Ambulance or Take Yourself?

[WebmasterAlex]

remember there are a lot of things Paramedics can treat quite well. Someone with an allergic reaction, narcotic overdose or diabetic issues can be completely unconcious and close to death and 4 minutes later they are sitting up talking. It's quite possible the Paramedics treated her inside.

 

[CathrynRose]

The really important question is, what kind of chocolate was it? Dark chocolate, milk chocolate? What brand?

I mean, geez, if you're gonna party while the neighbor is in crisis, I hope it's at least something good.

It was that World's Best or whatever it is - that a neighbor kid was selling. A different neighbor.

remember there are a lot of things Paramedics can treat quite well. Someone with an allergic reaction, narcotic overdose or diabetic issues can be completely unconcious and close to death and 4 minutes later they are sitting up talking. It's quite possible the Paramedics treated her inside.

I mean, I do understand a lot of the answers - but our first initial thought was 'why didn't he just take her'? Like I said - we are closer to the hospital, then the fire station.

But you're right - perhaps she had been treated inside, although it didn't take long for them to go in, and her to come out, but who knows.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If I couldn't (or didn't want to try to) move them, I'd call the ambulance.

If they needed the kind of care you can get from medics, I'd call the ambulance.

If the hospital was in a strange city where I didn't know how to get around and time was an issue, I'd call the ambulance.

Knowing what I know about various DISers, this is the criteria I would most likely use when deciding "ambulance or car"... assuming I could think clearly, or had the list tattooed on the back of my hand

Personal experience: my cousin lived probably as close to her local hospital as does the OP. Medical emergency, her DH called the ambulance - small city, middle of the night, arrived quickly. She was alive at the house, but did not survive the trip to the hospital. It was about three blocks

 

[PrincessKitty1]

If you're really sick, it's better to go to the ER in an ambulance. In most hospitals, if you come in an ambulance you get evaluated sooner.

!

That is absolutely true. If you drive yourself in or have a relative/friend drive you, you better hope to god that a moron is not employed at the front desk. Otherwise you may never even make it into triage before you croak.

People brought in by ambulance are looked at first. Ya gotta get looked at in a timely manner if you're sick. My boss at my last job (triage) would tell us to stall people with chest pain if there was not a bed available for them. Why? Because he was an idiot. If you come in the front door of an emergency room, you might end up dealing with somebody like my old boss! (And no, I NEVER "stalled" anybody.)

Much better to not take a chance....call an ambulance to bring you in for a true emergency like chest pain. You'll get triaged right away.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Knowing what I know about various DISers, this is the criteria I would most likely use when deciding "ambulance or car"... assuming I could think clearly, or had the list tattooed on the back of my hand

Personal experience: my cousin lived probably as close to her local hospital as does the OP. Medical emergency, her DH called the ambulance - small city, middle of the night, arrived quickly. She was alive at the house, but did not survive the trip to the hospital. It was about three blocks

Especially in a strange city.

I have a very close friend who was a medic for fifteen years. He can tell you how to get to every hospital in Cleveland and which alternate routes are best at which times. Anytime I have to go to a new hospital, I call him. Better than the Garmin, lol.

So if I were in a strange city and it was time-sensitive, I'd totally rely on the ambulance guys.

Like Alex said above, there are so many things that you might need medics for, so a call is good in those situtions. And just because someone comes out looking relatively healthy doesn't mean they are...or were six minutes ago.

A lot (alotalotalot) of folks who don't actually need ambulances call them. But you never know from watching out the window who needed it and who didn't.

I'm sorry about your cousin.

 

[FarAway<3]

If I thought something was really wrong, I'd call an ambulance, even if I was with someone else.
If I knew I needed to go to the ER, but it wasn't so serious, I'd have a family member or whoever I was with drive me. If I was alone and felt like I could drive myself, I would.
I knew a woman whose appendix burst and she drove herself to the ER. Err, if that were me, I'd call an ambulance.

 

[minkydog]

That is absolutely true. If you drive yourself in or have a relative/friend drive you, you better hope to god that a moron is not employed at the front desk. Otherwise you may never even make it into triage before you croak.

My boss at my last job (triage) would tell us to stall people with chest pain if there was not a bed available for them. Why? Because he was an idiot. If you come in the front door of an emergency room, you might end up dealing with somebody like my old boss! (And no, I NEVER "stalled" anybody.)

Much better to not take a chance....call an ambulance to bring you in for a true emergency like chest pain. You'll get triaged right away.

Holy cow! I wonder what Risk Management thought of that?

We have been very fortunate with our ER visits. Of course, we don't use the ER unless I have gone completely through my nursing bag o'tricks. DS14 has been to ER for seizures, head injuries and broken bones. He's non-verbal and mentally handicapped, so he can't tell anybody what happened or where he hurts. Needless to say, he goes back pretty quick, if for no other reason than to evaluate him for physical abuse. Each and every time.

DH goes to the ER several times a year with chest pain. He has such a complicated history(heart failure, stage 4 lung disease) that he automatically goes back. We have never been delayed at triage. One time he went back so fast I only had about 20 seconds to see him before he was whisked off the the cardiac cath lab and straight to CCU.

 

[CajunDixie]

I know what hospital you are talking about. I know for a fact that if you drive yourself to the emergency you have to wait. Back in 1998 when I had my heart attack my oldest DD drove me to the hospital. I sat for 45 minutes having a heart attack unable to breath, and with chest pains.

Then when they finally put me in a room I sat there even longer. After 4 1/2 hours and my lips turning blue my oldest DD screamed at them to take care of me. When someone finally paid attention to me they whisked me down for surgery. I had 80% and 100% blockage. guess it wasn't my time to go yet, huh?

Not sure if going in the ambulance would of made a bit of difference?Maybe?? Who knows.?

When I had my heart issues some weeks back, I was ready to call 911, but opted for Marie taking me. We live about 15 minutes from local hospital, Lutheran General, which is also a regional trauma hospital. When I was having breathing issues, I was within moments of doing 911, but then seemed to get my breath back and continued with Marie driving me idea.

With son Vince a FF/paramed and DIL, Katlyn, an ER nurse, both have always recommended, when in doubt, call 911. I did not follow their recommendations, LOL.

I do know however, that when I walked into the ER, while Marie was parking the car, as soon as I mentioned 'heart' I was escorted into the triage area in seconds and had a 12 lead on me before Marie could make it to the ER area, about 2 minutes after she dropped me at the door.

I guess it is always a tough call, though I do know had I been alone then, I would have called 911. As DD mentioned above, even a driver could get panicked if the passenger/patient was having something awful happening, seizure, bleeding, lord knows what, while in transport. Trained medical folks, like son and DIL mentioned above, routinely deal with that stuff on a day to day basis and are not nearly as emotionally involved.

I do hope she is okay.

As nice as a person I've witnessed you being here on the DIS over the years I can't believe you put Marie through that!! If you had died enroute what do you think Marie and your children would have felt? My guess is guilt and regret for not calling the professionals! I'm sure you're son has told you ALL the things the medics could have done for you in those 15 minutes of drive time! Not to mention he may feel you don't respect his chosen profession.
Lets review a typical cardiac scene
1. Gather info, take vitals
2. Oxygen
3. Administer aspirin
4. 3 Lead
5. Nitro spray
6. 12 Lead, interpret, fax to closest ER, call closest ER, decide what hospital to transport to such as a hospital that specializes in cardiac rather than trauma or burn
7. IV, blood draw
8. Vitals, rate pain
9. Nitro spray
10 Vitals, rate pain
11. Nitro
12. Vitals, rate pain
13. Morphine

Not to mention you're strapped onto a cot with a trained driver and here at least, if you're wife was emotional at all we'd have asked if she wanted to ride with us in the front of the ambulance. All that for $1098 if your hospital was 15 miles away (based on your 15 minutes of drive time)

This IS true, but I wouldn't be able to justify the $3,000 ambulance ride!

I would soooo love to see this itemized bill. Here our average for a local call to the closest hospital (15 miles away) is $1100. We all have the choice to buy our supplies and drugs where we need so those prices should be similiar.

For myself, I try to avoid amubulances (and ER's) at all costs!!

However, a year ago April when I had to go to the ER an ambulance was the only option.. I was in such severe pain - totally curled up in a fetal position - and my son-in-law couldn't get me in the car..

With my DH it always had to be by ambulance - due to his breathing problems and the fact that he was so seriously ill..

Many insurance plans don't cover the cost of an ambulance (which can be very costly - no matter how close the hospital is) - so I think most people actually put some thought into it before they decide to call one..

I'd love to know EXACTLY what insurance companies don't pay ambulance bills!!!! In several years of billing I've not come across this. Now if the individual or employer chooses to drop the ambulance portion of their coverage or lower it then that is the individuals problem. As long as the provider files on the revised 1500 form and lists all the info needed they ALL pay.

remember there are a lot of things Paramedics can treat quite well. Someone with an allergic reaction, narcotic overdose or diabetic issues can be completely unconcious and close to death and 4 minutes later they are sitting up talking. It's quite possible the Paramedics treated her inside.

And there are some things that they can do at the scene that requires transport. If we have a diabetic we can treat and sign off with the ER Dr's permission at the patients request. But if we had to use the IO (bone drill) then we are required to transport.

Knowing what I know about various DISers, this is the criteria I would most likely use when deciding "ambulance or car"... assuming I could think clearly, or had the list tattooed on the back of my hand

Personal experience: my cousin lived probably as close to her local hospital as does the OP. Medical emergency, her DH called the ambulance - small city, middle of the night, arrived quickly. She was alive at the house, but did not survive the trip to the hospital. It was about three blocks

Sorry about your cousin but w/o knowing the exact cause of death you aren't being fair. Patients pass away.....and they pass away not only in ambulances but also hospitals, homes, in the public..... Medics can't perform miracles, they can only do what they've been trained to do with the equipment and time they have before they arrive at the ER.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I did NOT mean to be critical of ambulances/EMTs, CajunDixie, and I'm sorry that my post came across that way. My cousin had, and her husband has, excellent judgment. They made the right call. Jimmy could not have gotten her to the hospital any faster than the ambulance, and could NOT have provided any medical treatment in the house or on the short ride.

For the record, I'd rather call the ambulance and end up looking foolish, than use private transport and end up, well, dead. Yeah, I know, that's overly-dramatic - but you obviously know what I mean.

Private vehicle:
Tore open heel at work
Fell and hit head at work
Almost completely broken femur at work (okay, drove home moving JUST ankle)
Chest pain/breathing trouble that turned out to be pneumonia (2nd time)

Ambulance:
Chest pain/breathing trouble - pneumonia (1st time); called by hotel
Seizure; called by employer
Seizure; called by different employer
Finally/fully broken femur after fall at MRI center, MRI to determine why I kept falling (breaking femur, anyone? ); called by MRI center
Injured knee slipping in supermarket; called by store

Hmm... I'm seeing a pattern here...

 

[Cool-Beans]

Sorry about your cousin but w/o knowing the exact cause of death you aren't being fair. Patients pass away.....and they pass away not only in ambulances but also hospitals, homes, in the public..... Medics can't perform miracles, they can only do what they've been trained to do with the equipment and time they have before they arrive at the ER.

I think you're being too defensive. At no point did she say that it was the medics' fault or that they didn't do their job.

She was just commenting that sometimes, even if you call the ambulance, it is isn't enough and people (like her cousin) die anyway.

Despite our best efforts, people die in hospitals and pre-hospital all the time. Katie obviously knows this all too well.

 

[Dan Murphy]

As nice as a person I've witnessed you being here on the DIS over the years I can't believe you put Marie through that!! If you had died enroute what do you think Marie and your children would have felt? My guess is guilt and regret for not calling the professionals! I'm sure you're son has told you ALL the things the medics could have done for you in those 15 minutes of drive time! Not to mention he may feel you don't respect his chosen profession. ....

First, thanks for your your kind perception of me as being nice.

As for 'putting Marie through that', I felt, at the time, not having any of the symptoms of something really serious. I had had a rapid pulse several times in the past, that my internist and cardiologist, with subsequent nuclear stress test, that he had referred to at those times in the past, thought nothing really wrong. This time, my symptom was again, a rapid pulse, and being 'winded' from walking up steps. I am not in the best of shape, my 'Olympic' days are far removed from me at this point in my life. With those two symptoms, elevated pulse and winded, but with no other 'classic' cardiac symptoms....chest, arm, back, jaw, neck pain, chest pressure, cold/sweaty, pallor, etc.

I decided in might be prudent to go to the hospital but did not feel imminent risk of being driven there vs 911. As for ambulance charges, my insurance fully pays, no OOP.

Upon being triaged and set up in the ER, my atrial flutter was diagnosed and over the subsequent few days was corrected through a cardio-version.

Vince did not indicate any disagreement with my decision to not call 911, nor indicated any inclination that I did not respect his chosen profession.

In hindsight (we all have great hindsight, be it for professional sports or real life), it probably would have been the prudent thing to have called 911. But at the time, it seemed fine for Marie to transport me, again, not really thinking that I had any imminent, life-threatening or altering event going on.

Once again, CD, I do appreciate your perception of me, as well as your constructive criticism of my handling my situation. Next time, if there is one, I probably will choose differently.

Dan

 

[Carly_Roach]

Gotta love the judgers that come out of the woodwork, eh? Dan, I'm surprised you're defending yourself from the poster who knew nothing about your situation. Obviously you and your family had it under control. Obviously the poster hadn't read the history you'd posted on the DIS when it happened. BTW, I'm glad you're doing better now.

But I have to take issue with the poster who said, "WE are this DIS..." No, WE are not. Some posters are the judgmental, snarky type of people who have to put in their .02 cents because they don't like another poster. I'm happy to say that those kinds of posters seem to be fewer and further between than it used to be. I'm also happy to note that the majority of the remaining posters seem to fall into the description below.

Most of the DISers whom I enjoy reading are able to talk about issues and incidences in their lives using a happy, positive frame of reference. They are informative, inspirational and thought-provoking. IMO, THEY are this DIS and THEY are the reason that I, and many others, continue reading here.

As to why the neighbor called the ambulance at 3:30 in the morning rather than driving to the hospital themselves, I'm going to have to go with instant medical assessment that an ambulance provides as opposed to having to go to the ER, register, wait in the waiting room with other sick people, then be assessed by a nurse if/when it's your turn to go back.

 

[Stitchfans]

As nice as a person I've witnessed you being here on the DIS over the years I can't believe you put Marie through that!! If you had died enroute what do you think Marie and your children would have felt? My guess is guilt and regret for not calling the professionals! I'm sure you're son has told you ALL the things the medics could have done for you in those 15 minutes of drive time! Not to mention he may feel you don't respect his chosen profession.
Lets review a typical cardiac scene
1. Gather info, take vitals
2. Oxygen
3. Administer aspirin
4. 3 Lead
5. Nitro spray
6. 12 Lead, interpret, fax to closest ER, call closest ER, decide what hospital to transport to such as a hospital that specializes in cardiac rather than trauma or burn
7. IV, blood draw
8. Vitals, rate pain
9. Nitro spray
10 Vitals, rate pain
11. Nitro
12. Vitals, rate pain
13. Morphine

Not to mention you're strapped onto a cot with a trained driver and here at least, if you're wife was emotional at all we'd have asked if she wanted to ride with us in the front of the ambulance. All that for $1098 if your hospital was 15 miles away (based on your 15 minutes of drive time)


I would soooo love to see this itemized bill. Here our average for a local call to the closest hospital (15 miles away) is $1100. We all have the choice to buy our supplies and drugs where we need so those prices should be similiar.



I'd love to know EXACTLY what insurance companies don't pay ambulance bills!!!! In several years of billing I've not come across this. Now if the individual or employer chooses to drop the ambulance portion of their coverage or lower it then that is the individuals problem. As long as the provider files on the revised 1500 form and lists all the info needed they ALL pay.



And there are some things that they can do at the scene that requires transport. If we have a diabetic we can treat and sign off with the ER Dr's permission at the patients request. But if we had to use the IO (bone drill) then we are required to transport.


Sorry about your cousin but w/o knowing the exact cause of death you aren't being fair. Patients pass away.....and they pass away not only in ambulances but also hospitals, homes, in the public..... Medics can't perform miracles, they can only do what they've been trained to do with the equipment and time they have before they arrive at the ER.

Not sure where I come in to all of this. but if you are rambling about having family members driving you to the hospital when seriously ill like others I was not aware I was having a heart attack. I thought it was indigestion. Never thought of a heart attack. So think before you quote or judge someone. Thank you

 

[C.Ann]

I'd love to know EXACTLY what insurance companies don't pay ambulance bills!!!! In several years of billing I've not come across this. Now if the individual or employer chooses to drop the ambulance portion of their coverage or lower it then that is the individuals problem. As long as the provider files on the revised 1500 form and lists all the info needed they ALL pay..

----------------------------

My insurance; DD's families insurance; DD's IL's insurance; and the list goes on and on.. All different insurers and no ambulance cover.. It's not even an "option".. I don't know where you are located, but it's quite common here for health insurers to not cover ambulance bills or even offer it as an option.. DD's IL's have one of the best insurance plans available (came with their retirement - lifetime coverage - they pay nothing) and there is no amubulance coverage..

In your area of the country that may differ.. My ambulance bill was over $800 - closer to $900..

 

[MaumeeMom]

OP - how is your neighbor? I hope that she is doing better.

As for whether or not to call the ambulance, it all depends on circumstance and illness, not distance from the hospital. If it were a slip and fall case for instance, it may have been better for the victim to stay put until a trained EMT got there to stabilize any possible fractures.

There are numerous reasons to call 911, have you talked to the neighbors to find out what happened?

We are in a small town where everyone knows each other (including the firemen) so if someone sees an ambulance outside we are all out there seeing what we can do to help. Usually one of us is locking up the house, picking up after the medics (paper wrappers, etc.), calling another family member, etc, etc.

I still get teased about my Nick and Nora gnome jammies from when I had to chase a neighbor's cat at 3 am. He had gotten out when the paramedics were going in and out of the house and the neighbor was more worried about her cat than her health so I promised to find him and lock up the house. It took a while but we finally cornered the cat and got him back inside. The neighbor was fine within a few days and grateful for our help; getting teased for wearing gnomes is a small price to pay.

 

[RN4Babies]

I'd love to know EXACTLY what insurance companies don't pay ambulance bills!!!! In several years of billing I've not come across this. Now if the individual or employer chooses to drop the ambulance portion of their coverage or lower it then that is the individuals problem. As long as the provider files on the revised 1500 form and lists all the info needed they ALL pay.

Maybe it's a regional thing. DS was in a serious car accident with his dad six years ago. We were covered by my insurance through my job at the time, and neither of their ambulance rides were covered. ($650 each at the time).

My ex had to be taken to the hospital last year by ambulance when he had a heart attack. He has his own insurance through his employer now, and the ambulance bill wasn't covered ($950).

I wish they all paid...............