When will hospitals wake up and really change how they operate the ER?

[hedgehog]

The series ER started its run in 1994 based on a script written in 1974.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ER_%28TV_series%29

Yet you could walk into any real ER today and see that the only substantial change is a lot of people spending a lot of time putting data into computers instead of interacting with patients. (At least, I hope that's what they're doing. Could be checking Facebook)

Every time a story of incompetent ER doctors appears,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141305981

people step up with their own horror stories. I could add my own, but that would distract from the elephant in the room. If ERs were run so poorly back in 1974 that they were chaotic and people felt overworked, why are we running them the same way today?

[LiberalEsto]

1. We live close to two hospitals.

The closer one, which is the only one our local rescue squad takes people to, has a notoriously horrible ER with extremely long waits and bad customer service. We avoid it when possible.

The other one is 6 or 7 miles away, and has a great ER. You are met by staff immediately upon arrival. Waits are short. Staff people, who are friendly, walk you through every step of the process. I have been a patient in their ER twice, and it is like night and day compared with the other one.

I think it is simply a matter of whether the hospital cares about its image and reputation, and is willing to hire and train staff to make the ER experience tolerable.

[hedgehog]

3. Sounds like some steps in the right direction

[Siwsan]

2. I have noticed a steady decline in the way our local ER is run

Unfortunately, over the last couple of years, I've had to spend an inordinate amount of time in ERs. My elderly aunt, who was in Assisted Living, refused to follow advice and fell, quite often. Even if she suffered no injuries, their policy was to ship her off to the ER. Then she did finally do that damage and broke her hip, last New Year's Day.

At the same time my mother was falling deeper into Alzheimers, and suffered from 'pseudogout' so between her issues connected with those problems, I spent hours and hours in the ER and rarely got out of there in less than 10 hours. The worst was around 18 hours.

And, yes, I did notice dozens of people either sitting at computers or, frankly, standing around talking. More than once someone dropped the ball and tests were delayed. The last time we waited for about 6 hours for a room to be made ready, and then be given to someone else so we had to wait even longer.

The last time I took my Aunt in for delirium caused by over-medication, it was about a 14 hour marathon and I finally lost it. Several times. I will say the staff endured my fury with a whole lot of grace, but still.

[mwrguy]

4. They have to input the data directly into computers now

it's a mandate from the ACA.

[REP]

5. I had zero wait time during my last two ER visits

True, both times I was in danger of losing a limb (and one time, at risk of just dying, though I still think they were exaggerating, despite my four day stay) and I was admitted to the hospital immediately, but there was no waiting around or triage. I went to the intake desk and within moments I was having IVs inserted. I tried to pay my co-pay when I arrived, but everyone was far more concerned about me - getting the co-pay seemed like an afterthought after I was resting comfortably.