E.R.'s are a fact of live, Where there is a catastrophe you know that the nearest ER is going to work their hardest to save your or your loved ones life.
But when it is Sat. afternoon and your toddler is vomiting and a nasty case of the flu, most of us dread going to the ER. Why is that? Because we know we are going to be there for HOURS before we are seen and our child gets relief. Lefts face it, in the past we did have to wait, Wait until the Dr's were done with the Car crash, The stabbing victim, the Domestic violence issues... the list goes on and on. The point is everyone who had a bigger need get in first, and you and your sick little one were stuck in the waiting room waiting to hear the magic words, " Mrs. Smith? Would you bring Little Jane on back please."
Flash forward to today. Its 12 noon and you have just called your Dr office, Your told they can see you in about 4 days, your little one is not going to suffer for 4 days while you wait for an appointment. The flu didn't ask you for an appointment did it?
It's off to the E.R. you go....
You rush in your with little one, Fever of 103, instead of sitting and waiting for an hour or more you are rush straight in to the triage where a Dr, not a Nurse is waiting to get all the info and that is when they decided on which level of care is appropriate.
First level of care- Antibiotic, tissues, chicken soup and a band-aide for good measure.
Second level of care- Lab work to figure out what is causing that 103 degree fever, such Flu, Croup, Meningitides. you might have to stay there an hour or two.
Third level of care-they send you into the E.R. proper ( with a bed and the cartoon network) Your getting the full work up this time, Labs, X-Rays, I-V's and so on This is the level that I personally try to keep my family from needing
Hopefully your next visit and the Dr decides that you just need some antibiotics, some tissues and chicken soup. Right, Prescriptions written, insurance information taken and you are out of the ER in under mins. 30 mins, can you believe that? For that I have to say San Jacinto Meth Hospital get 5 stars from me.
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