Friday, July 22, 2011

Urgent matters

Last night I saw a hospital consult, with the following admission note:

"On Saturday, while packing his car, he suddenly felt lightheaded, followed by right-sided weakness and slurred speech. He didn't seek medical attention at the time. In fact, he and his wife drove to Connecticut that day for a short vacation. All symptoms have since persisted, and upon returning to Grumpyville this afternoon they went home, unpacked, and then came to ER for evaluation."
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20 comments:

  1. SuFu PhDJuly 22, 2011 at 9:15 AM

    At least you don't have to have the tPA discussion...

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  2. thatsitJuly 22, 2011 at 9:20 AM

    uh, what? Does.not.compute..

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  3. AnonymousJuly 22, 2011 at 9:25 AM

    Priorities

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  4. Officer CynicalJuly 22, 2011 at 9:34 AM

    It's always either the vacation or retirement that gets you.

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  5. PollyJuly 22, 2011 at 11:30 AM

    Oh, come on. It's not like Connecticut is still there or anything....

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  6. PA HoneybeeJuly 22, 2011 at 12:06 PM

    Hmmm.....I hope they weren't driving from the west coast! (As if the situation isn't bad enough) Any explanation as to why this sudden onset of symptoms didn't raise a red flag?

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  7. AnonymousJuly 22, 2011 at 12:17 PM

    So, what would the $cost have been if they came right away?

    And the $cost when they waited?

    Not taking into account the $cost of their "vacation"

    Is this one reason health care is so expensive here?

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  8. bobbieJuly 22, 2011 at 12:24 PM

    Stoopid is as stoopid does...

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  9. PackerJuly 22, 2011 at 12:45 PM

    If he was over 78, oh well..;)

    I like the way Grumpy seemlessly moves from medical issues of great weight into the following day where you just smile and wonder.

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  10. Li'l AzathothJuly 22, 2011 at 1:26 PM

    They were originally headed to Vermont, but he couldn't get out of the right lane.

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  11. AnonymousJuly 22, 2011 at 1:52 PM

    Sounds like American Heart Association (or another health care group) could spend some money on an ad campaign about strokes. We have the posters up in the ER about 'every second counts' but that's not where those with risks hang out. Maybe posters in gas stations? Next to the snuff and the handsome Marlboro man? This problems of folks delaying treatment for brain injury because they're not aware enough to get help is a recurrent theme.

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  12. MargaretJuly 22, 2011 at 1:56 PM

    I'm sure he thought he was just fine. :p

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  13. AnonymousJuly 22, 2011 at 2:24 PM

    I hope he likes those symptoms. I have a feeling he may have made sure they stick with him.

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  14. AnonymousJuly 22, 2011 at 3:10 PM

    I have heard PSAs on my local radio about "every second counts" some SOMEone out there is trying to get the message out to the general public. Not sure it would've helped this guy--sounds like he was in denial

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  15. MalJuly 22, 2011 at 6:02 PM

    At that late point, why go to the ER at all?

    Not an MD, but I would think that after several days (or more) it was no longer a time-critical situation.

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  16. AnonymousJuly 22, 2011 at 6:13 PM

    My aunt had a heart attack on a Thursday. She didn't know it was a heart attack - she just felt kind of crummy. She didn't go to the doc until Monday because she had made a commitment to volunteer at church on Saturday. Then she had to fight to get out of the hospital. She is a tough lady.

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  17. AnonymousJuly 22, 2011 at 6:45 PM

    Cut the guy some slack. Maybe his wife would have given him terrible grief if he hadn't agreed to go to CT.

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  18. AnonymousJuly 22, 2011 at 7:34 PM

    Maybe it's a misunderstanding.

    His wife said "You should get a CT" and he thought she said "you should go to CT".

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  19. terri cJuly 23, 2011 at 2:38 AM

    Well... at least they unpacked before heading to the ED. Wonder if he drove on the trip?

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  20. cliffintokyoJuly 25, 2011 at 5:16 AM

    "Better late than never, but better never late", as my teacher used to say.
    (Or too late, I should add, because it will probably lead inexorably to 'never, never' and 'the late......').
    Must be stubborn as a rusty bolt......or just no insurance perhaps?

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So wadda you think?