4.5 hours in the ER- never saw a doc

PartyOfFive

I slipped on the ice on the driveway yesterday afternoon and clonked my head pretty good. I was all kinds of dizzy and disoriented and in pain so DH took me to the ER at Mount Carmel East. They signed me in and triaged me fairly quickly and then we sat there. And sat there. And Sat there. 

I'd been going out to the mailbox to get the mail in case there was a magazine to read while I pumped since I was kind of full after Charlotte's big nap. I never pumped, obviously since I fell so by the time it was 7:30, I'd sent Jim home to get my pump and then there was no where to pump. I checked at the desk and was told "its gonna be a while longer" so we just left. I was feeling better, just frustrated and sore but OMG!

There was a guy that came in that was literally holding a towel to his bleeding side and they triaged him and had him sit too! WTF do you have to do to get in to the ER there? The ER visit at St. Ann's when Sam needed stitches was so smooth compared to this? Maybe its just MCE?

I'm seeing my doc at 3pm today and I'm off to curl up on the couch with a hot pack. Blah. Be careful out there!

Danica1

Seeing as I volunteer there I can answer this! MCE and St Ann's are much different in the fact that SA is smaller and MCE is a lot bigger. Unless you have a bullet in you, can't breath or having a heart attack, you will NOT get in the back very quickly. Broken bones and vomiting and hitting your head aren't considered life threatening. I know that sucks, but that's how it is at all hospitals. If you can believe it or not MCE is ALWAYS on diversion because they are so busy. If you ever need an ER MCE is really not the place to go. They get so clogged up with people with colds, that people who really need attention have to wait longer. I've witnessed this first hand.

After having visited my mom in the ER in SA (that was my first time there) and MCE, I will always go to SA!!! Even though I volunteer at MCE I think the staff could always do better at getting people back in the ER. I know it's busy back there because I work back there, but seriously, compared to SA's it's a zoo!

I hope you're feeling better. I'm so sorry you fell and so sorry you had a bad experience at MCE. :-(

Temp536318000001135

I  hope you feel better! Sounds like an awful experience!

PartyOfFive

Good to know Danica! I'll just wave at MCE with one finger when we head to SA's ER next time!

tammiRN

We've gotten patients diverted from Mt. Carmel East clear up here if they are sick enough (coming in by EMS).  If you ever want to be put in a room immediately, just tell them you're having chest pain.  Our ER regulars can tell you that

wickedclown1020

I sat in there for 5 hours with a broken leg a couple years ago. I hate mce.

Mrs*Pink

The problem lies in that there aren't enough doctors that take Medicaid, so many Medicaid patients go to the ER instead, because the wait is so long at their general practitioner.  So you have every sore throat, cut finger, ear ache, whatever - going to the ER and making the wait longer for everyone.

My experience at St. Ann's was pretty bad.  DH cut his leg open on my license plate and it took about 3 hours to get to the back and then another hour to be seen.  He was actively bleeding (a lot) and they seem put out when I'd ask for fresh gauze so he wouldn't bleed all over the floor.  This old guy was NOT looking good (maybe chest pains?) and the family was freaking out and getting ready to take him elsewhere, because they wouldn't move him up the list.

I&R_4_23_06

We h ave been to MTE twice, and were seen very quickly, but then again they were both for chest pains.  The second time we didn't even get to sit down before they called us  back.  Sorry for your terrible experience.  But at least you know not to go back there.

ashell97

NO, they will NOT take you immediately if you're having chest pains and you don't show up in an ambulance.  Dad sat there for 2 hours once and they basically told him that because he was critical enough to come in an ambulance, he wasn't critical enough to be seen right away.

Thankfully he didn't die in the waiting room!

froggygrleb

hopefully you are feeling better today.  I have never had to go to mce but will def try and avoid it.  get some rest this morning and im sure everything will go well this afternoon

iheartsean

I hope you are feeling better today!!

PrincessRock

Eek, that sucks! I hope your head is feeling better.