In response to: “Staying Safe in the Emergency Department (January 11, 2011).”
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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – We agree with author Ken Bukowski when he says that emergency departments are a vital part of our community and a lifesaving resource. Although we advise patients on when to seek emergency care, we would never tell them when NOT to seek it. This sends a dangerous public health message and can be very harmful to patients. The fact of the matter is, many may not realize they are having a “true emergency” until they are examined by an emergency physician.
Most people who seek care in the emergency department need to be there. Less than 8 percent are considered non-urgent according to the CDC. And non-urgent does not mean unnecessary. “Boarding” is the cause of gridlock in emergency departments. It occurs when hospitals “hold” emergency patients who have been stabilized and admitted to the hospital from the emergency department because of a lack of hospital beds. It is the primary cause of overcrowding and causes patients to undergo unnecessary suffering and indignity, while putting lives at risk.
Emergency departments have highly trained and experienced professionals, diagnostic equipment, laboratory testing and access to numerous medical specialists at their immediate disposal. Often times it takes a thorough examination for a physician to properly diagnose a patient.
If you or anyone feels that they should to go to the emergency department for a particular reason, then that’s what you should do. When it comes to your health, it’s better to err on the side of caution than to find out something is far more serious.
Dr. Sandra Schneider
President, American College of Emergency Physicians
Rochester, NY