January 30, 2018
We all have horror stories about trips to the ER that lasted for hours and had miserable outcomes. I got so frustrated once I simply left and decided I'd rather try and pass a kidney stone at home rather than sitting in a waiting room in the ER for another 3 hours! Hospitals are well aware of the bad PR and awful statistics about emergency rooms and consequently you may have noticed that they are now competing with each other by advertising how fast they respond. I checked the website (ERWaitWatcher) while I was writing this blog post, and it said that currently there was a “7 minute wait at North Florida Regional” and a “19 minute wait at UF Health Shands Hospital” in my hometown of Gainesville, Fl.
But this is not the entire story. Yes, there are websites and apps that can give you real time waiting periods for the ER's in your area. But look a little deeper and this is what you will find out: average wait time to be seen by a medical professional at UF Health Shands is 32 minutes. Average time before being sent home is 3 hours and 55 minutes. If you are actually admitted, it is another 7 hours and 18 minutes on average. And to arrive at your hospital room, tack on another 3 hours and 16 minutes. This is a total of 10 hours and 34 minutes from first being seen to getting into your hospital bed! This according to their own data by the way. Perhaps the times at North Florida are a little better. But the truth is, the national average are 28 minutes to see a doctor, 2 hours and 52 minutes until sent home, followed by 5 hours and 34 minutes to be admitted, and 2 hours and 16 minutes to actually get into your hospital bed. No wonder we all dread going to the emergency room!
And mind you, the statistics above are for anyone; not an elderly person! I fully understand that under certain circumstances a patient will be seen immediately; chest pain, losing consciousness, excessive bleeding etc. But if you don't fall into this category, you can expect hours and hours of waiting. And how much more stressful is it for an elderly person who finds themselves in the ER? It is often a chaotic scene, very noisy with loud beeping, people crying in pain, medical staff scurrying around, usually freezing cold and super bright lights. All of this is very very disorienting for the elderly and downright frightening. And to make matters worse, researchers found that national visits to emergency rooms by the elderly have increased 34% in the last decade! Likely this is due to older people living longer with chronic health conditions, as well as problems the elderly are experiencing accessing primary care doctors is some areas of the country. But with a little forethought this experience can at least be mitigated. As a senior yourself or as a family member here are some simple things to keep in mind:
Call 911 or transport your loved one to the ER?I am not advocating abuse of the 911 system, but I am strongly suggesting you consider calling 911. The reason? Anyone transported via ambulance is seen immediately whereas patients who are transported via personal transportation will likely sit in the waiting room for hours and hours. You could save your elderly family member many hours of stress, frustration and anxiety by calling 911.
Pre-Register on line with the ER! Some urban larger hospitals now encourage you to go on line, list your symptoms, and they will notify 15 minutes out from when they anticipate you will be seen by a medical professional. This way you can wait in the comfort of your home (as long as it is not a true emergency of course) and then go in. Remember, if in doubt, just call 911.
Make sure you have a list of all your medications or your family members meds. Keep a current and up to date list in the SAME PLACE at all times. Some people call it the "Vial of Life" and keep a list in the freezer or taped to the fridge. Easily seen, easily found. Emergency personnel can grab it and go, or you can on your way out the door. This list needs to include any type of allergies or medication allergies. It needs to be absolutely clear, especially current dosages. If there are regular caregivers in the home, make sure they know where this list is at all times. Also have a brief medical history, living will, health insurance or supplemental insurance cards, and very important, Power of Attorney! Most hospital medication errors start in the ER so do what is needed to avoid this.
Bring a Survival Kit! Even if you are calling 911 stop for a minute and gather some things that will make the inevitable wait for you or your family member or friend bearable. Bring some snacks, protein bars, bring a book or laptop, grab your cell phone AND the patients cell phone. Bring some decent drinking water or healthy drinks as you may not find this in the hospital. Bring some warm sweaters, a scarf, or even a blanket since it is cold and they may or may not have extra blankets on hand. Try to breath and stay calm for your sake and your family member.
Be a Strong Advocate! This is not the time to be a wallflower or shy. Not to be melodramatic, but this could be a life or death situation. Speak up! Communicate with the admissions staff, the medical personnel and the doctor's. Ask LOTS of questions about what is being done and why, especially about medications. If they are running tests, ask why, what the procedure is, and how long will it be before the test results are back. Be cooperative; be pleasant, but exert your right to know what is going on. You can always ask to speak to a supervisor or the hospital PR person if you have had an awful experience. If you don't speak up, who will?
Making sure that an aging loved one receives the best medical care possible means being prepared. I remember, many years ago, packing my “hospital birthing” suitcase. It was ready to go for the moment I knew I was in labor. Think of this as your “hospital emergency bag.” Ready to go for the inevitable trip to the ER. if you have elderly family. The last thing you want to be doing is looking thru files for your living will or your Power of Attorney for Mom or Dad. Grab one of those lightweight reusable grocery bags we all have too many of and make copies ahead of time of all the important lists I've mentioned. Mark it as “TAKE TO HOSPITAL.” Even throw in some protein bars and water bottles. You'll feel so much more prepared and less stressed out if you do!