER is different. There may be a high volume of patients or limited staff resources. And it can be frustrating to see others get in a position before you when they arrived after you. But remember the goal of the ER is to stabilize and save lives. Something we are all grateful for when we are in those situations.
Is the ER the Right Choice?
Knowing that the ER triages patients may cause us to wonder, when is it appropriate to go to the ER? Are there times we should be going somewhere else?
You should call 911 or go to the ER if the condition is life-threatening or may cause permanent disabilities if not handled quickly. Some of these situations include:
chest pain or pressure
sudden weakness on one side
sudden slurring of words
vomiting blood
sudden pain
sudden shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
sudden vision changes
severe wounds
fractures that have broken through the skin
head or eye injuries
uncontrollable bleeding
Alternative Choices to the ER
At other times, it may be more appropriate to use an alternative to the ER. An urgent care center can be used for conditions such as infections, flu, colds, UTIs, minor injuries, or fractures that have not broken through the skin (or need reset). An urgent care center will usually schedule a day-of appointment so you can be seen relatively quickly. Another option is to consider your primary care physician or a telehealth service if you feel safe waiting a couple of days until getting treatment.
Resources:
https://www.holzer.org/holzer-community-connection/articles/know-when-to-go/ Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board