Doctors And Nurses Are Calling Out Common Health “Lies” That More People Should Know

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“ER provider here. We hate wait times as much as you do. When the ER is busy, and you’re waiting hours to be seen, try changing your perspective and being thankful for the wait. The people who don’t wait are dying or close to it. The ER’s wait is long for many reasons: overcrowding, boarding patients waiting to be admitted or transferred, and short staffing. It’s crowded because people come to see us for ‘stomach pain that’s been bothering me for years,’ STI checks, or fender benders. I’ve had people take ambulances to the ER and then tell me they only came for a work note and were lying about their chest pain. It’s crowded because your neighbors/fellow citizens abuse ER services; however, we are legally required to see and write a note to every patient who checks in, no matter their complaint.”

“We’re crowded because the government doesn’t provide adequate resources for the people who have a mental illness; when people come in who are suicidal or violent, we have to hold them in the ER, taking up a bed, sometimes for days, while they wait to gain access to one of the few mental health beds available in the surrounding community. And many times, patients like that require a one-on-one sitter who just sits and watches them 24/7 to make sure they don’t hurt themselves. When the unlicensed staff who usually do that aren’t available to sit, we have to make paramedics and nurses do it instead — further stressing the department’s resources. 

We’re crowded because you came on a Monday. Don’t go to the ER on a Monday unless you’re legitimately ill or dying. Otherwise, plan to wait hours. Have your “emergency” on a Saturday morning instead. Likewise, have your emergency early in the day if possible. Most ERs have only one or two providers for the whole department at night! I work in a large, 40–50 bed ER, and from 1 a.m.–6 a.m., it’s just two of us — ONE MD AND ONE PA for ALL beds plus the waiting room. Come early in the morning when there’s more staff. 

Another reason your wait time is so long is because not all services are available at every hospital. If you come to see me for a legitimate reason that needs specialist attention, I may have to transfer you to our main hospital where the ENT, ophthalmologist, pediatric specialist, hand surgeon, etc., can see you. That means you sit for hours waiting for an ambulance to transfer you, and the bed you’re in is blocked until you leave. Get to know the hospitals in your area. If you have an eye emergency, don’t go to an ER in a hospital that doesn’t staff ophthalmologists on call, etc.

Finally, if you do eventually get back to a room, be nice to us! While you’ve been impatiently scrolling on your phone, we’ve been doing our best to give every person the time and attention they deserve — while working hard not to rush or miss anything that could lead to a mistake or harm. We’ve been getting yelled at, cursed at, sometimes swung at, or spit on. We’ve been delivering bad news or managing crises. Show your ER doctors, APPs (Advanced Practice Providers), nurses, radiology staff, techs, etc., a little grace.”

—Anonymous, 40, Ohio