I had similar stories of my hospital trip. I saw my doctor, and he wanted me admitted immediately for a potentially serious infection. He called the hospital, and told them I was coming, to admit me, and start me on antibiotics. He also wrote these directions out, and gave them to us to take to the hospital.
We still waited two hours in the emergency room waiting room. Turns out the hospital was full, they had no beds, so we had to stay in the emergency room. When they got me into an emergency room bed, they weren't going to give me antibiotics, because the doctors instructions said to admit me first, then give the antibiotics. My wife had to argue with the doctor, who finally called my doctor, who said of COURSE he wanted them to start the antibiotics right away.
If we had been meeker about it, I may have been in real trouble.
The list of such things went on and on, throughout my stay. I won't bore everyone with the details, but it was like that old movie 'Hospital' with George Scott. Almost surreal.
Our experience may have been atypical, but I get the feeling it was not. Scary. My advice to those who may have to visit the hospital; don't assume the people know what they're doing, and you have a better chance of coming out ok. |
