Tonight's E.R. experience was not to be believed. I signed in at 7:00 p.m. When I signed in there were three people in the waiting room. However, the back was very busy, which is understandable on a Friday night. I presented with excruciating pain all over my body, particularly my back and neck. I could not turn my neck. I told the triage nurse I had fibromyalgia and I had fractured a bone in my back last month, however I couldn't walk more than 50 feet unaided. The admitting nurse was very helpful and accommodating, as was triage. I was taken back to the E.R. and placed on a gurney to get an e.k.g. Then I was asked to wait in the lobby for there were no beds available. Fine, I understand that. When I got back to the lobby, about 20 people had come in and apparently, I had lost my place on the waiting list. Out of nowhere, I man appeared, and he was as high as a kite on drugs.(wearing an armband indicating he was a patient). He disturbed everyone. The lone security guard seemed completely unable to control him. He kept telling him to go outside and without 60 seconds, he came back in, harassing everyone in the waiting room. We were told they couldn't do anything (such as isolating him) and they cops "should be called, but we cannot right now."! WTH? I was there three hours, and he continued to pay cat and mouse with the security guard with was as ineffective as possible in controlling this patient. Whey was he not isolated in a separate part of the hospital? Any hospital I've ever been to, that would have been a given.
For some unknown reason - and despite the description of my symptoms, they insisted on running a blood test to test my cardiac enzymes. I don't understand that, since I did not present with signs even remotely resembling cardiac issues.
When my friend who was accompanying me checked to see when I would be taken care of (this was at 10:00 p.m.), she was told "'probably the middle of the night.
It was during this messy encounter at the E.R., that a nurse came out to take people's blood right there in the lobby, and administer pain medication.
I've never been to a hospital like this, and believe me, I would have to be unconscious to ever return.
