When you visit the ER, you're probably not having a very good day. You may be in pain. And you want help now. But in many cases, you'll have to wait. Often, patients who come in after you get seen before you. Why does this happen?
One important thing to know is that patients in the ER are seen in the order of their medical needs. Some patients are always high priority. These are people with things like heart issues, trouble breathing and severe allergic reactions. They must be seen as quickly as possible. Without fast treatment, they could die. So even if they arrive after you, these patients need to see a doctor right away. The order people arrive at the ER is much less important than how bad their medical issues are, so people who are very sick or severely injured may not wait as long as you do.
Many other patients will have less severe problems. A broken bone or a bad cut may be painful, but not serious enough that you need immediate help. So if you're one of these patients, know that you'll be seen as soon as possible. And even if other patients are seen before you, the ER has not forgotten about you.
No one likes to wait at the ER. But as you wait, know that the doctor you're waiting to see may be saving another person's life. You're important, and you haven't been forgotten, and the doctor will see you as soon as they can.