medical care?

Parents Forum
1

<p>OK, stuff happens. DS (a UF student) needed stitches, 7:30 on a weeknight. He got out of the ER at Shands at around 7:00 a.m.</p>

<p>Shands seems to be the only show in town, after hours. There was one other hospital that I could find online, and their ER was very busy, too (although, in 20/20 hindsight, he probably would have been seen in 3-4 hours at the other hospital.</p>

<p>I'm concerned about a more serious situation being dealt with in a timely manner, especially since he wouldn't have a family member there to advocate for him.</p>

<p>What's the best way to get urgent care after the clinics close?</p>

<p>I posted this on the UF board, but wanted to know how you have handled minor, or major, medical issues with kids away at college, and if there are any tips you can share...</p>

2

<p>"I'm concerned about a more serious situation being dealt with in a timely manner, especially since he wouldn't have a family member there to advocate for him."</p>

<p>Most, if not all ER's prioritize patients. Something more serious than stitches would have been dealt with promptly.</p>

3

<p>What did he do, put a bandage on it?</p>

<p>It would have been better if he was bleeding all over the floor.</p>

<p>Triage or no triage, I've found that ERs deal with messy stuff faster than non-messy stuff.</p>

<p>My husband went to an ER recently with a bad nosebleed and was seen immediately. I'm sure his condition was no more serious than your son's, but he was dripping all over the place.</p>

4

<p>^^^Yes, with all the blood precautions that have to be taken now--cleaning up a bloody waiting room is a major hassle. I agree, I would think he was triaged and they must have been busy enough that the more serious cases were handled first.</p>

5

<p>The best way to get good service in an ER is to arrive by helicopter (think Lifestar). The next best way is to arrive in an ambulance. If you want to wait a long time, arrive in a car. If there is something serious...call 911 and get an ambulance to take you to the ER.</p>

6

<p>From a friend who works in an ER, you can also try coming in with 25-30 of your closest friends and relatives who all set up camp in the waiting room--they can't wait to get that cleared out, lol.</p>

7

<p>It might not be a bad idea to get your son or daughter an appointment at the beginning of their frosh year with a local MD. That way, as an established patient, when an emergency arises, they can page the MD for help or advice. (Maybe an on call physician could have stitched your son up at his office? Or paved the way for his treatment at the hospital?) Also, get a waiver signed BEFORE anything happens so you have complete access to your child's medical records and can get information or advocate by phone if necessary. Also, finding a dentist before you need one is also a good idea.</p>

8

<p>Does your insurance cover any of the UrgentCare or CareNow or similar doc-in-the-box options? Since they aren't seeing severe trauma patients the wait can be much shorter. Some even let you check in by phone or arrive and then come back later.<br>
WHen our younger D was 3 she broke her leg. Just when we arrived at ER (only hospital in that town) there was a multi-car pileup on the freeway. After a few hours D was asleep in Daddy's lap and at the triage team's suggestion we just went home and came back in the morning. Much faster service at 8 AM.</p>

9

<p>Our insurance would have covered any of the urgent care/doc-in-the-box options. Unfortunately, in this particular college town, they all seem to shut down around 6-7 pm. </p>

<p>Raising three boys I've spent my fair share (OK, WAY more than my fair share) of time in ER's. I've never had to wait this long for one of my kids to get care. The closest we came was years ago when we were on vacation and went to a big public hospital ER for stitches for our son. After a couple of hours, I found a phone book and found that there was a for-profit hospital just blocks away. Empty ER, and a M.D., rather than an P.A., to do the sewing. </p>

<p>That just didn't seem to be an option the other night. As far as triage, I agree that blood all over the place would probably get prompter attention. (You want to see them JUMP? Show up 9 months pregnant covered with blood - ok, it was my 2 year old son's , not mine, but I have STILL never seen an ER nurse turn that pale...)</p>

<p>A couple of years ago my youngest ended up in the hospital for 2 weeks with a ruptured appendix. Based on some symptoms and "mom-dar" I had taken him to a local children's hospital where he was taken immediately into one of their rooms in the ER. It still took all day to diagnose the problem, and FWIW, peritonitis is a big pile of no fun.</p>

<p>With all the rooms full, and 30+ people waiting, and no mom to raise h***, what would happen to my oldest (in Gainesville) if he had non-classically presenting appendicitis? </p>

<p>All's well that ends well. Son is home this weekend, and the eye, with complete with very impressive shiner, looks like it will heal nicely. I am still concerned about more serious, but subtle, problems that might arise after normal office hours.</p>

<p>I like the idea of a primary care physician who could possibly get the on-call doc to help out. However, these days many times the on-call doc will send the patient to the ER. Sigh.</p>

<p>There's probably no perfect solution, and this is another part of letting go. But my inner mama-bear really comes out when I think that one of my kids could end up in danger. Sigh. Again.</p>

10

<p>The big word is triage. </p>

<p>I still remember the patients the ambulances had to bring in when I was a medical student- the EMT's/Paramedics were not allowed to tell the welfare patients their ingrown toenail (I guess the pain got to them) was not a medical emergency, they had to transport them at county expense. The opposite patient was the old lady forced by someone to come to the ER with gangrene up to her knees... it takes all kinds.</p>

11

<p>I've been to emergency rooms a fair number of times over the years, from big city Boston ERs to suburban Seattle ERs and Seattle's big trauma center. I have never been dealt with inappropriately; nor have my husband and friends. (I am fortunate that I have never taken my kids to an ER. Knocking wood now.)</p>

<p>However, my advice is this: if you're not using an ambulance and you think it's major (appendicitis), go to a teaching hospital. If you've got a child with something weird going on, go to the nearest Children's Hospital. If it's Sunday at 6 AM and you're quite sure you have pneumonia and your finger tips are turning blue, the suburban ER is probably empty. </p>

<p>In short, if it's straightforward and common, go local; if it's weird or surgical, go to a teaching hospital. If it's trauma--big car accident, gunshot wound--try to get taken to your regional trauma center. </p>

<p>It also helps to do the research in advance to figure out where you want to go if you think you're having a heart attack or stroke. Survival/recovery rates do vary by hospital.</p>

12

<p>We're spoiled here - the nearest Children's hospital is only about 25 minutes away, and where I took appendix-boy. That's also where all my kids have had other minor surgeries, as well as broken arms and stitches dealt with. There is also a major trauma center, etc., etc. </p>

<p>Bottom line - I'd hate to need urgent or emergency care in Gainesville on a big game day. I'm just not sure they have the capacity.</p>