Coronavirus prep
Replies
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In Massachusetts ATM, on the morning news between snowstorm and my brewing coffee, they mentioned good news IMO.
News stated that starting next week, here in Massachusetts the state will change how COVID is reported. They will distinguish between being admitted DUE to Covid vs admitted WITH Covid. I think they are at least a year late as the blurring of that distinction certainly fuels confusion, as well as conspiracy talk.
I personally will be very interested in seeing the new more detailed data.7 -
spiriteagle99 wrote: »There are also a lot of people who are hospitalized with covid but not because of covid. So, someone goes in the hospital because of a kidney infection, is tested and has Covid. Covid didn't put them in the hospital, but they are still listed as a covid patient in the hospital. On the news they said that that was often the case with children in the hospital, they tested postitive but were in the hospital for other reasons.
That has bothered me as well. Some friend called my husband recently. The wife went to the hospital as she was in labor and needed to deliver her baby. Was tested upon admission, and came out positive for Covid. Husband shared that they told the wife she was being admitted for Covid. This is of course hearsay, but these stories could not exist (fake or real) if the reporting was better defined.
If you see my post above, I heard good news this morning that starting next week Massachusetts will be changing how Covid hospital admissions are defined.
Edit: @ahoy_m8 saw your post after my response to @spiriteagle99. This whole situation is so ripe for breeding distrust, which then justifies people deciding whether the "rules" make sense and whether they should be followed.2 -
tiptoethruthetulips wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »what do you mean you didnt report it?
Don't you have to report positive RATS tests and/or follow up with official PCR test?
Here in Ontario, public health testing is becoming overwhelmed and the latest guideline restricts eligibility for PCR tests. Contact tracing and testing is out the window at this point. So, no, a positive rapid antigen test will not be followed up with a PCR for the majority of people.
I haven't seen or heard of any requirement to report rapid test results, unless there is something to that effect in whatever literature accompanies the test itself (I've never seen one).
eta I have no idea where Sarah7591 resides, just reporting the current state of testing here
The instructions on the rapid test tell you to follow up with a PCR test, but there is nothing about reporting it. We did follow up with PCR tests - mostly because my rapid tests kept coming back negative even though I obviously had extensive exposures - I wanted to confirm with a more sensitive test. (Our PCR tests were on December 24 so we were using the guidelines at the time - I know they have changed since then.)
Of course my PCR test got lost and never was uploaded to the system. The pharmacist checked with the lab and told me verbally it was negative, but he also said it would be uploaded within 24 hours and it never was so who knows.
well, no, there is nothing about reporting it in patient instructions here in Aust either - patients don't have to report PCR tests, their medical service does so.
They are meant to follow up any positive RATS tests with PCR test though - which if positive then gets reported to Communicable Disease branch by your medical provider
Yes our PCR tests are reported by the provider as well. I was talking about the rapid tests you do at home. Unless you follow up with a PCR (which we can't even do now) they do not get reported anywhere.
will be interesting to see how this plays out in Australia now one does not have to follow up a positive RATS test with a PCR test.
PCR tests are reported by your medical provider
You are suppossed to let your medical provider know of positive RATS test so they can report it - whether everyone does so will be another matter.
I guess quite a lot will because they want to do the right thing and/or will want medical certificates for school, work etc - but I doubt everyone will.
In Tasmania and Victoria those who have a positive RAT have to register details to the relevant health department not the patient's medical provider, I assume the same in NSW (if not its coming soon). Numbers are quite high and local clinics would be overrun it people had to report their medical provider.
Tasmania has an online registration page as does Victoria. Not sure what's happening elsewhere.
Curious what the consequences are if one does not report positive test findings. Depending, could it be that not everyone reports their results?0 -
for anyone interested, here is a news article: https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/mass-to-change-the-way-it-reports-covid-19-hospitalizations/2606930/
was actually an interesting read. Much more detail on this topic than the two sentences mentioned on the AM news.0 -
tiptoethruthetulips wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »what do you mean you didnt report it?
Don't you have to report positive RATS tests and/or follow up with official PCR test?
Here in Ontario, public health testing is becoming overwhelmed and the latest guideline restricts eligibility for PCR tests. Contact tracing and testing is out the window at this point. So, no, a positive rapid antigen test will not be followed up with a PCR for the majority of people.
I haven't seen or heard of any requirement to report rapid test results, unless there is something to that effect in whatever literature accompanies the test itself (I've never seen one).
eta I have no idea where Sarah7591 resides, just reporting the current state of testing here
The instructions on the rapid test tell you to follow up with a PCR test, but there is nothing about reporting it. We did follow up with PCR tests - mostly because my rapid tests kept coming back negative even though I obviously had extensive exposures - I wanted to confirm with a more sensitive test. (Our PCR tests were on December 24 so we were using the guidelines at the time - I know they have changed since then.)
Of course my PCR test got lost and never was uploaded to the system. The pharmacist checked with the lab and told me verbally it was negative, but he also said it would be uploaded within 24 hours and it never was so who knows.
well, no, there is nothing about reporting it in patient instructions here in Aust either - patients don't have to report PCR tests, their medical service does so.
They are meant to follow up any positive RATS tests with PCR test though - which if positive then gets reported to Communicable Disease branch by your medical provider
Yes our PCR tests are reported by the provider as well. I was talking about the rapid tests you do at home. Unless you follow up with a PCR (which we can't even do now) they do not get reported anywhere.
will be interesting to see how this plays out in Australia now one does not have to follow up a positive RATS test with a PCR test.
PCR tests are reported by your medical provider
You are suppossed to let your medical provider know of positive RATS test so they can report it - whether everyone does so will be another matter.
I guess quite a lot will because they want to do the right thing and/or will want medical certificates for school, work etc - but I doubt everyone will.
In Tasmania and Victoria those who have a positive RAT have to register details to the relevant health department not the patient's medical provider, I assume the same in NSW (if not its coming soon). Numbers are quite high and local clinics would be overrun it people had to report their medical provider.
Tasmania has an online registration page as does Victoria. Not sure what's happening elsewhere.
I wish we had that in SA
But, no, the system here is your GP clinic does it once you notify them of your result.
Yes I expect to be over run doing covid notifications.1 -
News stated that starting next week, here in Massachusetts the state will change how COVID is reported. They will distinguish between being admitted DUE to Covid vs admitted WITH Covid. I think they are at least a year late as the blurring of that distinction certainly fuels confusion, as well as conspiracy talk.
Coincidentally I happened to notice a news article today that Ontario will be switching to the same type of reporting with regard to deaths.1 -
tiptoethruthetulips wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »what do you mean you didnt report it?
Don't you have to report positive RATS tests and/or follow up with official PCR test?
Here in Ontario, public health testing is becoming overwhelmed and the latest guideline restricts eligibility for PCR tests. Contact tracing and testing is out the window at this point. So, no, a positive rapid antigen test will not be followed up with a PCR for the majority of people.
I haven't seen or heard of any requirement to report rapid test results, unless there is something to that effect in whatever literature accompanies the test itself (I've never seen one).
eta I have no idea where Sarah7591 resides, just reporting the current state of testing here
The instructions on the rapid test tell you to follow up with a PCR test, but there is nothing about reporting it. We did follow up with PCR tests - mostly because my rapid tests kept coming back negative even though I obviously had extensive exposures - I wanted to confirm with a more sensitive test. (Our PCR tests were on December 24 so we were using the guidelines at the time - I know they have changed since then.)
Of course my PCR test got lost and never was uploaded to the system. The pharmacist checked with the lab and told me verbally it was negative, but he also said it would be uploaded within 24 hours and it never was so who knows.
well, no, there is nothing about reporting it in patient instructions here in Aust either - patients don't have to report PCR tests, their medical service does so.
They are meant to follow up any positive RATS tests with PCR test though - which if positive then gets reported to Communicable Disease branch by your medical provider
Yes our PCR tests are reported by the provider as well. I was talking about the rapid tests you do at home. Unless you follow up with a PCR (which we can't even do now) they do not get reported anywhere.
will be interesting to see how this plays out in Australia now one does not have to follow up a positive RATS test with a PCR test.
PCR tests are reported by your medical provider
You are suppossed to let your medical provider know of positive RATS test so they can report it - whether everyone does so will be another matter.
I guess quite a lot will because they want to do the right thing and/or will want medical certificates for school, work etc - but I doubt everyone will.
In Tasmania and Victoria those who have a positive RAT have to register details to the relevant health department not the patient's medical provider, I assume the same in NSW (if not its coming soon). Numbers are quite high and local clinics would be overrun it people had to report their medical provider.
Tasmania has an online registration page as does Victoria. Not sure what's happening elsewhere.
Curious what the consequences are if one does not report positive test findings. Depending, could it be that not everyone reports their results?
I don't believe there are any real consequences, but if someone wants to access the financial support available for not being able to work they need to have registered first plus it allows the health department to offer services, for instance in Tasmania there is the covid@home kit that has monitoring equipment, daily check in calls from the health department etc.
Hopefully people will do the right thing and stay home if they have a positive RAT, but I assume the majority will have cared enough to do the test in the first instance and so will stay home and isolate.2 -
and further to tiptoe's post.
Also from Australia - but I am in South Australia not Tasmania.
RATS tests here are not meant to be done by people with symptoms - they are meant to be done by asymptomatic people for travel clearance reasons, return to work reasons, screening high risk employees, that sort of thing.
So if people want a refund on their holiday/flights or sick leave from their employer or unemployment benifits whilst sick etc - they will probably also need a letter from their GP hence reporting to GP to get that.
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I read that because it infects the bronchial tubes more than lower in the lungs that that’s why it is more infectious.0
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I worked another shift last night and it was crazy. Really sick people were waiting outside the hospital because there were no beds. Our resources are stretched so thin. Please stop coming to the ER just for a Covid test and unvaccinated people need to get vaccinated. These unvaccinated people are taking up all of the beds.21
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Heard a report (NPR news) today about a hospital where they test everyone on arrival, no matter what has brought them to the hospital/ER, no matter whether Covid-symptomatic or not. With the Omicron wave, 1 in 7 people coming into the hospital are testing positive. The test report comes back after they've been in the hospital for a while, if only in the ER.
Those presenting for other conditions, with no Covid symptoms, have by that time encountered various staff members who are not in full Covid-precautions mode. It's leading to an increase in cases among the staff, usually minor because staff are vaccinated. Even so, staff need to isolate for a minimum of 5 days, so even more staffing shortages are resulting.
There are a lot of moving parts to all of these systems, and new circumstances cause new complications/problems.
Another reason to stay away from the ER if you don't truly need to be there is the potential to contract Covid from fellow patients in the ER. Obviously, don't stay away if you have a serious medical problem. It's a balance of risks question.10 -
I asked my friend for the timeline of symptoms she had with omicron. She is young, healthy and boosted.
Saturday: sore throat
Sunday: miserable, sore throat and sleep. Tested positive
Monday: more sleep
Tuesday: annoying cold, snot, sneezing
Wednesday/Thursday: cold symptoms, but feeling better
Today: much better but not enough to dive back into diy projects
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@tiptoethruthetulips @paperpudding Those are very clear incentives for individuals to report their positive tests. Sounds like a motivating system.
@AnnPT77 My daughter's boss's teen daughter was sick (turns out it was Lyme disease) and the mom took her to the ER. They both contracted COVID from their time at the ER. So yes, it is good advice to save going to the ER for when that level of medical care is truly needed.
In December when many in my family had that lousy cold, DD was sick enough that her PCP wanted to run some tests (COVID, Flu & Strep). That PCP's office is associated with a parking garage. Guess where the staff tests patients. Yup, in the parking garage, which is an option most doctors are not lucky enough to be able to offer.
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Heard a report (NPR news) today about a hospital where they test everyone on arrival, no matter what has brought them to the hospital/ER, no matter whether Covid-symptomatic or not. With the Omicron wave, 1 in 7 people coming into the hospital are testing positive. The test report comes back after they've been in the hospital for a while, if only in the ER.
Those presenting for other conditions, with no Covid symptoms, have by that time encountered various staff members who are not in full Covid-precautions mode. It's leading to an increase in cases among the staff, usually minor because staff are vaccinated. Even so, staff need to isolate for a minimum of 5 days, so even more staffing shortages are resulting.
There are a lot of moving parts to all of these systems, and new circumstances cause new complications/problems.
Another reason to stay away from the ER if you don't truly need to be there is the potential to contract Covid from fellow patients in the ER. Obviously, don't stay away if you have a serious medical problem. It's a balance of risks question.
Very true! If one doesn’t have Covid then there is a high chance of catching it by coming in. Everyone who has had a potential exposure or respiratory symptoms even if not Covid are lumped together in our Covid tent, because we can’t put them with the general population.
We are short staffed again tomorrow. It sucks. And patients complain so much about the wait times not realizing we get no breaks, bend over backwards for them, and put our health on the line. This pandemic has really made me lose faith in humanity as a whole.28 -
Heard a report (NPR news) today about a hospital where they test everyone on arrival, no matter what has brought them to the hospital/ER, no matter whether Covid-symptomatic or not. With the Omicron wave, 1 in 7 people coming into the hospital are testing positive. The test report comes back after they've been in the hospital for a while, if only in the ER.
Those presenting for other conditions, with no Covid symptoms, have by that time encountered various staff members who are not in full Covid-precautions mode. It's leading to an increase in cases among the staff, usually minor because staff are vaccinated. Even so, staff need to isolate for a minimum of 5 days, so even more staffing shortages are resulting.
There are a lot of moving parts to all of these systems, and new circumstances cause new complications/problems.
Another reason to stay away from the ER if you don't truly need to be there is the potential to contract Covid from fellow patients in the ER. Obviously, don't stay away if you have a serious medical problem. It's a balance of risks question.
Very true! If one doesn’t have Covid then there is a high chance of catching it by coming in. Everyone who has had a potential exposure or respiratory symptoms even if not Covid are lumped together in our Covid tent, because we can’t put them with the general population.
We are short staffed again tomorrow. It sucks. And patients complain so much about the wait times not realizing we get no breaks, bend over backwards for them, and put our health on the line. This pandemic has really made me lose faith in humanity as a whole.
I'm so sorry. I can't even begin to imagine what this would be like. Thank you for doing what you do, under these extreme, extreme circumstances.9 -
Heard a report (NPR news) today about a hospital where they test everyone on arrival, no matter what has brought them to the hospital/ER, no matter whether Covid-symptomatic or not. With the Omicron wave, 1 in 7 people coming into the hospital are testing positive. The test report comes back after they've been in the hospital for a while, if only in the ER.
Those presenting for other conditions, with no Covid symptoms, have by that time encountered various staff members who are not in full Covid-precautions mode. It's leading to an increase in cases among the staff, usually minor because staff are vaccinated. Even so, staff need to isolate for a minimum of 5 days, so even more staffing shortages are resulting.
There are a lot of moving parts to all of these systems, and new circumstances cause new complications/problems.
Another reason to stay away from the ER if you don't truly need to be there is the potential to contract Covid from fellow patients in the ER. Obviously, don't stay away if you have a serious medical problem. It's a balance of risks question.
Very true! If one doesn’t have Covid then there is a high chance of catching it by coming in. Everyone who has had a potential exposure or respiratory symptoms even if not Covid are lumped together in our Covid tent, because we can’t put them with the general population.
We are short staffed again tomorrow. It sucks. And patients complain so much about the wait times not realizing we get no breaks, bend over backwards for them, and put our health on the line. This pandemic has really made me lose faith in humanity as a whole.
I'm so sorry. I can't even begin to imagine what this would be like. Thank you for doing what you do, under these extreme, extreme circumstances.
Thanks. I’m just overwhelmed at times. The unvaccinated are really putting everyone through the wringer at the hospital. It just makes no sense. They don’t think logically and it is frustrating. I am normally good at handling stress but have a baby at home now and I’m really trying not to bring anything home to him. Just venting.19 -
Vent away, @nooshi713
People can be so difficult, it's true.
I'm sure you are really overwhelmed - how could you not be? Everyone is super scared and tired, and you have every right to be that way too. More so than the rest of us.
May you have some moments of kindness given to you today. Keep talking to us, and thank you for all that you have done and are doing.14 -
@nooshi713
Huge grateful hugs to you for all you do and are still doing.
I'm a big believer in finding time for yourself so hope you can do that. Somehow.
Being right there in the thick of it, I can only imagine how frustrating and maddening it must feel to you.
I hope things turn around soon, maybe after the big holiday after-affects slow down? IDK. IMO, they're doing too little too late. Meaning so many people and the government, certainly not the caregivers and medical professionals who are using every ounce of courage and energy they can muster. 2 -
@tiptoethruthetulips @paperpudding Those are very clear incentives for individuals to report their positive tests. Sounds like a motivating system.
@AnnPT77 My daughter's boss's teen daughter was sick (turns out it was Lyme disease) and the mom took her to the ER. They both contracted COVID from their time at the ER. So yes, it is good advice to save going to the ER for when that level of medical care is truly needed.
In December when many in my family had that lousy cold, DD was sick enough that her PCP wanted to run some tests (COVID, Flu & Strep). That PCP's office is associated with a parking garage. Guess where the staff tests patients. Yup, in the parking garage, which is an option most doctors are not lucky enough to be able to offer.
Not being a smart *kitten* but unless they were living in a bubble how do they know they got Covid from the ER?
Hate to say it, but that stuff is everywhere. Hope they have mild cases.2 -
Heard a report (NPR news) today about a hospital where they test everyone on arrival, no matter what has brought them to the hospital/ER, no matter whether Covid-symptomatic or not. With the Omicron wave, 1 in 7 people coming into the hospital are testing positive. The test report comes back after they've been in the hospital for a while, if only in the ER.
Those presenting for other conditions, with no Covid symptoms, have by that time encountered various staff members who are not in full Covid-precautions mode. It's leading to an increase in cases among the staff, usually minor because staff are vaccinated. Even so, staff need to isolate for a minimum of 5 days, so even more staffing shortages are resulting.
There are a lot of moving parts to all of these systems, and new circumstances cause new complications/problems.
Another reason to stay away from the ER if you don't truly need to be there is the potential to contract Covid from fellow patients in the ER. Obviously, don't stay away if you have a serious medical problem. It's a balance of risks question.
Very true! If one doesn’t have Covid then there is a high chance of catching it by coming in. Everyone who has had a potential exposure or respiratory symptoms even if not Covid are lumped together in our Covid tent, because we can’t put them with the general population.
We are short staffed again tomorrow. It sucks. And patients complain so much about the wait times not realizing we get no breaks, bend over backwards for them, and put our health on the line. This pandemic has really made me lose faith in humanity as a whole.
My current stance is that hospitals should turn away unvaccinated patients and not offer testing. That should solve the CoVid hospital problem.
Why don’t hospitals have an online checking and waiting system? I know emergencies are just that, but what good does it do sitting in a room for 10 hours when you can stay at home until you can be seen?4 -
allother94 wrote: »Heard a report (NPR news) today about a hospital where they test everyone on arrival, no matter what has brought them to the hospital/ER, no matter whether Covid-symptomatic or not. With the Omicron wave, 1 in 7 people coming into the hospital are testing positive. The test report comes back after they've been in the hospital for a while, if only in the ER.
Those presenting for other conditions, with no Covid symptoms, have by that time encountered various staff members who are not in full Covid-precautions mode. It's leading to an increase in cases among the staff, usually minor because staff are vaccinated. Even so, staff need to isolate for a minimum of 5 days, so even more staffing shortages are resulting.
There are a lot of moving parts to all of these systems, and new circumstances cause new complications/problems.
Another reason to stay away from the ER if you don't truly need to be there is the potential to contract Covid from fellow patients in the ER. Obviously, don't stay away if you have a serious medical problem. It's a balance of risks question.
Very true! If one doesn’t have Covid then there is a high chance of catching it by coming in. Everyone who has had a potential exposure or respiratory symptoms even if not Covid are lumped together in our Covid tent, because we can’t put them with the general population.
We are short staffed again tomorrow. It sucks. And patients complain so much about the wait times not realizing we get no breaks, bend over backwards for them, and put our health on the line. This pandemic has really made me lose faith in humanity as a whole.
My current stance is that hospitals should turn away unvaccinated patients and not offer testing. That should solve the CoVid hospital problem.
Why don’t hospitals have an online checking and waiting system? I know emergencies are just that, but what good does it do sitting in a room for 10 hours when you can stay at home until you can be seen?
I am for the vaccine, but I also don't really feel that we need to turn away those from the hospital that are unvaccinated. What about those that choose not to get vaccinated because of a reaction. For example my dad is 66 years old. He went in and got his Pfizer shot and had about two weeks of body aches, fatigue and felt awful. After getting his second shot, within in 24 hours he was rushed to the hospital in severe pain. He stayed in the hospital over a week, turns out there was increasing inflammation that was pushing on a nerve in his back. He had to have surgery and it has almost been a year and is still not able to walk without a limp. There was no proof that it was the vaccine, but now he is really scared to get his booster and I don't blame him.
My father in law is another one that won't be getting his booster. After his two shots his RA flared up and has been worse ever since. I know it could all be a coincidence, but why look down on those who choose not to get vaccinated because of reactions they have had.
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allother94 wrote: »Heard a report (NPR news) today about a hospital where they test everyone on arrival, no matter what has brought them to the hospital/ER, no matter whether Covid-symptomatic or not. With the Omicron wave, 1 in 7 people coming into the hospital are testing positive. The test report comes back after they've been in the hospital for a while, if only in the ER.
Those presenting for other conditions, with no Covid symptoms, have by that time encountered various staff members who are not in full Covid-precautions mode. It's leading to an increase in cases among the staff, usually minor because staff are vaccinated. Even so, staff need to isolate for a minimum of 5 days, so even more staffing shortages are resulting.
There are a lot of moving parts to all of these systems, and new circumstances cause new complications/problems.
Another reason to stay away from the ER if you don't truly need to be there is the potential to contract Covid from fellow patients in the ER. Obviously, don't stay away if you have a serious medical problem. It's a balance of risks question.
Very true! If one doesn’t have Covid then there is a high chance of catching it by coming in. Everyone who has had a potential exposure or respiratory symptoms even if not Covid are lumped together in our Covid tent, because we can’t put them with the general population.
We are short staffed again tomorrow. It sucks. And patients complain so much about the wait times not realizing we get no breaks, bend over backwards for them, and put our health on the line. This pandemic has really made me lose faith in humanity as a whole.
My current stance is that hospitals should turn away unvaccinated patients and not offer testing. That should solve the CoVid hospital problem.
Why don’t hospitals have an online checking and waiting system? I know emergencies are just that, but what good does it do sitting in a room for 10 hours when you can stay at home until you can be seen?
I am for the vaccine, but I also don't really feel that we need to turn away those from the hospital that are unvaccinated. What about those that choose not to get vaccinated because of a reaction. For example my dad is 66 years old. He went in and got his Pfizer shot and had about two weeks of body aches, fatigue and felt awful. After getting his second shot, within in 24 hours he was rushed to the hospital in severe pain. He stayed in the hospital over a week, turns out there was increasing inflammation that was pushing on a nerve in his back. He had to have surgery and it has almost been a year and is still not able to walk without a limp. There was no proof that it was the vaccine, but now he is really scared to get his booster and I don't blame him.
My father in law is another one that won't be getting his booster. After his two shots his RA flared up and has been worse ever since. I know it could all be a coincidence, but why look down on those who choose not to get vaccinated because of reactions they have had.
I have lupus, and my lupus flared after both shots and the booster. That’s not all that surprising since any vaccine usually makes me flare for about a week. You know what’s worse than a lupus flare, though? Death.
Also, if an autoimmune condition was going to flare in response to the vaccine, it will certainly flare even worse in response to the disease.17 -
allother94 wrote: »Heard a report (NPR news) today about a hospital where they test everyone on arrival, no matter what has brought them to the hospital/ER, no matter whether Covid-symptomatic or not. With the Omicron wave, 1 in 7 people coming into the hospital are testing positive. The test report comes back after they've been in the hospital for a while, if only in the ER.
Those presenting for other conditions, with no Covid symptoms, have by that time encountered various staff members who are not in full Covid-precautions mode. It's leading to an increase in cases among the staff, usually minor because staff are vaccinated. Even so, staff need to isolate for a minimum of 5 days, so even more staffing shortages are resulting.
There are a lot of moving parts to all of these systems, and new circumstances cause new complications/problems.
Another reason to stay away from the ER if you don't truly need to be there is the potential to contract Covid from fellow patients in the ER. Obviously, don't stay away if you have a serious medical problem. It's a balance of risks question.
Very true! If one doesn’t have Covid then there is a high chance of catching it by coming in. Everyone who has had a potential exposure or respiratory symptoms even if not Covid are lumped together in our Covid tent, because we can’t put them with the general population.
We are short staffed again tomorrow. It sucks. And patients complain so much about the wait times not realizing we get no breaks, bend over backwards for them, and put our health on the line. This pandemic has really made me lose faith in humanity as a whole.
My current stance is that hospitals should turn away unvaccinated patients and not offer testing. That should solve the CoVid hospital problem.
Why don’t hospitals have an online checking and waiting system? I know emergencies are just that, but what good does it do sitting in a room for 10 hours when you can stay at home until you can be seen?
For a while in 2020 some hospitals here were doing the online check-in and wait thing, but they stopped. I don’t know why. I’m thinking they want to discourage people who don’t have a true emergency by making things harder.
In November, when we didn’t even have Omicron yet, I went to the ER with heart symptoms. Local laws say a hospital has to initiate care within a certain amount of time for a heart patient, ever since some years ago some guy was just left sitting in an ambulance to die, and then it happened to a lady about a week later. So I did get seen almost immediately. But the laws don’t say they have to keep doing anything once they acknowledge your presence. So what happened was, a nurse did a 2 minute portable EKG and then no one looked at it for three hours. You’re supposed to be given an aspirin within 10 minutes of arrival and I found out, at checkout 7 hrs later, that this had in fact been ordered but no one had done it. The check out nurse didn’t want to let me leave without taking the flipping aspirin because it was on her paperwork that I was supposed to. In the seven hours intervening I sat in the waiting room, which as far as I can tell was deliberately made nightmarishly cold in order to force people to leave. I have no idea what the temperature was, but in the triage area I could see my breath, and the waiting area was colder. There was an old woman across from me who I think had had a stroke - she was barely coherent and unable to walk, just kept moaning, “Why is it so cold in here?” At one point someone must have complained to the right person because a staffer came in with an armful of blankets, looked around the room, failed to make eye contact with any of the people right in front of her, and walked off with the blankets. It was the most chilling thing I have ever witnessed, no pun intended.
I mentioned my EKG got seen at 3 hrs. This happened because by this point my husband was flipping out, and kept phoning the desk, and apparently he said the word sue to the right person because they got off their butts and figured out I was there. Which they never would have done as it turned out the triage nurse was THROWING ALL INTAKE PAPERWORK DIRECTLY INTO THE TRASH. So literally no one in the back knew anyone was out there.
It actually was not that crowded. I asked about rooms, and the nurse who took me back said they had plenty of ER rooms, but no nurses to oversee them, so they weren’t legally allowed to use them. Too many staff had left due to burnout. So I was taken back into a billing office, where a third year intern (I know this because I googled him) with, let’s remember no paperwork, asked why I was there. He looked at the EKG, said it looked as if I wasn’t currently having a heart attack, and advised me to see a cardiologist within 48 hours. (Note, two days later the hospital, as per their policy, had an actual cardio review my ekg which was indeed abnormal unlike what the intern had told me, and put the results up on patient portal without mentioning it.) And then I waited four hours sitting next to a covid patient on oxygen before they let me go. They were supposed to do a second EKG before I left but didn’t do it. They did do a blood draw, which blew out three veins - and I lift, I have huge veins - because it was so freezing in there that my veins had retreated inside my body. But I found out later from patient portal they didn’t do any of the standard cardio event tests with the blood.
I don’t really blame anyone for what happened - burnout is burnout, and apart from the spooky lady who looked like she would rather see us all in hell than hand out blankets, every individual person I encountered was nice. But I would remind everyone this happened in November when locally our cases were low. If our hospitals were that far from functioning at that time, I’m horrified to think about what’s happening now, when we have a huge surge.
I actually can’t overstate how nightmarish it was sitting in a walk-in refrigerator being ignored for seven hours. My ribs hurt the next day from shivering so hard. The hospital system keeps sending me “Please fill out our survey and let us know how you would describe your visit” forms but I haven’t filled them out because the whole experience seems unreal. Three words to describe my ER experience, really? Nightmarish? Third world countryish? Apocalyptic? Don’t ask if you don’t want to hear the answer! And this is a world class medical facility in a city known for its good hospitals.15 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »@tiptoethruthetulips @paperpudding Those are very clear incentives for individuals to report their positive tests. Sounds like a motivating system.
@AnnPT77 My daughter's boss's teen daughter was sick (turns out it was Lyme disease) and the mom took her to the ER. They both contracted COVID from their time at the ER. So yes, it is good advice to save going to the ER for when that level of medical care is truly needed.
In December when many in my family had that lousy cold, DD was sick enough that her PCP wanted to run some tests (COVID, Flu & Strep). That PCP's office is associated with a parking garage. Guess where the staff tests patients. Yup, in the parking garage, which is an option most doctors are not lucky enough to be able to offer.
Not being a smart *kitten* but unless they were living in a bubble how do they know they got Covid from the ER?
Hate to say it, but that stuff is everywhere. Hope they have mild cases.
@theoldguy1 You have a valid point. I am solely repeating what I heard. As for what I know about the individuals, they are cautious individuals (ie everyone has been work from home for a very long time) and non-inflammatory individuals. I often determine what I think of a persons claim based on who they are and what I know about the choices they make. Yes, they could be wrong as you mentioned, but from their examination of their lives, the ER was the most logical source and have stated their belief. As for my mentioning it, it was to affirm the reservations about going to ERs that have been mentioned here by other members.
As for COVID being everywhere, this "incident" was roughly early October in Massachusetts. The numbers then were not what they are now (on a chart early Oct 7 day average was roughly 1400 new cases/day and Jan 8 was about 19,000) so the fact they were "bubbling" even at that time lessens the odds of random COVID exposure.
In December, when DD was sick, she was sick enough that she called me in the middle of the night. I told her that her only option besides continued self care was ER. She said there was no way she was going to the ER. She had already tested negative for COVID (home and lab PCR) and stated that she was unwilling to risk being exposed to COVID there.7 -
Last month, my mom was wondering how we'd go about getting tested if we developed symptoms. I don't have to worry about this - I'm with the VA. (Of course I looked into testing for the rest of them.)
When I joined the USAF in the late 80s, healthcare benefits were furthest from my mind, but I'm so glad I have them now. Sure, I have my complaints, especially when it comes to female-specific care, but during this pandemic I am so glad to be with the VA.
I was there regularly last year for this and that, and am not seeing crowds or hearing about burnout.
In many ways, VA healthcare is an example of socialized medicine.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-socialized-medicine-2615267
"...While scandals arise from how the VA provides care, it is a measure of how the VA is accountable to the public, while private healthcare organizations do not have to be transparent."3 -
Commenting on the theme of possible reactions and continued boosters. For starters, do note that I am fully Pfizer vaxxed through booster. That said, I have not had "extreme" reactions, but still the talk of a 4th shot does not have me excited...... Hopefully, I will be in a positive frame of mind by then.
I know of a couple people with unusual medical situations shortly after getting vaccinated. I am curious about their booster decisions. I will have to ask.3 -
@allother94,
It's mind boggling that people are still not choosing to get vaccinated. They must be seeing all of this play out?? But instead of turning unvaccinated people away at the hospitals, why don't they turn them away everywhere else? Maybe it'd force their hand a bit more. JMO3 -
allother94 wrote: »Heard a report (NPR news) today about a hospital where they test everyone on arrival, no matter what has brought them to the hospital/ER, no matter whether Covid-symptomatic or not. With the Omicron wave, 1 in 7 people coming into the hospital are testing positive. The test report comes back after they've been in the hospital for a while, if only in the ER.
Those presenting for other conditions, with no Covid symptoms, have by that time encountered various staff members who are not in full Covid-precautions mode. It's leading to an increase in cases among the staff, usually minor because staff are vaccinated. Even so, staff need to isolate for a minimum of 5 days, so even more staffing shortages are resulting.
There are a lot of moving parts to all of these systems, and new circumstances cause new complications/problems.
Another reason to stay away from the ER if you don't truly need to be there is the potential to contract Covid from fellow patients in the ER. Obviously, don't stay away if you have a serious medical problem. It's a balance of risks question.
Very true! If one doesn’t have Covid then there is a high chance of catching it by coming in. Everyone who has had a potential exposure or respiratory symptoms even if not Covid are lumped together in our Covid tent, because we can’t put them with the general population.
We are short staffed again tomorrow. It sucks. And patients complain so much about the wait times not realizing we get no breaks, bend over backwards for them, and put our health on the line. This pandemic has really made me lose faith in humanity as a whole.
My current stance is that hospitals should turn away unvaccinated patients and not offer testing. That should solve the CoVid hospital problem.
Why don’t hospitals have an online checking and waiting system? I know emergencies are just that, but what good does it do sitting in a room for 10 hours when you can stay at home until you can be seen?
The ER is for emergencies. By definition, you can't schedule an emergency. In your scenario you schedule time in an ER for something and 5 minutes before you get there 20 patients bleeding out from a school bus accident arrive with more on the way and 5 people involved in drive-by shooting show up. Then you are waiting again.7 -
rheddmobile wrote: »I actually can’t overstate how nightmarish it was sitting in a walk-in refrigerator being ignored for seven hours. My ribs hurt the next day from shivering so hard. The hospital system keeps sending me “Please fill out our survey and let us know how you would describe your visit” forms but I haven’t filled them out because the whole experience seems unreal. Three words to describe my ER experience, really? Nightmarish? Third world countryish? Apocalyptic? Don’t ask if you don’t want to hear the answer! And this is a world class medical facility in a city known for its good hospitals.
That sounds horrifying.
By contrast, in October 2020 (cases low here) I went to our ER as a then 56 year old woman with chest pain. Although I was clear that I'd had the pain for a month at that point and it was sternum pain related to movement (I thought I'd pulled a muscle badly), I was immediately tested for possible heart attack. Diagnosis was eventually costochondritis.
March 2021 (record high cases here) I am back in ER with severe abdominal pain. Since this is a possible Covid symptom I have to sit in the Covid side of the waiting room. I am the only person in the waiting room. As I get shuffled back and forth for various tests I end up twice in exam rooms with people who report having Covid; I don't become infected. I think I got to ER around 11 AM and 3 AM the following morning I get emergency surgery.
And, as a lifter, anyone who has to stick a needle into me comments that I have "really good veins"
4 -
I just saw a report on the local news site that cloth masks are not effective against omicron. In order of protection they suggested: N95, KN95, or surgical masks.3
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