Just back from ER

[nativetxn]

Bless her heart. I hope Savannah is 100% better very soon.

 

[mickman1962]

Originally posted by RachelEllen
You know, I've seen plenty of kids with ear infections at 3am in the ER. There's really not all that much we can do besides diagnose it and start antibiotics. Yes, I wish people would realize that that is not going to help the pain go away. In some countries, routine infections are not even treated with antibiotics, as the majority are viral.

The only thing that's going to help the pain is pain killers and relief from the pressure on the ear drum. Rupture of the ear drum is actualy not a bad thing. Think of tubes. Al that is is a semi- permanant hole in your ear drum. It allows the infection to drain so that the pain and hearing loss is decreased. In fact, rupturing the ear drum used to be a common treatment for severe infection.


All that being said, I'd never criticize any particular person who takes their kid in. Sure, you may suspect it's an ear infection, but a feverish screaming kid may have something more serious. I have to trust the parents judgement on that one.

I think primary care pediatricians do have an obligation to educate people about proper use of the ER and to be available 24 hours via phone to help people decide if they are wavering about going in. There are more downsides than just the cost in taking a kid in. As someone who doesn't know the kid or family, you have to be more aggressive in ER care, and you may be setting your kid up for more aggressive testing than the primary would think neccesary.

Just some extra food for thought,

Rachel

Thank you

 

[mickman1962]

Originally posted by MosMom
What do you get out of upsetting a mom who just got home from the ER with her daughter who woke up in pain with a bad ear infection? Perhaps if you wanted to start a debate about the rising costs of healthcare, you could have started a debate thread. That would have been far more appropriate.

Once again I thought this was a discussion group, thats how they work. You say something someone says something back. The discussion might or might not veer to other topics. If everyone just wants a pat on the back why not just IM each other?

btw you'll be happy to know I'm done here

 

[Regina]

This is the Community Board, a place where friends come to look for a bit of comfort from time to time.

You have no idea what this child's health history is. I happen to know some of it and you'd better believe that I'd rush her to the ER. A "simple" infection for one child can be a grave matter to another.

What I can't comprehend is how a mother, who had a scary episode and tried to inject a bit of humor in the situation that she found herself in, is subject to criticism.

Unfortunately, I have had to visit the ER on occassion over the years. I'm not a doctor, I don't self-diagnose, and I would never consider telling anyone that they should or should not go to the ER when a loved one is ill.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Glad to hear Savannah seems to be on the mend again. She sure has had some tough times over the years, good you were able to get her to ER for treatment, nothing to fool with, certainly with her med record.

Too funny on the PJ's.

 

[CajunDixie]

It seemed my boys always got sick on weekend evenings as well. Why is that I wonder?

Sometimes I think kids are just plain worn out after a stressful week at school or a long week of sports/practices. By the time Friday rolls around maybe they have lost some sleep or have been stressed about a test. It seems the boys' tests are always on Thursday and Fridays. So maybe the their body's are a little less restitant to germs by then.

 

[4nana]

{{{}}} to Savannah, hope she feels better soon.

{{{}}} to Mommy, don't let the comments rattle you.
You know what is best for your child.

Keep the faith ^i^
~ Sandie

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I just saw this. I do hope that Savannah is feeling better, poor little thing. Beanie, hope that this does not turn into something else for her... I know how she deals with more than the average child has to. Hugs to all.

 

[momsgonwild]

First of all, I want to say that I hope Savannah is feeling better!
PD and prayers for a speedy recovery.

As for the ER comment, I live in a town with population just over 5,000 people. I drive 32 miles to use the Scott White Hospital and clinic facilities. This is one of the major hospital and clinic facilities in Texas. My family is also on the Scott & White HMO.
My pediatrician, and family doctor can be reached everyday until approx 5:30 P.M. After 5:30 P.M., there are also evening clinics.
I have had a child sent home from school after experiencing an asthma attack. Call the Pedi clinic at 4:30 P.M., and explain son had attack, is breathing somewhat better, but needs a breathing treatment. Clinic tells me there are no appointments available.
I ask about the evening clinic, because he is breathing okay, but chest is still tight even using emergency inhaler. She tells me evening clinic is full as well. I ask for A.M. appointment, and she tells me I have to make this appointment the following morning at 8:00 A.M. She asks me if I still have S & W insurance, and to just go to the E.R. There is no need to wait until the next day. She tells me the E.R. is not just for emergencies, but for overflow treatment of sickness and injuries that clinic can't handle. I took son to E.R. and proceeded to wait for five hours to receive treatment. When I appologized and explained why we were there instead of clinic, the E.R. doctor told me not to feel bad that this is just how the system works now.

That being said, I would much rather to pay my $15 co-pay instead of sitting for hours in an ER, and paying a $75 ER co-pay.
Unfortunately, as a parent you have to decide and make the call about your child's health, and then follow through with whatever decision you make. Most parents are not doctors, so to be on the safe side, we make the medical decisions that make sense to us at the time. Is this sometimes costly? "Yes". Unnecessary? "Yes". Look a child in the eyes when crying in pain, and tell them they are making costs skyrocket, and will have to stick it out to Monday. I don't think so!

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

I hope she's feeling better soon!

We've always been told better safe than sorry at the ER, they'd rather you come in and been seen then wait it out and have it get really bad.

As far as the sky rocketing insurance costs, I will take my kids to see the doctor be it ER or regular when and where they need it! DH's employer sent out a memo that there were too many doctors visits for simple viruses and it needed to stop, problem is they're computer geeks not doctors how are they supposed to know that what they have is a virus and not something more serious without seeing a doctor?!?!

Our doctor, who I love and wouldn't change from has limited hours on Saturday but after hours supposed to call the nurse line at Children's Hospital to find out what to do. Vast majority of the time they've sent us to the ER or the urgent care clinic.

 

[justhat]

Our insurance company would not pay for an ER visit if the diagnosis was an ear infection. They only pay for 'sudden and serious', and an ear infection doesn't qualify. Not saying I wouldn't take my child if she woke up screaming (she's 7 months so I definitely would take her since I wouldn't even know what was hurting her if she woke up screaming), just that if I do I will have to pay the whole ER bill. Of course, my husband is in medical school so we rarely even go to the dr when my daughter gets sick since my husband usually knows what is wrong.

 

[Mskanga]

First of all I hope she's feeling better.

Rupture of the ear drum is actualy not a bad thing. Think of tubes. Al that is is a semi- permanant hole in your ear drum. It allows the infection to drain so that the pain and hearing loss is decreased. In fact, rupturing the ear drum used to be a common treatment for severe infection.

With all due respect , if it's not a bad thing, how comes my daughter suffered partial permanent hearing loss last year from an ear infection with a ruptured eardrum? And I took her to the doctor 3 times, the doctor's were astounded that three medications did not work , the fourth one did.

I'm merely trying to point out why health care costs are getting out of control. Mine have gone up over 300% in 5 years at an extremely large corporation and Disney is in danger of a strike largely in part to health care concerns of its employees.

So have mine and I'm sorry but I pay for insurance to use it when needed, and without hesitation I will do that.

I'm not saying there was no need for you to go, maybe there was but I'm pretty sure you were never rushed to the ER for an earache. You took some Tylenol and a warm rag and called the Dr. in the morning who would call a prescription in to the pharmacy (on a side note, if your Dr. is not reachable on a Sat. you should probably find a new Dr.) instead now we run to the ER cause we're not paying for it

I don't think anyone wants to be sitting in the ER for hours waiting to be seen and pay $100 co-pay by choice, but at times there's no other choice. I use a large medical practice , whenever I have an emergency usually the doctor that's on call tells me to go to the ER if necessary , but I will tell you that many times I have tried to make an appointment the next day in the office and they are booked up. Fortunately I have not needed that too many times but I can also tell you one other thing, no doctor will call in any medications without seeing the patient first and if they can't get you in , the only other option is the ER. Do I want to spend the time and money to go to the ER? heck no, but sometimes that is just not an option.
BTW, my insurance will pay for an ER visit as long as the doctor knows and sent me there.

 

[crazelion]

I had go ER for a ear infection because my ears had started leaking fluid and they hurt hack. I was in so much pain.

Good move in tooking care of your child when she's in pain.

Ear infections is nothing play with.

 

[justhat]

Originally posted by Mskanga

I don't think anyone wants to be sitting in the ER for hours waiting to be seen and pay $100 co-pay by choice, but at times there's no other choice.

My copay is $10 for an office visit with my dr, an ER visit, or a brand name prescription. So as long as it's a valid ER visit in my insurance company's perspective, I pay $10. In this case I can understand what mickman1962 means when he says you don't have to pay for the ER visit. I know not everyone's insureance works like this, but some do, and I'm sure it does lead to overuse of the ER by many people. We get brochures regularly (in English and Spanish) that are titled "When to use the ER". They specifically list time when you should definitely go and others when you shouldn't. If they don't think it was a real emergency, they won't pay for it. They list ear infections on the "Stay Home" list and suggest you take Tylenol to alleviate any pain until you can get to the dr. Again, not saying that the OP should have stayed home, as I'd probably take my child to the ER if she were in tons of pain too, just saying what my insurance company would do. And it's a pretty good plan-$10 copay, well child care, any dr I want, no referrals necessary, etc.

I can also tell you one other thing, no doctor will call in any medications without seeing the patient first and if they can't get you in , the only other option is the ER. [/B]

All of our drs do this for us, from my daughter's pediatrician to my grandfather's cardiologist. When my daughter was a month old she got pinkeye, of course on a Friday night. We called the resident on call for her pediatrician group and explained the symptoms and she called in a prescription from an erythromycin eye ointment. I took her to the dr that Monday to be sure it was pinkeye and check the medication, but was not told to do so when the prescription was called in. Also, my mom was sick recently, with probably just a bad cold/cough virus, and called her dr and he called in a prescription for Zithromax. In my opinion she didn't need the antibiotic as my husband, daughter and I all caught it from her and got better without any drugs, but she felt it helped her so she took it. I'm not sure if it's regional, or if we're just lucky, but we never have a problem getting a medication over the phone.

 

[Mskanga]

For something like pink eye they would probably call something in but other than that the doctor won't call anything in unless he sees the patient. Last year when dd had the persistent ear infection she had to go to the office every single time. As I said I rather go to the doctor's office than to go to the ER , but that is not always an option. My insurance company has never given me any problems covering ER visits , then again I haven't had that many, but I know that if any of my kids was in that kind of agony, I would not hesitate twice to take them there.