Why do clinics etc get to send people to the ER w/out consulting with the Emergency Medicine specialist first?

EMTALA, I know. Just doing a role reversal thought experiment. Roll with me here.

What if things were different? What if you had to page us and wait for 30 minutes for us to call you back to discuss the case you want to send our way?

What if when we did call back we belittled you for wanting to send something that maybe isn't in your wheelhouse and makes you a little uncomfortable, but CLEARLY ISN'T AN EMERGENCY?

That would be awfully awful. I would hate that for you and your patient. There would be extra steps and delays in patient care. You'd have to ask us for our help. Knowledge gaps might be exposed.

It would just be

So just keep giving a directive to YOUR patients to go to the ER without records, report, or even a heads up. We'll figure it out. We always do.

We are always happy to help. Consultants should be, too.

For those happy to help consultants, I you.

#emergencymedicine #AnyPatientAnyTime

Lots of comments from GPs about how they try to do the right thing. You folks are not the problem. For me, UCs and specialists tend to be the ones not calling. Patients show up thinking that we were expecting them and get very upset when they have to wait like everyone else.

Hard to salvage that visit at times bc the pt or fam is so angry. Then they get a survey in the mail that they use to vent their frustration, which reflects poorly on me even though it was the person that referred them that dropped the ball.

Please set reasonable expectations for the pt/family (i.e. no red carpet, not whisked straight back unless ill) and call or send records with the pt.

If you do this already, thank you so much.