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by hockeymom from Phoenix,AZ

Last Post 57 days, 22 hours Ago


No 911 in the ER
Jul 1, 2008 | 6:31 PM
Category: News
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Can somebody explain to me why 911 won't dispatch for help if calling from a hospital?

One might shake their head at this question.  Seriously, if your in the ER or another part of the hospital it would seem like a no brainer. You can't get closer to help than the ER.

There have been two cases recently in the news that involved a death at the ER. After not receiving the help needed from the hospital staff and then being refused help by 911 they died.  In both cases 911 refused help because the patient was already in the hospital.  It seems to me that if someone calls 911 they are in need of immediate help.  If it is later determined that 911 was being abuse by an impatient patient  then give them a fine or a ticket.

About 10 yrs ago I had to pick my Aunt up at Tempe St. Lukes Hospital.  She was in another area of the hospital than the ER.    When I showed up to pick her up I learned that they had already released her,  I suddently had chest pain, my head and legs were numb and I couldn't breath.  I sat down and asked the receptionist to for help and she seriously would not help me to the ER. She pointed down the hall and said the ER was down there.  I tried to walk in the direction of the ER when I sat down in the hallway because I couldn't walk and my chest hurt.  Two people, who appeared to be staff workers, walked by me.  I sort of hollard back at them and asked for help to the ER.  Guess what? They pointed down the hall. Which to me looked like a mile away.  I thought I was having a heart attack.  I couldn't get up.  I reached for my phone and called 911.  They told me to get a staff member to help me (dee, dee, dee) .  I couldn't breath and my heart was racing and it hurt and I was told that they could not dispatch for help when already in the hospital.  I finally got to the ER and thankfully  I was having a panic attack and not a heart attack . How the heck was I suppose to know that.  I really thought I was going to die. I felt helpless that I couldn't get help. Just a little help down the hall would have been nice. 

Could you imagine, thinking you are going to die and you can't get help yet your so close to it?  Or, if one of your loved ones are suffering and dieing right in front of you and you cant' get help.  

 

 

 

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Member Comments Total Comments: 14
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TweetyNMe read my blog view my photos
Jul 2, 2008 | 3:06 PM

I sympathize with your experience. Hospital staff aren't the most compassionate people we'll ever encounter. A person almost needs a cattle prod to get hospital staff to do their jobs. I came close to death in an ER. Had I hit the call button and dialed 911 at the same time I'm sure a medic would have arrived sooner than the hospital staff.
KenOfAZ read my blog view my photos
Jul 2, 2008 | 3:55 PM

I would lay down on the floor and scream that I was having a heart atack. They would probaly put you on a gurney and wheel you to the ER.
simonk read my blog
Jul 3, 2008 | 10:36 AM

Or into the rubber room where they couldn't hear you shout.
jteamaz read my blog
Jul 3, 2008 | 11:21 AM

Both of these cases as I recall were Government operated (County or City) facilities. Overstaffed, etc. and of course surrounded by folks who just don't care. This should be an example of what will probably happen when and if we try to socialize medicine. It's just inexcusable no matter which angle you look at it from.
simonk read my blog
Jul 3, 2008 | 11:25 AM

This is what a vote for Obama will get you.
nativephoenician read my blog
Jul 3, 2008 | 11:45 AM

Sounds like you had a bad experience. I wonder did you every ask anyone for assistance, or just assume that because you thought you were having a heart attack that everyone else present knew that you were having a heart attack? I mean it says that you asked the receptionist for help to the ER, but its not her job to get you to the ER. Did you at anytime say "I think Im having a heart attack and need assistance please get me some help"

I understand your feelings but these are human being capable of mistakes. They see people everyday that are sick and/or dieing which makes them numb to the drama, now that doesnt excuse them for not helping you but sometimes you have to get there attention and make them do what you want not assume they will just jump thru rings of fire to help you.

Im going to have to agree with KenofAz on this one if they had ignored me like you claim they did to you, I would have lied on the floor screaming my head off until someone paid attention.
nativephoenician read my blog
Jul 3, 2008 | 11:55 AM

good call jteamaz, you are absolutly correct on that one. If they socilize medicine and the goverment(as you know they will do)takes over the medical needs of Americans(which we will all pay for in increased taxes)this is what one can expect from the facilities. You think wait times in ER's are extreem now. JUST YOU WAIT..we wont be waiting many hours to be seen, let try putting on wait times in DAYS!!! not only will we wait for days to be seen, but they wont care about your health, they will "band-aid" your symptoms with precripton drugs (which the good ole boys club will be heavily invested)and send you home, just so you can come back and wait a few more DAYS to see another doctor because you symptoms just wont go away.

"DO NOT SOCIALIZE HEALTH CARE" PLEEEEEEASE
nativephoenician read my blog
Jul 3, 2008 | 11:55 AM

good call jteamaz, you are absolutly correct on that one. If they socilize medicine and the goverment(as you know they will do)takes over the medical needs of Americans(which we will all pay for in increased taxes)this is what one can expect from the facilities. You think wait times in ER's are extreem now. JUST YOU WAIT..we wont be waiting many hours to be seen, let try putting on wait times in DAYS!!! not only will we wait for days to be seen, but they wont care about your health, they will "band-aid" your symptoms with precripton drugs (which the good ole boys club will be heavily invested)and send you home, just so you can come back and wait a few more DAYS to see another doctor because you symptoms just wont go away.

"DO NOT SOCIALIZE HEALTH CARE" PLEEEEEEASE
jteamaz read my blog
Jul 3, 2008 | 2:30 PM

I meant understaffed, oops. Overworked etc., lots of "looking the other way."
littlefoot1979 read my blog
Jul 3, 2008 | 4:06 PM

I would lay on the floor and scream that I'm NOT a US citizen....that works everytime!!!

my guess is,these two tragic deaths recently, were both US citizens with overly priced medical insurance...??

things that make you go hmmmmm
hockeymom read my blog
Jul 3, 2008 | 6:45 PM

Hmmmmmmmm - good point! Makes you wonder thats for sure.

Just to answer a couple questions. Yes! I absolutly told the receptionist that my heart hurt, I couldn't breath and my head felt numb. I clearly remember that part, and asking her for help. As for the two in the hallway, I really don't remember specificly what I said to them other than "I need help to the ER. I can't breath." I guess me on the floor wasn't a very good clue that I needed help. And I should say I never screamed and yelled at anyone during this. I did raise my voice to get the attention of the two people going by me. However, There was certainly some yelling by me going on later that day after I got ahold of the discharge nurse that let my Aunt go 3 hours earlier than the 72 hours she was suppose to be in there. I have no doubt that nurse was wishing I was in a padded soundproof room.
superGma read my blog view my photos
Jul 24, 2008 | 4:42 PM

This happened to me just a few weeks ago. I have Addison's and Lupus. I let them know that my blood pressure was dropping and dropping fast..and I needed IV steroids and fast...they gave me a cup to pee in...go figure...I remember going to the bathroom to pee in their little cup that you can only miss..that is all I remember..I was on the cardiac floor as a patient when I woke up and was in there for five days. I don't understand this either.
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hockeymom

I'm a mother above anything else. I'm in love with my sons father and we have been in love since I was 18 years old. I turn 37 this year. My favorite music cd right now is Kid Rock, Rock N Roll Jesus. My favorite thing to do, is travel the country watching my son play travel ice hockey. My most passionate subject is Child Drowning Prevention.

Member Since: 9/20/2006


 

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