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Unneccessary rushes to the ER
Tue, 11/14/2006 - 04:29 What can ever be done to get local officials to understand that, in the case of a seizure, no rush to the hospital is necesary unless it has caused a severe injury or has become status epilepticus?
In my hometown, I've long tried to explain to them that such a useless trip is only a waste of time and sometimes requires the expense of a cab fare upon dismissal from ER.
I've already tried to prove my explanation by sharing a collection of EFA brochures with them. And they later thanked me for this and returned them, but they still haven't acknowledged the instructions of the proper way to deal with seizures. Therefore, they still pay no attention to the fact that once a seizure has ended, you're "back to normal" unless you were injured.
How can I ever get them to follow the instructions on properly dealing with (or ignoring) a seizure?
Comments
Re: Re: Unneccessary rushes to the ER
Submitted by rosegirl on Mon, 2007-01-22 - 19:23
What if you are able to tell the EMT's where you are, the date, who you are, etc. and they still take you to the hospital? I understand that they are just doing their job but what if you are ok? When I had a seizure in the grocery store and the Paramedics came, asked me all sorts of questions, I was able to answer correctly, and then on the way to the hospital, I held a "getting to know you" conversation with them. I would say I was pretty alert, wouldn't you?
Re: Unneccessary rushes to the ER
Submitted by maryh7 on Sat, 2006-11-25 - 22:40
had an ambulance called for me at the dentist the other day. was A&Ox3 by the time they showed up, but they still wanted to take me in. just sign the Against Medical Advice form--nicely, and they'll let you go. I have partial complex seizures that have never been that well controlled, so I just try to work around the system. If you really feel disoriented though, get checked out. no sense in getting mugged or whatever on the street.
Re: Re: Unneccessary rushes to the ER
Submitted by andy m on Tue, 2006-11-14 - 10:49
Speaking as someone who has on more than one occasion got very argumentative with ambulance crews I completely understand that they can't just leave me alone if I say I feel OK. Quite often we think we are OK after a seizure whereas in reality we are very far from it. I know after some of the things I've done post seizure that this may sound hypocritical but in the cold harsh light of day I do understand and on several occasions I have gone back later and apologised in person to the people involved and they have accepted that apology in a very sympathetic way. Just one thing does get my goat though, the fact that in the UK several times they have tried to bill me for the service as being part of a traffic accident, when they know as well as I do there was no accident or other parties involved merely me having a seizure so I was slightly cheesed off the first time they sent me a bill but subsequent others have gone straight in the bin.