Do you go to the ER for things such as colds, flu, etc... Or do you only go to the ER when it is an actual emergency? (broken bones, accidents, etc...)

The poll is weird, but the question is do you go to the Emergency room for the flu, cold, or other "nonemergent" care?

Just emergencies.

For DH, Savannah, Chris and I it's only actual emergencies. If its for one of us, i will make sure that I get there in time for the urgent care clinic. Gabe I will take in for any reason.

Just emergencies.

:yes:yes:yes

just for emergencies

i will take my kids if they are running fevers after doctors office hours, and they have to be uncontrollable fevers 103 and above. we have done ear infections in the ER, lots of strep throat and stitches. and with my youngest having asthma i will haven't had to but would for breathing issues. and OH yeah an allergic reaction to PCN.

Only for emergencies. I don't go to the Dr. unless I absolutly have too also.

Only for emergencies. I don't go to the Dr. unless I absolutly have too also.

Same here.

Only for emergencies. I don't go to the Dr. unless I absolutly have too also.

ditio!

I'd never go to Casualty unless there was a real emergency.

We have the after hrs doctor over here, and they can come to your house so there has never been a need unless they have referred us to go to the hospital- or there is an emergency.

I don't see the point wasting their time when it's just a simple cold.

Just for emergencies (such as extra high fever, broken bones, etc). The last time I went to the ER was the day after last Thanksgiving because I was extremely dizzy and couldn't make it stop (plus I was 18 wks preggo). Turned out I was dehydrated and my potassium levels were low (coincidental....they made me take banana pills :D )

I've only been to the ER once in 6 years when I was having chest pains. I only go for urgent things when I can't be seen soon enough by a regular provider.

Just emergencies.

:agree, it makes me mad when people take advantage of it ...

just emergencies

Just emergencies

:agree, it makes me mad when people take advantage of it ...

Me too!

There are people with real problems that deserve to be treated faster.

Seriously- :rolleyes hospitals are for seriously ill or injured people.

Runny noses, common colds, flus or fevers don't cut it.

I understand why kids would need to go in- but for adults.. just plain annoying.

Me too!

There are people with real problems that deserve to be treated faster.

Seriously- :rolleyes hospitals are for seriously ill or injured people.

Runny noses, common colds, flus or fevers don't cut it.

I understand why kids would need to go in- but for adults.. just plain annoying.

Then those people wonder why it takes so long to be seen.

I know with civilian care, a lot of people will go to the ER because they don't have insurance. At least here it is that way.

I read people's medical records for a living....I am continually amazed at what people go to the ER for and even regular doctor visits for minor things that could be treated at home.

Yeah I only go if I really need to.

And even then- I'm pushed into it.

I am absolutely petrified of the doctors. I'd rather ask a psychic if I'm dying or not. Infact......I did :giggle

just emergencies my bad I clicked yes instead of no woops lol

other- it depends on how soon i can get into the doctor. If its going to be a week before I can get an appointment, I'll go to the ER or Urgent Care. If its something not so serious, I'll wait it out.

:agree, it makes me mad when people take advantage of it ...

Yes!!!!! I went to the emergency room when I was having an ectopic rupture...I was in EXTREME pain....internal bleeding...etc. I got into the ER lobby - at the desk there is a teenage girl talking to the receptionist - Standing with an attitude - her mom was right next to her. The receptionist asked her to rate her pain from 1 to 10. Honestly, she looked perfectly normal - standing on her own, glaring at her mother, hand on hip....she says 8 - OH PLEASE!!!!! Here I am about to pass out from the pain I was having - the receptionist told her to step aside - got me a wheelchair and wheeled me into a room. No telling how long that girl waited with her '8' level pain.

Just emergencies, unless it's something urgent, DD's pediatrician is full and THEY tell me to take her in cuz it's something that shouldn't wait. I had to take her into the ER for pink eye one time cuz peds was full for the day and they told me to go to the ER cuz it was something that shouldn't wait. But I sure felt dumb being in the ER for pink eye...

Just emergencies... and like DIRE DIRE DIRE emergencies!

When I broke my foot playing D3 soccer in college... I didn't go to the ER for about 72 hrs bc I didn't think it was that big of an emergency and was just gonna see if it got better on it's own, then just go to the reg doc. But my roommates dragged me to the ER cuz I couldn't walk on it at all.

Never unless it's an emergency. I don't even see the doctor if it's a cold/flu etc. unless it's BAD and usually only for my children when it's bad.

I've broken my foot and had a bad bicycle accident and I didn't go to the ER for either of those, we just went to the doctor. The only time I've gone to the ER was when I was pregnant and had bleeding at 6 weeks then again when I had placental abruption.

i went once when i was pregnant with kylie. it was a sunday and i had a really bad cold or the flu and i was coughing so hard i was puking. don't know if that would technically be considered an emergency, but they gave me a breathing treatment and meds right away.

other than that the only time i've been is for broken bones i think.

No, however if you can't get an appointment on this mother effin post, the ER is the only other option.

Just emergences.

I did have to go because I had pink eye and no Dr in this area. Tri care let John sign me up with a Dr. that isn't accepting new patients. They couldn't get me another dr for a few days and I needed care that day.

Emergencies only.

i have gone to urgent care, but not the ER unless it was a true emergency...DF had to take me when i was having seizures and i was really out of it...he was so strong for me...:smitten

I mainly use the ER for emergencies only.. unless one of the kids is running a SUPER high temp and then I will take then in..

No. We only go if the kids are really sick, having asthma attacks, injured, etc. The rest of the time, we hold off & go to the clinic when we can.

I only go if the kids are really sick and I can not get into urgent care. I usually talk with the nurse first. For myself I have only been to the ER once and that was for a fainting moment. Dh thought I had a seizure so we went to make sure it wasn't one.

Only emergencies for the most part. I've gone in because I was really sick but that was because I was BAD and the doc said they didn't have any appointments, not even sick appointsments for 2 weeks.

I don't think many people like to go to the ER just for shits and giggles, so I think most people who go in think that they do have a situation that requires ER care. My uncle doesn't have insurance so his family has to go to the ER to be seen, I think. I'm not sure if I totally agree with it, but that's his reasoning for always going. The only times I've been to the ER were for food poisoning, dehydration from stomach flu, bleeding during pregnancy and a miscarriage. So, no, I don't take advantage of it. I do bring my kids in though if I feel that something is really wrong or if I feel that something could go wrong overnight (super high fever, dehydration from vomiting, etc). I'd rather be safe than sorry when I don't know the extent of their problem, which is sometimes hard to gauge when you're dealing with a child.

Depends. In great lakes we had a shortage of Dr's. So if you were sick it could take 3 weeks to get you in. So they would reccomend you go to the ER. So I HAVE gone for things such as that. But to my credit I did have bronchitis and was 7 weeks preggo.

For my kids I will take them to the ER if I deem it serious enough or if it is the weekend and the clinics are closed and their fever is above 103, lethargic, vomiting or the like

If they are being butts about getting me an appointment I go to the ER for things like that especially if I need meds, sometimes just going to the ER can magically make a same day appointment open up when previously there were none. but I usually only do that in Whidbey since wait times were shorter and it was a much smaller city. otherwise I loath the emergency room. rather wait it out for the appointment.

I go when it's an emergency for me, not just for everyday stuff.

If my kid is extremely ill, beyond a normal sickness I will take them in. Like a fever over 104 and they shouldn't have one because I gave them fever meds an hour previous. Or extreme vomiting with possible dehydration.

If we have no PCM and we are at a military facility, we'll go in if we need meds. (I had to do that when we PCS'd here and I needed an inhaler and Zyrtec refill for me before we flew BACK east for an emergency.)

Now when K had an asthma attack and we needed to take him to the dr. because it wasn't getting better- we went to the ER.

I HATE, LOATHE and DESPISE going to the ER, but I'll do it if I have to.

I've only went to the emergency room twice that one could say it wasn't an emergency.

Once was when I was pg with Breanna. I was in MD. and my dr. was in Ohio where I lived at the time. I got an UTI so bad that I was bleeding when I peed. Another was when we were in Ohio and my dr. was in FL where I lived at the time. I had tonsilities so I went to the ER. I thought it was my allergies at first but after a whole day of getting worse and taking allergy meds. I couldn't take it and went in.

Other than that I was in twice for car accidents, once to be admitted to the hossy (my dr. sent me and I stayed there while getting the beginnings of my treatment and them getting a room set up for me). John has never been in since we have married. Breanna and Evan have never been in.

One may also say one of the times we took Johnny wasn't an emergency.

Johnny went in twice. Once because it was after hours on a Friday and he was really sick. He had gotten some vacs. the day before so we wanted to make sure he wasn't having a reaction. And then again for his stitches.

No not for a cold or the flu. I try not to use the ER unless it can not be avoided. Like the other Sunday Monday was a holiday & Darian had an ear infection so I took him in because it was either ER that noght or Urgent care center tomorrow either way it would suck.

DM clinic sucks ass and ae constantly making me take Jacob to urgent care back when his old DR left and they neglected to reassign him.

So I put other I rarely use it but will go if there are no other options.

Just emergencies.
You have to drag me fighting too...I hate that place.
DH and his Brother had to carry me to the car half unconscious this past April and take me in due to severe pnumonia/bronchitis. I was in and out of consciousness and couldn't breath or walk. I was a fool not to go sooner and I ended up in the ER 3 times that week due to stopping breathing and fainting and scaring DH to death. I owe the hospital like 8 grand for that lovely 3 visits. If I had insurance they would have admitted me but since I don't I went home and ended up going back 3 times.
Other than that I haven't been except when I was having those panic attacks and seizure activity last year and passed out and started shaking and couldn't breathe and DH took me in.

I only go for extreme emergencies, like when I feel my life is in danger.

We only go for emergencies and if the kiddos get fevers over 103.

I work in an ER and let me tell you, I'd love to smack some people who use the ER as their personal doctor's office. There are many, MANY things that CAN wait until the morning but I always remember that patients = job security so I can't complain too much.

no I got to er if it is an emergency.

I have gone about 3x total to the ER. I won't go unless I am absolutely desperate.

I used to only go for emergencies, but at ft polk the ER was used as a walk in clinic pretty much. It was immpossible to get apts and so they would tell you to go to the ER.

I will take the kids in if they are EXTREMELY sick (high fevers, lethargic, vomiting, etc). I went to the ER for an horrid earache, turns out I had to be admitted for a week and had cellulitis of the face with a side of Bells Palsy.

Only if its a super emergency. I will go to the urgent care here if its something needing attention an I would rather not wait a few days or weeks until I get into the dr's.

Depends. In great lakes we had a shortage of Dr's. So if you were sick it could take 3 weeks to get you in. So they would reccomend you go to the ER. So I HAVE gone for things such as that. But to my credit I did have bronchitis and was 7 weeks preggo.

For my kids I will take them to the ER if I deem it serious enough or if it is the weekend and the clinics are closed and their fever is above 103, lethargic, vomiting or the like

yeah we had to use the ER for strep throat cause we couldn't get into the clinic even for sick call at the peds then nurse kent said they don't treat it anymore because antibotics are over used, HM yeah time to switch PCM's LOL

Just emergencies.....I even hate going to the regular doctor!

There is nothing more annoying then being at work ( I work in a hospital) and seeing someone come in for a bs excuse.. example..
1." My butt won't stop itching..."
2. "I have a runny nose"
3." I stubbed my toe, and it hurts...", and my very favorite..."
4. "The voices keep telling me its my birthday, they won't stop saying it..."
ER Nurse... " when is your birthday?" Her.. "today......"

I swear.... these are all things I have heard.. its soooo annoying. I can understand a sudden high temp, or intractable vomiting etc.. but I stubbed toe.. ahhhhh

only for emergencies

I could hop up onto my soapbox with this one but i'll spare everyone. i was an ER nurse for 6 years and there was nothing more frustrating then trying to take care of really sick people and sometimes dying people...and someone with a sore throat is complaining about the long wait to be seen. Or the abuse of the system...won't even go there! My best friend is still an ER nurse and when she triages a patient, she asks "what is your emergency?" lol.

well emergencies, and for other stuff when the PCP can't fit me in. Like one time DB gave me a boil :tantrum and my doctor couldn't fit me in, but i couldn't walk on that leg! so i went to the crappy minor emergency room

Yes I do. Not often but I have. I am very prone to secondary infections so if I get sick it's important to get it managed asap. I know with my asthma when I NEED to go. If my neb isn't working I have to go in regardless if I want to b/c it gets out of control fast.

if it can be treated with tylenol, lots of fluids, rest, and good dose of suck it up and quit whining, then i don't go. if it won't go away though and my dr can't get me in, then i used to go to same day care, but that was rare.

dh i tell him if he feels that bad then to go to the ER and that generally shuts up his whining. he never actually goes for things like colds etc.

Me and DH go just for emergencies. For the kids we go if its after hours & I worry waiting will make it worse and it's not just a small cold

Just for emergencies.

Just for emergencies. The reason the ER's are always so packed is because people go for stuff they should have just seen their regular DR for. But then again a lot of people use the ER as their regular DR.

I wouldnt sit in the ER's waiting room for 4 hours to just get a script or to be looked at for a cold or something around that nature when I could go the next day to my Doctor and wait only 10 min at the most.

I just go for actualy emergencies, like broken bones and things like that.

I only go for emergencies and my last one was for severe cramping at 9 weeks pregnant b/c I was worried about the baby and didnt think I could wait until the dr opened the next morning

~*~Charity~*~

Emergencies only. Or on doctor's orders.

I put other..:giggle I am not sure if UTI's are an emergency but once I get one I just go in to the ER because i know it will take me forever to get in to see my normal dr...but for any other reason I try and avoid it.

only emergencies

Only for emergencies. I don't go to the Dr. unless I absolutly have too also.

same here