Posted by fallsfall on January 11, 2004, at 21:18:04
In reply to ER Experience - Not so good!, posted by twinb57 on January 11, 2004, at 20:40:51
I'm sorry that she was treated that way. It isn't always that bad, it can depend on the hospital and who happens to be on at the time.
I have had occasion (7 or more?) to accompany friends (4 different friends...) to the ER. I do think it is really helpful to have a friend with you - because otherwise they tend to assign you a "guard" to be sure that you don't hurt yourself. It is more fun to sit in the room with a friend.
It can take a long time for the Psychologist to arrive (even if you get to the hospital around dinner time). The same staff member in our area services more than one hospital, so they can be tied up at the other hospital while you wait and wait and wait.
I haven't experienced a time when the patient needed sedation or other medical care and they didn't give it. But, I don't know how my friends would have reacted if they had been alone.
My friends have been offered food, and so have I, at the hospitals. Nothing fancy. A sandwich, some crackers or cookies, a soft drink. Often they don't offer anything unless you've been there a while. But I'm amazed that she was refused. And the doctor's attitude about the water was completely unacceptable.
Sometimes they take blood in the ER, sometimes not until the patient gets to the Psych hospital. So I'm not sure about that. Thyroid function shows up in a blood test, I'm not sure about the others that she takes.
It is possible that they didn't ask if there was anyone she wanted to call because the Sheriff told them that she didn't name anyone. You would think that it would be common courtesy for them to ask her again, particularly if it looks like there will be a long wait for the Psychologist. Make sure that she knows that she could request this if she were ever in that situation again.
One reason that I am happy to accompany my friends is to keep them company, but I also go in order to advocate for them. Sometimes they aren't really in a space where they can advocate for themselves.
I hope things are smoother now for your daughter, and I wish her luck!
poster:fallsfall
thread:299554
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040110/msgs/299569.html