[GlamourGirl827]

Originally Posted by sacha

I agree that healthcare workers would be annoyed but "we" (meaning those of us in emergency services - nurses, doctors, 911 operators, police officers) need to remember that by becoming jaded and branding people with stereotypes is how people fall through the cracks and someone gets hurt - or worse. I know, I sat there myself many times rolling my eyes to the same thing over and over again but complacency in these jobs are what gets people hurt.

When it comes to emergency services, we also need to recognize that humans make mistakes and don't do things according to how the system wants them. That's just a fact of life and if we can't handle it (not saying we have to like it!) then we need to reconsider our positions because human nature doesn't change.

If I had a nickel for every time a person called 911 over 4 hours too late, came into the police station when it wasn't important, wasted my time with an 'unimportant' event or didn't contact the police for something extremely serious (ie. elderly people that don't like to 'bother' police when they are being robbed blind) then ... you know? It's frustrating, I know. But we can't brand people and ignore that a person may have real issues. It may be the 1 time out of 100, but that's our job.

I agree. Well said. I had a patient call 911 for stroke symptoms, FOUR days after he had a stroke! One of the big things with strokes is catching them ASAP. I will the man was not worried about bothering anyone. That was years ago, and I still think of the poor patient.

[GlamourGirl827]

Originally Posted by ringmaster

It's not always stereotyping, Not sure about Canada, but I'm sure in the US if someone walks in with insurance and complains then they are treated right away whether it's the "everyday complaints" or a real emergency. no insurance or medicaid people are probably more likely to get put on the back burner as the people who just go in and ask for help for "no reason".

People area treated in the ER in order if how severe their issue is, not based on insurance. However, people with insurance are better able to following up with needed docs and tests to better treat and manage an on going issue.
In my experience, during a hospital admission, people without insurance are given less tests (kind of like "do they really need this test?) and are discharged quicker.
But I really hope you aren't suggesting that in an ER they would actually treat someone with a less urgent issue before someone with a more serious issue, solely because the less urgent patient has insurance and the more urgent patient does not. Where do people get these ideas from???

Nurse: Doctor, the patient in room 2 has a large laceration that has been profusely bleeding for over an hour. I'm worried he might be losing too much blood. Aren't you going to stitch him up?
Doctor: No, I have a hang nail in room 3 I've been attending to. And by the way, when I'm done removing her hang nail, she'd like a massage. Who you please give her one?
Nurse: What about room 2? I think he's in mu-....oooh, he doesn't have insurance, does he?
Doctor: No. And he's a drug addict too.
Nurse: whew! ( nurse mockingly wipes brow) then no worries, doc. And I'll get right on that massage!
(Doctor and nurse laugh, as patient in room 2 becomes unconscience due to blood loss...)

I wouldn't want to go to that ER even if I did have insurance!!