My Time in the ER: The Healthcare System is Broken
My Time in the ER: The Healthcare System is Broken Heading to bed, I feel the familiar pains. The gallbladder pains. Usually, they subside, but not tonight. By 1am, I am in tears, asking my wife to take me to the hospital. Worse than it has ever been, I know I need intervention. 2-15-2023 0218: Admission to the ED There is a strict no-visitors rule here. Unless I am a child or a dependent adult, I am on my own. I am promised that once I am put in a room in the ED, my wife can join me. Triage is simple. All my vitals taken, I am sent to a chair to wait. To try to take my mind off my pain, I observe the room. A large handful of people are waiting. Two mothers with children who have already been seen are waiting in the waiting room for diagnostic test results. Others still are waiting to be seen. 0251: Portal I, along with another patient, move to a room called a portal. I walk. He was already in a wheelchair. I am told to sit in any of the chairs in the room. There’s on