Meeting an ER Doctor for the First Time is Like a Blind Date . . .

Posted on October 25, 2022

A Limited Amount of Time to Make the Right Impression: Preparation and Know-How to Improve the Emergency Room Care Experience 10 Tips to Prevent a Misdiagnosis During Your Next Visit to the Emergency Room.

When you need to go to the Emergency Room for an injury or urgent medical problem. It is essential to (be prepared to) communicate the correct information. It is your job to provide ER Staff with the information needed for an accurate diagnosis.

10 Tips to Prevent a Misdiagnosis During Your Next Visit to the Emergency Room.

1. A concise and accurate summary of your symptoms.

Provide only the health problem(s) that are the reason for the visit. This information should be as precise (time of onset, symptoms, in chronological order as possible.

2. Be honest and forthcoming with what is going on with your health.

3. Keep a timeline of the symptoms – the moment you started feeling ill, or experienced aches and pains. Share initial feelings (clammy, nausea, location of pain, if any, seeing spots, etc.). Note any patterns.

4. Know your medical history. Current health conditions (including blood sugar levels if you have diabetes) or blood pressure readings and cholesterol numbers.

5. Come prepared to be an active participant (decision making is only as good as the information that is presented) and answer questions to the best of your ability.

6. Have a clear and printed list of all the medications (prescribed and over-the-counter) you are taking – and when you take them. If daily – what time of the day, if two times daily, when, etc.

7. Ask questions. There is no such thing as a stupid or dumb question when it comes to your health. If you don’t understand what the doctor is saying, ask him/her to explain in understandable terms.

8. Bring a family member of friend with you to offer support and listen to what the healthcare workers are saying.

9. Take notes. Patients forget 40 – 80 percent of what doctors and nurses tell them, even if they are nodding their heads. If you are present during a ‘bedside shift change’ – when they share information, ask your nurses to do so in your presence, so that you can correct any misinformation. Have someone with you ask, Do you mind if I tape-record this – especially when receiving discharge instructions about crucial information about medications, next steps and when to follow up with your doctor.

10. Trust your gut. It is better to be safe than sorry. If you aren’t comfortable that you’ve got the correct diagnosis, go with your instinct and request a second opinion.

Once home, don’t forget to follow up – with your personal doctor to update hem/him on medication changes and to discuss the diagnosis or visit with a specialist if the ER doctor recommends one.

Source: Managing-Emergency-Room-Visit - The Care Partner Project