Ask Lemmy

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[–] TwinTitans@lemmy.world 34 points 1 year ago (8 children)

The hospitals usually have a severity for triage. If you broke your arm your going to be waiting longer than someone with a sever allergic reaction. Which makes sense, some injuries can wait longer than others.

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[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 21 points 1 year ago (7 children)

That part is normal in US emergency rooms as well.

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[–] ElectricWaterfall@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

But the wait times in US emergency rooms are longer since people are there who are unable to get the care they need elsewhere or they haven’t been able to afford to go to the doctor and have no waited until it’s an emergency.

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[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago (1 child)

Honestly, as someone who's spent a lot of time in emergency departments, it depends a lot on the hospital and the time of day. Sometimes they're packed and sometimes they're almost empty. (At those times it's very important not to invite disaster by mentioning how quiet it is.) Having an Urgent Care in the same place for Triage to divert people into helps a lot as well.

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[–] russjr08@bitforged.space 3 points 1 year ago

Can confirm the same thing, there have been times where I've gone in, checked in, and speaking to the doctor within 20 minutes of stepping in the door - whereas other times I've waited 5+ hours to even be given a room to sit in (and then wait another couple of hours for a doctor to see me).

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[–] skeptomatic@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Because, logic.

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[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

But since money interferes with logic in so many ways it seemed necessary to mention it.

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[–] skeptomatic@lemmy.ca 1 point 1 year ago (1 child)

Sorry. The "money" part didn't actually factor in for me because I'm in Canada and it wasn't on my mind. Doesn't mean we don't pay for it through taxes I just mean it wasn't on my mind. I just meant greater severity should equal earlier service.

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[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 year ago

Yes. If I have to wait in the ER, I try to think of it as a sign that I'm going to be okay.

Extremely fast service, or people suddenly starting to be really really nice to you, means something very bad is going on.

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[–] Drusas@fedia.io 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I think your definition of "urgent" might be off if you think that it can wait a week or so.

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[–] lennybird@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago

No that tracks for me, and I work in Healthcare in the US just the same. I personally had what I perceived as urgent but non-emergent and got into my doctor within a week.

I would go to urgent care (I know it's in the name but alas) if I had more pressing concerns or symptoms were bad but not life-threatening.

I would go to the ER if I was in massive pain and felt at imminent risk of death.

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[–] skeptomatic@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 year ago

"Emergency" and "urgent" are different categories in hospitals.
And actually defined, at least in my local Canadian hospital.
Urgent Care is defined as infections, lacerations, wounds, less serious injuries, minor Pediatric illness, situational crisis support, Women's Health services, contraceptive management, etc. So stuff that "could" wait about a week if necessary. I find they can get to stuff much sooner, based on anything I've needed or reports from friends and family.