Originally written Thursday, February 28, 2007:
Need to make a trip to the emergency room? Don’t go to Swedish Covenant Hospital’s E.R., where Brian and I have now been for two hours, even though I told the triage nurse that I rated myself a 9ish (out of 10) on the pain scale.
While waiting in triage, located approximately 15 – 20 ft. from the entrance, we made the unfortunate discovery that the sliding glass doors wouldn’t slide shut. Brian happened to glance at a thermostat, which read 54?F — indoors. Fortunately, we waited only 15 (very cold) minutes in triage. Afterwards, the nurse was kind enough to let us wait in the emergency room itself, rather than in the waiting room, which is next to the entrance.
Kind as she was, however, I was the one who offered to give a urine sample. I’ve made enough visits to E.R.s in the past, and they always ask for one. I may be mistaken, but I believe this is standard, especially for women, to ensure she isn’t pregnant. The results dictate the procedures the staff may or may not be able to perform. When I finished, I set the cup where she instructed.
The restroom was disgusting: discarded hospital gowns littered the floor; the toilet seat was raised, displaying a large, dry urine stain towards the back of the rim; and the sink desperately needs Drano? Build-Up Remover. When I urinated again later, even more gowns were strewn around, and the stain remained.
An hour-and-a-half passed before I realized that the urine cup was still where I left it. Brian had to flag that triage nurse to inform her that my sample hadn’t been picked up. In the room across from the corridor where we’re waiting, a young man was there earlier, with a dislocated shoulder and whose mother was ordered to leave the room while the staff took X-rays. They assured her that she would be notified after the procedure so she could be with her son. They did not notify her. Brian saw her waiting so he notified her.
Although we’re lucky to be waiting inside the E.R., it’s still cold. My down jacket is zipped up all the way, and I’m underneath two blankets but I’m still cold. Even the staff has repeatedly remarked that it’s growing colder. Now I’ve developed a cough, but that may have been from my husband, who’s been sick all week and had to stay home for the past two days.
Swedish Covenant was where I underwent a colonoscopy last year, and the reason I’m here now is because my gastrointestinal system has been acting up since Sunday or Monday. I hoped it would improve; it hasn’t. Today was the worst, and the reasons I wanted to be seen immediately instead of making an appointment with my gastroenterologist, who’s affiliated with this hospital, is because I’d have to wait even longer to be seen. The regular hospital is absolutely gorgeous and sanitary, so I figured the E.R. would be the same. I wanted to go to an emergency room because I’m tired of the constant, embarassing accidents. And my rectum hurts so much from all the wiping. It hurts to sit, stand, and worst of all, walk. Well, and wipe. I’ve tried washing myself in the tub, but it doesn’t all come out for some reason.
THIS JUST IN! Good thing I’m not here for a thyroid problem because the thyroid machine just broke! The staff concluded that there will be no more thyroid checks tonight. I hope no one who’s been in the cold waiting room for hours needs a thyroid check.
At some point, a nurse or nurse’s aid inserted a needle in my arm, but did something wrong and I bled out all over my arm. She remarked, “Sometimes this place is like working in a third-world country.” Was she blaming that specific bit of medical supply? Later, I heard a male nurse standing at the nurses’ station talk about a female patient who has gas, to which he sarcastically concluded, “And she thinks she probably has diverticulosis.” Well, that’s what I have and why I’m here. I don’t believe he was referring to me, but not only was it inappropriate, it made me anxious that he woud end up being my nurse.
Thursday, March 8, 2007 (cont.): Fortunately, he wasn’t, and the one that I had was very nice and competent to boot, as was the doctor. When we first arrived, there were two doctors and a resident, but at some point only my doctor was left. At least he had a great bedside manner and treated me well. The nurse did, too.
Also, it turns out that the hospital is in the process of remodeling the E.R., but even if it’s just as beautiful as the general hospital, most of the staff will still be insulting and incompetent.
We had been there from 9 p.m., Thursday night to 5 a.m., Friday morning. After three hours, we decided there was no point to leaving, and there’s certainly no point to returning in the future. Fuck Off and Die, Swedish Covenant Hospital Emergency Room!
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Ugh, that’s exactly why I hate to go to emergency rooms. Sometimes it’s the only choice though. I would have been tempted to bitch-slap the sarcastic nurse for the crappy attitude. Sorry you had to go through that.
My old martial arts instructor said I have a pretty good right cross — fuck bitch-slapping! Except that I would have had to stand on a chair to reach him. :d
I’ve been to many, many E.R.s, Ananke, and none of them were anything like this.