1 /5 Lindsay Rogers: I came to this ER with symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure, including lethargy, lightheadedness, difficulty breathing, nausea, and a headache. While the actual medical care I received was appropriate, my overall experience was frustrating due to poor initial triage, dismissive attitudes, and hostage-like delays in discharge.
Upon arrival, I was not immediately assessed or even asked what was wrong. Instead, I was told to sit and wait, despite experiencing symptoms that could have led to unconsciousness. It took 30 minutes to get into an ER room and another 15-20 minutes before I was seen by a doctor—a concerning delay for a potentially life-threatening condition. Once I was in a room, I received oxygen therapy, an EKG, X-rays, and a CT scan. However, the physician I saw was patronizing and dismissive, questioning how I knew my home’s CO levels despite my detector alarming at over 300 ppm. The most frustrating part was at discharge. Despite being medically stable, I was prevented from leaving until the fire department checked my home. When I was finally allowed to leave, staff made dismissive remarks about my concerns, further underscoring their lack of patient-centered care.
The medical care itself was fine, but the poor triage process, dismissive physician, and refusal to respect my autonomy made this a stressful and disappointing experience. I would not return to this ER unless absolutely necessary.
