Before I took this position in the ghetto city-run hospital, I was told that I would never survive. That I would be "eaten alive" as one co-worker said. I knew I could handle the staff. What I find trouble with is some of the clientele.
Some of our surgical staff have recently been highlighted on a edition of 20/20. One of our trauma surgeons operated on a 15 year old girl who had been shot by her boyfriend who then turned the gun on himself. She was saved by a metal plate that had been put in her shoulder from a previous collar bone break.
A few months ago, a 50-something-year -old mother died in our OR from a gun shot wound. The gun was shot by a rival gang member of her son who was retaliating for a previous shooting on his gang. When the son found out his mother had passed, he proceeded to trash our waiting room, breaking vending machines, time clocks, and doors and throwing chairs through the windows.
And just recently, our emergency room was filled with 12 gun shot wounds in one night. Two rival gangs had a shoot out in a suburb, injuring each other in the extremities and buttocks. The fight continued in our emergency room waiting room. Our security and the city police had to stop the violence in our own hospital. For the next few days we took care of the wounds surgically as they were not life threatening enough to be brought that night up to the OR.
We frequently get transfers from hospitals as far away as 200 miles! Either because the patient can't pay, they can't handle the injuries, or our stand alone hospital just has better care. And why wouldn't we. We see the worst of the worst.
So, to all the gang members and promoters of gun violence, why do you beat each other up and try to kill others and then bring your crap to us? Why should we have to clean up your mess. As far as I'm concerned, if you want to act like that, you can keep it ! This hospital is a place of rest and recovery. Our customers deserve to have a comfortable place to heal. Our hospital is one of charity and respect. We do millions of dollars of care that never gets paid. And we are lucky if we get any reimbursement from the city or state government ( and our governor tried to limit reimbursements). Most of our patients are uninsured and that is why we see them. It is only after they have found out they have life threatening health concerns that they walk through our doors. I truly believe that every person deserves quality health care. Sometimes, situations stand in the way.
So, where is the burden? I'll let you decide.
My friends always call when they have health issue and ask if they should go (my hospital's) emergency room. And I always respond with this:
If you are dying or you are losing a limb, go there. If not, go someplace else. You'll sit in the ER for hours because of people with more pressing health issues.
