Non-Emergent ER Visits: Why You'll Have a Long Wait

Recently, my friend went to the emergency room for a sore throat about 1 a.m., and she stated to me that she had to wait three hours to be told that she had a virus. Her prescription was to go home, drink fluids and rest. She was really upset not because of her instructions, but because of her lengthy time in the ER. I asked her if she had called her physician that day and her response was that she did not want to have to wait for an appointment so she thought she would get seen quicker in the ER especially if she went in the middle of the night.

Trying to be politically correct without upsetting her, I tried to explain why she may have had to wait. I stated that the emergency room is constantly invaded by non-urgent issues that can be taken care just as easily in the morning with a family physician or an out patient health care facility. However, that the most common reasons that an emergency room is frequently visited at night time is for issues that are non-urgent due to not wanting to wait a long time or people wanting a quick fix. This in turn ties up the night shift which is not as heavily staffed during the night as the day shift would be. Of course, she looked at me as if I was just defending my profession.

And to some degree I was, but I also know that being on both ends of the spectrum a patient, as well as a provider the resources are limited during the night. As a provider what is most frustrating is that the true emergencies in the middle of the night are more difficult to give full attention to because the time and limited resources are being utilized in non-urgent cases. As a patient with severe abdominal pain, having to wait because there are only two providers at night is even more frustrating so I don't which of the two cases is worse. But I do know that at both ends it is trying.

Everyone deserves the attention that is needed, however at what time it will be given will have to be determined by what else is going on at that moment. And this holds true for anytime, day or night. In an emergency room anything can happen.

Of course, if there is any doubt whether something is a true emergency or not then that person should be evaluated, however I have to stress that once an individual is triaged and placed into a certain category and if deemed a not emergent situation their wait may be slightly lengthier due to either staffing, caring for the emergent cases or other lack of resources that are not readily available during that time.

Take-Home Tip:

If symptoms start early in the day try to contact either your family physician, an urgent health center or if needed respond to the ER at that time (remember resources are more easily available during the day).