What to do in a Hospital Emergency

After learning of the death of Brazilian, here in Texas, I talked with my neighbor who works in an ER, this is her advice below.

I think this advise is good anywhere in the world!

My questions were:

1 – It is better to go by car or ambulance, if you have an hospital emergency?

R: If you have shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, are bleeding a lot, or feel mentally different, call 911. Otherwise, someone can take you.

2 – What do we have to have at hand, in this situation?

R: All your medical information, in addition to your insurance card. Also a list of all the medication that you’re using, including the natural remedies.

3 – Do you have a suggestion as how to be attended to faster?

R: If the situation is “critical, go between 4 and 9 am. Otherwise patients are treated according to the seriousness of the situation or the state of the disease.

4 – What is the best way you fight for yourself there?

R: Never be rude. People are already work under too much stress and also never exaggerate symptoms or lie. This only makes things worse for you.

5 – And if you are getting worse there?

R: Talk to the nurse in charge and ask to check to have your temperature, pressure checked again etc.

6 – What do you do if the doctors want to send you send you home and you don’t feel you should go?

R: Ask to have your case checked again… If you still disagree, ask to speak to the ‘patient advocate’, that is there to mediate.

I love the program “THE DOCTORS” on NBC, there learned that:

People who work in the ER of a hospital are:

1 – Receptionist, who has nothing to do with medicine, only takes your information.

2 – Triage Nurse, who takes your pressure, temperature and decides your place on the waiting list, according to the severity of the case.

3 – Registration clerk, one that walks around taking personal information from you and gives you a bracelet with identification.

4 – Head Nurse, is the one that will send you for tests and perhaps will give you medicine.

5 – Emergency physician – the one who walks back and forth like a waiter.

6 – Patient advocate, a social worker, is the one who goes back and forth also, making sure that no patient is without care.

Filed under: Information

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