ER... but where was George Clooney?

Well it all started at 3PM yesterday afternoon when we decided we needed to make a trip to the emergency room.

The sign outside the ER says children are not allowed to enter during the flu season, unless of course they are sick , and also pregnant women. Only one person is allowed to accompany each patient. Masks and hand sanitizer are in full supply for all that enter. It is obvious that the dreaded H1N1 has made its ugly appearance in our city.

There was lots of coughing and honking going on and we sure hope we did not bring any of those mean little germs home with us.
Yikees!

The place was packed. Valet parking was full and the regular parking deck was bursting at the seams. The ambulance docks were full to capacity and they were waiting in line to unload their patients. The place was hopping and bopping. It seemed to be the most happening place in town!


I put on a mask and took a seat in an empty area that had a TV. I mean how lucky could we be to have part of the waiting room all to ourselves. People would walk in and take one look at me with the mask and run. I did not think I looked all that bad in the mask. As I look at the photo now I wonder if they were running from my poor choice of bra! Little did I know that there was the following sign posted right as you walked into this part of the waiting room.

The clock was ticking and the hours were flying and we were going no place. For entertainment they play Brahms Lullaby over the loud speaker each time a baby is born in the hospital and those babies seemed to be flying out of the womb up on the maternity ward. Well, that is one way to stimulate the economy! I could write a book about all the symptoms and bathrobes that were marching in and out of this ER. At 6 PM a representative came out to apologize for the long wait and to assure everyone that they would be seen in a timely manner. I guess he has never read the meaning of the word emergency.

Since I already had the pleasure of meeting with an ENT teenage mutant Dr. last week, who Sue from RueMouffatard.blogspot referred to as Doogie Howser, M.D. (am I getting older or are these doctors getting younger?)

I was sort of hoping to see George Clooney come through the doors to usher us back into the patient area. Now George Clooney could raise anyone's blood pressure. No such luck! Instead we were greeted by a nice female doctor who was sweet and kind and very knowledgeable.

Was the wait worth it? You betcha because this story has a happy ending. Minor health issues with a follow up doctors appointment for the patient. We were in the car on the way home by 10PM. Only 7 hours from start to finish. Makes us wonder just what is going to happen if we have government run health care in the future. If that happens we will be sure to bring a tent to camp out for days instead of hours.

* We are thankful for all the wonderful nurses and doctors who serve in the ER each and every day!

** except for the two photos I took I have no idea who took the other 3 photos but they deserve credit whoever they are.