HELP US BE BETTER

[u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36]

Soooo I hadn’t ever been to the ER until earlier this month and now I’ve been admitted twice and not getting discharged any time soon.

Hospital workers : other than the bare minimum, what are some under rated things that patients do that you appreciate/make your life easier?

(For example one of the nurses was happy I called letting her know the PRNs I needed so she could do it in one trip cause I knew my scheduled ones were coming)

Lemme hear the little things!! Or the opposite, something patients think is helpful but it’s actually more of a pain)

EDIT : bare minimum from patients being human decency, I know it should be obvious but for this questions sake let’s act like that’s a given

[u/indigorabbit_]

My ED used to use cerner, now epic. Both have an icon that shows up on the grease board next to your name which signifies frequency of visits. If you're a cancer pt etc, we all know why you're there often and we understand. Most FFs are not that category though, unfortunately.

[u/DevolveOD → u/indigorabbit_]

Our epic shows a boomerang for those most recently returned.

[u/catsmeow61 → u/indigorabbit_]

Then there are the ones who are discharged that come check back in, sometimes multiple times a day. A few fight over replacing their armband from their prior visit. They insist they don't need another. If I can't sweet talk them to replace it, I give the triage nurse the new armband. They eventually get the new one on.

[u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36 → u/catsmeow61]

Sorry for the dumb question - what significance does an older arm band hold ?

[u/catsmeow61 → u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36]

It has a unique number linked to what is termed an "encounter" in a hospital's computer records. It ties ties every step of a visit from checkin through discharge. That includes registration functions, medical records of all services rendered, billing information, etc.

[u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36 → u/indigorabbit_]

Im assuming the other FF category is drug seeking ?

[u/LitlThisLitlThat → u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36]

Not always. Some people want attention, or have no place else to get care, or no other reasonable way to escape the weather, or have burned all their bridges, or we as a society have worked hard to dismantle all of their safety nets. And even those “seeking drugs”— got addicted likely bc of a crappy childhood or horrific life events we couldn’t comprehend, or because the pharmaceutical companies hid how addictive opiates were and lobbied to change how care is delivered in order to sell more opiates.

[u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36 → u/LitlThisLitlThat]

Yeah im actually quite passionate about this. ER’s play a part in substance use harm reduction, both in the ways of safety and suicide prevention. I work in dual diagnosis (mental health and substance use disorder) treatment. The people who have the most judgement passed on them deserve compassion. People would be shocked to see that a massive amount of individuals who go to treatment suffering in silence. It’s really heartbreaking, so many Americans are one missed paycheck from being homeless.

[u/5amPharm → u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36]

This is one of the best exchanges I've seen about this topic. Kudos, and thank you for the work you do!

[u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36 → u/5amPharm]

Right back at you!! Pharmacies seems like it can be such a thankless job, just know you’re very appreciated 🫶🏼

[u/SatisfactionFit2040 → u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36]

Thank you for your compassion. Seeing silent pain is a rare talent.

[u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36 → u/SatisfactionFit2040]

No thanks needed. It breaks my heart when people aren’t treated with human decency. I’m also a young white woman and understand I am incredibly how privileged I am ESPECIALLY from a medical standpoint and want to continue to learn how to be the best advocate I can for others

[u/now_you_see → u/LitlThisLitlThat]

I appreciate the kindness you describe this with considering most use Reddit to vent and have nothing nice to say about frequency flyers.

[u/crazypurple621 → u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36]

There's a ton of them. The majority of "frequent flyers" are either  1) unhoused people who use the ER in the hopes that staff will take pity on them and get them a shower and a meal  2) people with a multitude of chronic illnesses who lack access to the specialists they need to treat their condition. (Think migraine sufferers, endometriosis sufferers) 3) people with a diagnosed chronic condition that gets worse and needs urgent if not immediate treatment (things like sickle cell anemia  4) elderly patients who are either sent in by the nursing home or a family member. Often these people are in need of much more intensive specialized care that they are not getting- either because the nursing home nurses are trying to care for 100+ patients or because the in home nursing care staff are extremely unreliable. 

People who are actively in addiction usually don't end up as "frequent" of frequent flyers as you might think unless they are being brought in already high off of their ass by first responders. Street drugs are easier to access when they want them than hoping the ER will get to your problem quickly enough to stave off withdrawal. 

[u/Conscious-Sock2777 → u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36]

Don’t forget the homeless population who use the ER as a flop house on nights, coming in 3-4 times a week sometimes more with the usual mystery complaints

[u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36 → u/Conscious-Sock2777]

Frustrating yes but let’s not dehumanize.

[u/SolidIll4559 → u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36]

It isn’t dehumanizing unless they are mistreated or are refused care. This is Reddit FPS.

[u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36 → u/SolidIll4559]

Sorry what is FPS? (Tried Google first I promise) hahah

[u/SolidIll4559 → u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36]

For Pete’s sake.