Told to wait, asthma patient called ambulance for ride to another hospital

[MaineDem]

WEYMOUTH, Mass. (AP) A Braintree woman suffering from an ashtma attack called an ambulance to the emergency room at South Shore Hospital after she was told she'd have to wait at least two hours to see a doctor.

Christine Howard, 39, was taken to Quincy Medical Center, where she spent the next two days recovering.

Howard told The Patriot Ledger of Quincy that she'd waited in the ER at South Shore in Weymouth for an hour on April 27 before nurses told her she'd have to wait even longer. They refused her request to call an ambulance because she wouldn't sign a release form, so Howard dialed 911 on her cell phone.

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/155/region/Told_to_wait_asthma_patient_ca:.shtml

Not quite LBN but interesting just the same. :)

[Love Bug]

1. I remember what I learned in First Aid Class in Navy bootcamp

When triaging a patient to look for these three things first, in this order:

1. Breathing

2. Bleeding

3. Broken bones

A severe asthma attack sure sounds like it should be under the first category, right? People have died from asthma attacks (the red-headed actress from "Four Weddings and a Funeral" comes to mind).

Off topic: Braintree was the Massachusetts home of John Adams.

[Nikia]

2. One good thing about our little hospital

The few times that we have been there, we have walked right in. If there had been a wait, there is a sign saying "Be patient. We are treating patients who have more urgent needs. If your condition changes, please notify us."
More than a few people have told me about their incompetence, but at least you will be seen by a doctor relatively quickly there.