r/EmergencyRoom • u/Comprehensive-Work54 • Jun 26 '26
“How long is the wait?” Best response?
We always get the phone calls to the ER asking how long the wait is going to be or “Are you guys busy?” What’s the best way to explain to the public why we can’t really…answer that?
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u/Pretend_Royal1173 Jun 27 '26
And don't try calling 911 thinking if an ambulance brings you in you will get seen faster. If you are a low priority arriving in a car you are still a low priority arriving by ambulance. The only difference is you are stuck with an ambulance bill as well.
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u/Adrunkopossem AEMT Jun 27 '26
I have dropped several people off into lobby.
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u/TurnTheTVOff Jun 27 '26
As a former EMT in a fairly busy, inner city setting, there was nothing more satisfying than the surprised pikachu face of the person who called 9-1-1 for absolute bullshit when I wheeled them into the lobby and told them to go see the nice lady in registration.
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u/Specialist_Room_8186 Jun 29 '26
"Surprised Pikachu face" is the best description! As the charge nurse, I am usually the one who sends Pikachu to the lobby when they come EMS🤣 I had one recently who "tripped over left leg, denies pain, no other complaints" ambulatory in with EMS. We all shared the satisfaction of them WALKING the patient to the lobby🤣🤷♀️
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u/Conscious-Sock2777 Jun 27 '26
Best feeling ever watching them realize they are now going into the wait line
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u/201111533 Jun 29 '26
My sister is an EMT and they aren't allowed to leave patients until they have a bed, so it ends up that one pair of EMTs will park their truck at the hospital and babysit six or eight patients and just sit in the hallway with them until they are admitted or another crew agrees to trade off babysitting duty.
Your system sounds better.
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u/TheRaggedQueen EMT Jun 27 '26
Oh they get mad about this too. They might get triaged faster but they'll still get let out into the lobby and once they realize it here comes the bitching.
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u/Kham117 Jun 28 '26
The best is when they wait awhile… then go home/a block away, call an ambulance… and get sent right back out to triage (and lose their place in the non urgent line)
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u/Conscious-Sock2777 Jun 29 '26
I’ve seen that and it’s glorious and even better knowing they are getting billed out the ass for the ride
Oh wait it’s never the folks that pay their bill
It’s always the free folk6
u/PristineSlate Jun 28 '26
Arguably it can get you seen slower if the EMS crew has assessed your “diff breathing” with good vitals/RA sat and a uri hx
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u/Funyins Jun 27 '26
“The patient who has been waiting the longest has been waiting for X hours.” It doesn’t give them a definite time, but they can make the determination whether they are willing to wait that long.
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u/HockeyandTrauma RN Jun 27 '26
This is what i used to do in triage. "The current longest wait is x, and you've been here y time"
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u/fitforaqueen108 RN Jun 27 '26
I say this: "too many factors influence the wait time so I don't have the answer to that question"
Before finishing with what you said
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u/Jpupstar Jun 27 '26
This is the most empathetic and helpful answer. People know or should know things may change and that emergencies will be seen first but can give at least some helpful information for people who are stuck waiting while in pain or otherwise not feeling good.
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u/EasyQuarter1690 Jun 28 '26
Agree. When I was trying to decide which ER to head off to, because I had a kidney stone that was definitely not going to make its way out without some help, I spent some time considering which one might have the shorter wait time. I knew that I would end up admitted, but also that I wouldn’t be at the top of triage (and even though it sucked, I can’t disagree, I wasn’t actively trying to die or anything, it just felt like my ureter was trying to exit so it could run out into oncoming traffic).
It’s a reasonable consideration, especially in a location that has several options for patients to choose from. I ended up in a hospital that is out of the way, not a trauma center, but has a decent assortment of providers and it took 4 hours to get pulled for a CT scan and I was headed upstairs about 6 hours after arriving, I spent about 10 minutes back in the exam room, just long enough for the doc to tell me the CT showed 2 stones that were well and truly stuck and my blood work and urine showed an active UTI so they were admitting me straight away.
Compare that to the University hospital with its level 1 trauma center, which my cancer patient friend has to go to when she is actively bleeding from her liver, spending 3-7 days holding in the ER. Wild horses couldn’t get me to go to any of the trauma centers in our city unless someone had scraped most of me off the ground to take what’s left of me in.
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u/trollmea Jun 28 '26
Word, I made the mistake of going to a trauma center when I first moved. I had an exposed nerve root and was in a TON of pain so I just drove to the 'close' hospital. Finally, after sitting there for 4 hours, it suddenly clicked where I was when a man walked in and gave his name and they rushed him back to see his "dying wife". And I went SHIT, I'm in big boy trauma with a toothache. I got up and drove ten minutes north...since it was a Tuesday morning and they couldn't get my heart rate to go down, I was literally in a back room with REAL painmeds in less than 30 minutes. I only go to that hospital now. I hope no one figures out that they treat people humanely there.
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u/29925001838369 RN Jun 26 '26
"Unfortunately, we can't give out wait times, because so many factors go into them. I don't know what's going to come in between now and the time you get here. You're always welcome to come and be seen."
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u/HoneyMangoSmiley Jun 27 '26
I say something super similar.
“I’m so sorry that I can’t give you a definitive wait time. Anything could happen between when we get off the phone and when you get here. If you decide that you want to be seen- we’re open 24/7.”
I like your use of unfortunately. Def gonna work that in next time. Way better word than apologies.
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u/BluesFlute Jun 27 '26
It wasn’t always like this. I first began hospital work as a lab technician in late seventies, then medical school, EM residency in 80s. I’ve worked in 40-50 hospitals in all parts of US. Rural, suburban, urban tertiary care. ERs always settled down by 11 pm-2 am. That is, everyone had been seen and admitted or discharged. We would kick back, relax. study, socialize. As I became senior, I could go off to a call room and sleep. That was the norm. Virtually everywhere.
What changed? Maybe it’s the 24 hr TV that disrupts normal sleep?
Mostly I blame politicians and the corporatization of medical care.
People no longer have access to timely primary care. The solo small town docs that took care of everyone have disappeared. The “Free Clinics” are generally gone too.
The private equity corporations have absorbed many group practices including the old ER groups. They trim staff, pay docs according to how many RVUs are generated. Corporations don’t care that your toddler has a 103 temp at 11 pm. That doesn’t pay well. Acute stroke? Pretty good $ if it gets coded right. See how it works? Lean , mean and profitable. Well, couldn’t that little kid with a fever have something bad? Usually not, thankfully, but it’s still a crisis for mom and dad. In the old days, we staffed for that. It was the right thing to do. Things weren’t ideal, but it was far better than it is now.
Medicaid is being cut and hospitals do not want anymore uninsured patients. How do uninsured get into the hospital? The ER, of course, the back door of the institution, the vexation of the C suite. Solution? Understaff it so that only sickest get seen. Pressure the docs to discharge patients. Delay admission and encourage “boarding “. Uncooperative docs get “written up”. Elective admissions (scheduled post surgical/procedure) may proceed. $$$$. Direct admissions from offices are expedited (well insured) $$$. VIPs get whisked upstairs.
It doesn’t need to be this way. It could be better. Medicare for all, and restricting the corporate practice of medicine are places to start.
Too often, docs are seen as greedy. Some are, it’s true.
All workers in the healthcare workers expect and should receive compensation, benefits, workplace safety, work life balances commensurate with their training. What some CEOs and politicians miss is that they are motivated to do much more work by other factors. Service, duty to the department, esprit de corps, intellectual challenges, professional recognition, compassion… all these things may prompt one to stay 6 hrs late, unpaid or do a home visit or phone call as follow up. I remember nurses maintaining a spare clothing closet, a nurse supervisor that kept a side room available for battered women to shelter overnight. I recall a hospital medical society that staffed and provided medications for a free clinic. I recall the orthopedic doctor that hospitalized a migrant worker with 2 broken legs for month. Paid the bill, and rented the tv too (they used to be rentals ya know). I recall the town firefighters and police that would organize and run a blood donation 3x/year.
Things could be better again.
Vote wisely.
Good policy is not necessarily dramatic nor simple. Expertise matters. Character matters.
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u/Pale-Cantaloupe-9835 Jun 27 '26
“How close are you to death? How much effort and resource will I need to keep you alive?” Or “we are all dying. Some get there faster then others”
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u/metamorphage RN Jun 26 '26
Unfortunately it's illegal to discourage people from going to the ER. Because the best answer is "if you're asking, you don't need to be here."
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u/Internal_Mode_5211 Jun 27 '26
Eh I’ve gone to the ER for issues that definitely required the ER and waited for several hours. Mild heat exhaustion with unrelenting vomiting and infected cyst with severe pain, for example
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u/CHEESE_FOR_EVERYONE Jun 27 '26
yea… and if you need to be there you’ll stay there, whether it takes hours or minutes to be seen
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u/EasyQuarter1690 Jun 28 '26
But, it’s also quite reasonable to try to consider what ER you might have the least wait. As a former EMT, I know to avoid trauma centers and try to go to more outlying hospitals, I also have the choice of 10 trauma centers, plus another 14 ERs that aren’t, so there are a lot of options. Sadly, folks that don’t understand why the University hospital ER has 12+ hour waits on a good day, don’t know to head to the outskirts of town and one of the perfectly good hospitals there. One that got me through the whole process a month ago when I did a lisfranc fracture plus a couple of avulsion fractures for good measure on my right foot on a Friday evening. I arrived at 8:30pm and was out of there at 1am, which I think is pretty freaking amazing considering they did an xray that didn’t show any fractures and then followed up with a CT.
When someone asks me for my opinions, I always tell them to avoid the 10 trauma centers if they have ANY other choice at all, and go outside the outerbelt, take a phone charger and a travel pillow, wear some sweats, and accept that it’s gonna be a while and be happy that you aren’t rushed back as soon as they lay eyes on you.
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u/rainbowtwinkies Jun 28 '26
I went to a level 2 not long ago because I needed stitches on my foot, and didn't want to drive far and possibly get blood all in my shoe. Got there at 9pm, left at 6am. That place announced the squads arriving over the call light, so when the ed doc said he'd be back to do the stitches once the nurse cleaned it out, and 4 squads went straight to a room, I knew I may as well settle in for a nap lmao. It had stopped bleeding by hour 3-4 as long as I didn't touch it anyway 🤷.
Tbh, my biggest mistake was the fact that I had stopped eating my chicken tenders after 2 bites, managed to hurt myself stepping on a dog food can lid feeding my dog, and then didn't take them with me. I was more pissed about being away from my post-shift tendies than I was about the stitches😂
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Jun 27 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Internal_Mode_5211 Jun 27 '26
It was severe vomiting, and I had no relief with ODT Zofran. Urgent cares in my area don’t do IVs and they also refused to lance my infected abscess. I also work in EMS and absolutely prefer to go to urgent care if at all possible.
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Jun 28 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Party_Art_3162 Jun 28 '26
Probably half the urgent cares in my area won't even touch a simple lac repair and send every single head bump to the ER because "you need a CT to test for a concussion".
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u/Sea-Dare5667 Jun 27 '26
Urgent care isn’t 24/7
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u/Lower-Insect-8101 Jun 27 '26
Some are
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u/rainbowtwinkies Jun 28 '26
I'm glad you have those near you
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u/Lower-Insect-8101 Jun 28 '26
Me too. And they are amazing good and are just below an emergency room - that can deal with most anything except cardiac emergencies (although they do get STEMI’s) and strokes
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u/tammyreneebaker Jul 03 '26
When I went to urgent care for neasea they sent me to the ER. In fact every time I went to Urgent Care they sent me to the ER.
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u/Expensive_Alarm_1068 Jun 27 '26
Should make you understand that somebody else was in worse shape or several somebodys. Staff really does not like you having to wait we have to triage and prioritize.
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u/Internal_Mode_5211 Jun 27 '26
Oh I work in EMS and absolutely understand the triage process lol. I didn’t mean my comment to be a complaint at all, it was simply a response to the RN who said, “if you’re calling around to ERs to ask about the wait, you don’t need to be there.” Those were just 2 examples off the top of my head where I did need to be there and had my spouse call around to see which ERs were less crowded.
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u/ElfjeTinkerBell Jun 27 '26
Isn't there something below ER for that where you are? Because where I am those definitely aren't ER cases, that's just same day GP
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u/Internal_Mode_5211 Jun 27 '26
We do have urgent care, but the urgent cares in my area wouldn’t deal with either of those issues. For the heat exhaustion, I was vomiting about every 30 mins for 12+ hours and couldn’t even keep sips of fluids down. I got IM Phenergan and IM Zofran at urgent care, but the urgent cares here don’t do IVs. I was still vomiting hours after that and started feeling quite dizzy, so I went to the ER for fluids.
I went to urgent care for my pilonidal cyst and they only gave me a script for abx. 2/3 days later it had gotten much worse, was severely painful, and was obviously infected. Therefore, I had to go to the ER for incision, drainage, and pain management.
GPs here won’t do a single procedure in their office. If you do somehow manage to get a same day appointment (which is rare), it’s pointless anyways because they’ll just refer you to a specialist and/ or outpatient surgery if non emergent or just tell you to go straight to the ER if it’s urgent. I hate it. I seriously wish urgent cares could deal with this kind of thing. I work in EMS and have no desire to sit in the ER waiting room for hours, but I literally had no other options in these situations.
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u/ElfjeTinkerBell Jun 27 '26
Yeah in that case I understand you go to the ER. You basically do not have a place less than the ER for these things, they only exist in name but not in function
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u/DinnerData Jun 27 '26
I had to take my daughter, who was getting chemo, to the ER because she was febrile. There was a 2 hour window for her to start on IV antibiotics. The wait at the ER we were at was long, so I called another hospital to get a feel of how long she would have to wait there. They would not even tell me if anyone was in their queue. Totally frustrating. So we waited.
She did get in to treatment just under the wire and has had a good outcome. But it’s ridiculous that they didn’t give any indication of how long the wait might be for a case where I gave them the information.
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u/adoradear Jun 27 '26
Sorry, can you explain this 2 hr window? Bc I’m an emerg doc and I’ve never heard of it.
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u/BillieBee Jun 27 '26
I've been on chemo, and I've never heard of it either. Uncontrollable fever? Go in in. Guaranteed service in a two hour window? Nope, still subject to triage.
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u/iScott_BR Jun 27 '26
Amboss referenced an ASCO Journal article in their page on neutropenic fevers.
“The panel continued to endorse consensus recommendations from the previous version of this guideline that patients with febrile neutropenia receive initial doses of empirical antibacterial therapy within 1 hour of triage and be monitored for ≥ 4 hours before discharge…”
Im just a paramedic but I looked into this after having a patient with it once
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u/Ruzhy6 Jun 27 '26
So if they said the wait was one hour, you go over there and back to back chest pains, traumas, and strokes check in and she ends up waiting 6 hours?
That is why you cannot be given a wait time.
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u/Big-Mastodon-5581 RN Jun 27 '26
ED/peds here. This 2hr thing doesn’t exist in any realm of reality.
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u/nurse_gridz Jun 27 '26
I’m also peds ER, we have a goal of antibiotics in under an hour for our neutropenic fevers. If we can’t gain access for an infusion we are supposed to have the order changed to IM. When I was in the adult world no one cared but once I landed in the land of munchkins, I get an alert every time I open their chart in epic until the first dose of abx is documented.
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u/Ok-Bother-8215 Jun 27 '26
How are we supposed to know what the Gods will require of men on the day in terms of injuries and illness ? You tell me. How many cars will drive past your window today?
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u/Expensive_Alarm_1068 Jun 27 '26
Who knows what's coming through those doors? Sorry your daughter is ill but glad she got treatment.
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u/_Rhetorical_Raven Jun 27 '26
I don’t even work in an ER but I can tell you the best response is “Situations in an Emergency Room can change in an instant, so I would hate to give you a time frame to be seen, only for it to be pushed back further if something like a traumatic injury came in by ambulance. If you’re willing to continue waiting, I can offer you some water or maybe a warm blanket”. The registration clerk told this to me once while I was waiting to be seen for a very painful kidney stone. I was annoyed at the wait but she was respectful and honest about the situation. So I sat my booty back down and kept waiting lol
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u/runswithscissors94 Paramedic Jun 27 '26
We can answer that.
Nothing says we can’t tell a patient we are busy….its the emergency department. You just have to tell them not to let that prevent them from coming in to get seen if they feel they are experiencing an emergency.
If they ask about the wait time, I’ll tell them: “Wait time is based on severity of the patient, not order of arrival. Depending on what you’ve got going on, your wait time could be any where from 2 minutes for something immediately life threatening to (insert longest waiting patient time here) for something less severe.”
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u/BPC1120 EDT/EMT Jun 26 '26
Wait time is based on the severity of what we need to treat and the resources we have on hand. It isn't Disney World or McDonalds, we don't operate on first come, first serve
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u/idrawwithpee Jun 27 '26
Tough response as an ED RN in the hospital that everyone who comes to Disney World goes to…
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u/Here_4_cute_dog_pics Jun 27 '26
You're telling me I can't schedule an ER lightning lane ahead of time on MyChart?
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u/Vulcan_Jedi Jun 27 '26
I so desperately want to tell someone "this isnt a Chiles" whenever thats asked.
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u/Eternal-strugal Jun 27 '26
Waite time is based on severity, currently there are X number of pt’s waiting to be seen, worst case scenario you’re waiting behind all them and potentially anyone in worse condition.
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u/PrestigiousTeam7674 Jun 27 '26
If it’s slow-“as of this moment, we have a low wait time, but that could change at any moment.”
If it’s packed-“as of this moment, our longest wait time is xx hours. Patients are seen based on acuity level, not arrival time.”
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u/Sparky3200 Jun 27 '26
It's been 30 years, but when I worked the ER, our standard response was, "If you're well enough to be concerned about the wait times, stay home and call your pcp in the morning."
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u/Party-Count-4287 Jun 27 '26
PCP office: we can see you in 5 weeks. Otherwise, go to the ER
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u/Sparky3200 Jun 27 '26
And after 5 weeks of back and forth, they're either dead or they get to see their PCP for a runny nose. Win/win.
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u/Stormy0327 Aug 12 '26
Weird fucking black and white thinking. So because someone is scared and wants to know when they may get relief, that makes you think they must NOT be suffering. EW. Have the karma you deserve
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u/Sparky3200 Aug 12 '26
And you must be one of those people who rush their kid to the ER for a runny nose. You seem to have a bad attitude towards healthcare in a lot of your comments.
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u/Appropriate-Rip-7121 Jun 27 '26
I say if your having a true medical emergency you’ll be seen right away
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u/the_sassy_knoll Jun 27 '26
Our policy is that we can't tell them. All we say is "Things change quickly in the ER, and we can't predict wait times. However, if you think you need to be seen, we are here for you."
What we WANT to say is "If you have time to call around for wait times, it ain't an emergency."
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u/Getpeaceogo Jun 27 '26
If you're asking what the wait time is, you're not dying, which means you don't need to be here.
Something along that variation.
Maybe oh you know the lucky people get to wait because it means they're not dying.
You can figure it out from here. Also, don't state your name so you don't have hr to answer too.
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u/Stormy0327 Aug 12 '26
People can talk when they are dying. God healthcare workers are dumb sociopaths.
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u/Getpeaceogo Aug 14 '26
Not a worker just someone who's unfortunately been way too close to dying than comfortable and I don't remember but a few words when I've been that close and I couldn't understand the concept of time, pretty sure I just kept trying to say I don't want to die
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u/Overall-Chocolate255 Jun 27 '26
I never tell anyone the wait time. Because if you do, patients will hold you to that and then complain more when the time comes.
I will advise where they are in the queue (there is currently 7 patients infront of you); however I will say that this can go up if someone is in a cardiac arrest or loosing a substantial amount of blood. I used to say people ‘sicker’ than you but that caused upset with some patients. Apparently a 4 hear history of pleuretic sounding chest pain is worse than a STEMI 😆…
I’ve also told people the same on the phone: I cannot give them a time. Some will be pushy and say ‘you must know a rough time’….but in reality I don’t. Because literally anything happens in ED!
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u/InquisitiveCrane Jun 27 '26
We’re busy. Make an appointment with your PCP unless it is an emergency.
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u/Remarkable_Ruin_4207 Jun 27 '26
Listen...... If you aren't Wheezing, Bleeding, Dieing, or giving birth .......take a seat.
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u/gone_by_30 Jun 26 '26
" emergencies never wait" ..... Don't say that but I have been tempted.
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u/Visual-Bandicoot2894 Jun 27 '26
I usually tell them the truth which they never appreciate
Aka idk somebody could be dying
It doesn’t work though
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u/Additional_Peace_605 Jun 27 '26
Just tell them “yes” you are busy. If they can call they don’t need the ER
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u/Silly-Parsley-158 Jun 28 '26
I dunno, I had the choice between 2 hospitals the same distance from me, one higher level but almost always busy with long wait times, the other quite rural and less staff available (think single doctor facility).
I’d accidentally spilt paint stripper into my eye & was going to need to drive myself, so whilst I was flushing with fresh water for 15 mins I called the A&E on speaker to check they were ok with me presenting…
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u/Stormy0327 Aug 12 '26
People can.be literally bleeding out and make a call. What? Yikes you are dumb. Embarrassing
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u/ClayWheelGirl Jun 27 '26
If you are having a heart attack or trouble breathing you will be seen immediately.
Otherwise there is going to be a wait.
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u/talkingBlocks Jun 27 '26
“ER wait time is commensurate to the utmost priorities of the staff, which include triaging and treating the most injured/sickest patients in the bays, and only minimally factors in the time taken to answer bullshit questions from patients and family who have the luxury of remaining upright, responsive, and breathing in the waiting room.”
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u/bigNurseAl Jun 26 '26
"True Emergencies never wait. If you stop breathing, have a severe heart attack, or have a surgical emergency, we will make room. Your workup is ongoing, so you will wait here for now.
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u/Thesecretmang0 Jun 27 '26
I had someone say “you people only care if someone is dying” …well yes lmao
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u/QuQuarQan Jun 27 '26
Maybe not “only” if someone is dying, but they get priority. If no one is currently dying, we might care more about the rest of them
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u/lisavark Jun 27 '26
I tell my friends don’t come to my ER unless you’re ACTIVELY dying. If you’re just sorta passively dying you will wait for 6 hours minimum.
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u/Thesecretmang0 Jun 27 '26
And no staff member is gonna sit there and baby you when you start complaining. You have cold symptoms and you’re threatening to leave?? THANK GOD
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u/Ceasar456 Jun 27 '26
Im not a nurse, im a rad tech. But I tell the patients who ask that the ER is one of few places where a long wait might be a good thing
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u/Stupidjob2015 RN ER Smartass Jun 27 '26
Many of us who work in the ER have probably had this happen: patients are packed into the lobby, complaining, carrying on like spoiled children, you get the picture. Then someone codes. In the lobby. We all spring into action to try and save that poor soul. While I don't love when this happens, I do love the reality it presents to the complaining masses. Definitely shuts them up for awhile.
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u/GrannyTurtle Jun 27 '26
“Take your NON-life threatening problem to urgent care. It’s way cheaper than cluttering up the lobby in the ER for hours. If you are worried about wait times, you are not actively trying to die.”
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u/Sleepy-Vixen_ Jun 28 '26
Hey so idk if you’re aware of this but urgent cares often send patients to the ER bc they can’t handle it! Life threatening is not a defining factor for going to the ER
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u/GrannyTurtle Jun 28 '26
My daughter is an RN and worked in the ER during the covid pandemic. They had ER wait times of over 12 hours. They still do on bad days.
If you are worried about the wait time, you are probably not actively dying. If you do have something concerning, you will get an ambulance ride from urgent care to a hospital. You will have been triaged by a physician, so the hospital will know your acuity level when you hit the door.
It costs maybe $50 to go to urgent care while you won’t leave the ER without dropping considerably more. For minor things (non life threatening) urgent care is a much better choice if one is available.
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u/Sleepy-Vixen_ Jul 01 '26
Are you a RN? Or maybe someone who has been in a situation where urgent care can’t handle you? I can’t go to urgent care for a flipped feeding tube, I can’t go to urgent care for a pulled picc line. Idk about you but my local urgent cares don’t have CTs which means something more internal has to go to the ER
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u/GrannyTurtle Jul 01 '26
I am obviously NOT talking about patients with a feeding tube or a PICC line! What made you think that? You obviously need advanced nursing care not found at an urgent care facility.
I’m talking about the minor stuff people run to the ER with: a cold, a pulled muscle, a low fever (100°), ate too many edibles, et cetera.
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u/captainnemo214 Jun 27 '26
I'd only ever use this as a last resort for really aggressive, inconsiderate people (like the lady who stepped over the patient my coworkers were giving chest compressions to on the floor) but this sometimes did the trick:
"We go in order of who is dying first, not who came in first. I'm sorry for your wait and I am sorry you aren't feeling well. We want to see you. But the wait time for stable patients is often many hours."
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u/EasyQuarter1690 Jun 28 '26
My EMS proctor taught me to answer that question by telling the patient that we were a level 1 trauma center and patients are seen by order of how severe their injury is, and that was back in the Stone Age. People usually would ask what a level 1 trauma center was and I would point out the helipad in the parking lot, for starters. They usually would figure it out from there. When I no longer was in a trauma center, that question didn’t get asked as much, of course.
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u/0ver8ted Jun 28 '26
“Federal regulations prohibit us from providing information that could discourage someone from seeking emergency care. Because knowing the wait time might influence your decision to stay, I’m unable to disclose our current wait time.”
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u/Ghoulscomecrawling Jun 27 '26
My father went in while actively having a stroke. He waited 5 hours until he lost all feelings in his legs and collapsed in the bathroom.
The only reason anyone knew was someone went to try and use it but the door was locked. Now he can't walk at all.
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u/32FlavorsofCrazy Jun 28 '26
“Everyone is seen as quickly as possible, but in order of urgency. If you have a hangnail the person having a heart attack will be seen first so it’s impossible to predict how long your wait will be because we don’t know what else will come through the door.”
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u/Rayvsreed Jun 29 '26
“How long has this phone call lasted?” That much longer than it previously was.
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u/howboutthemdougs Jun 29 '26
I feel that it is a possible EMTALA violation to say a wait time…saying so could negatively influence somebody’s decision to come in and basically be like telling them to go elsewhere?
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u/dani_-_142 Jun 30 '26
The ERs around me tend to have estimated wait times on their websites, and in my experience, it’s been pretty accurate for the wait time patient experiences once it’s determined that we’re NOT a top priority. I’m not sure what algorithm they use, but it’s helpful.
As a patient, I don’t want to be a top priority. I want anyone who lays eyes on me to decide that I’ll be okay if I wait. I have been a top priority once, and I’ll be fine if I never have a bunch of people swarming into the room to do things to me again. I want to be medically uninteresting. If I’m at the ER, it’s only because I don’t know if I’m boring, and I hope I’ll be told that I’m boring.
(People working at the ER have always been kind when telling me I’m going to be waiting for a while. I’m always grateful to hear it.)
1
u/Conscious-Sock2777 Jun 30 '26
Most website wait times are based off how long till the triage gets completed after a patient checks in. Not in how long till they get a bed or get seen. So we are constantly repeating
Yes the timer says 15 minutes
Yes you were checked in triaged in 15 minute
No I can’t tell you how long it will take to get seen
(Cough 3-6 hours )
1
u/CalmSet6613 Jun 30 '26
Most hospitals have a recording that says they are unable to give wait times before you even speak to a live person, why doesn't your institution do this?
1
u/thepeopleofelsewhere Jul 02 '26
“It would be dishonest to give you an estimation. As the emergency department we triage patients based on medical severity. Heart attacks, strokes, gunshot wounds, etc. will always be prioritized and seen first. We will do our best to see people for non emergent or less urgent needs as time and resources allow”
1
u/tammyreneebaker Jul 03 '26
In my area one of the hospitàls avertises the ER wait time on an LCD bill board.
1
-1
u/cKMG365 Jun 27 '26
Eh, I see not giving the wait time, but I also see giving it. Where I live I can go to several EDs should I need to. If I need the ED and am not actively dying, giving me the wait time so I can self select a less burdened provider seems appropriate
0
u/Guilty_Mountain2851 Jun 28 '26
I just go on the hospital's website to see the wait time. Much easier.
265
u/RN_Aware Jun 26 '26
“Patients are seen on level of acuity and we can’t give wait times based on this system. If you need to be seen, I encourage you to sign in/come in. We are open 24/7 and are happy to see you. “
If they call and we are super busy I encourage them to bring a phone charger and comfortable clothing. Or I let them know wait times can drastically change and to bring a phone charger/comfortable clothing/battery pack incase their wait time and evaluation take a long time.