Poll: how old are your kids and how many times have they been to the ER in their life?

[Anonymous]

9 yo girl: 0 ER, 1 urgent care visit for a scratched cornea
5 yo girl: 0 ER, 0 urgent care

[Anonymous]

50+ times, chronic illness

[Anonymous]

15: 1 (she popped her knee out of joint at age 9 and wouldn’t move so called an ambulance)
12: 0

[Anonymous]

Age 1: 2 visits (allergic reaction at 6 months, broken arm at 1.5)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:5:0
7:1

My observation is that some people go to the emergency room for everything. We have some friends whose kids (ages 5 and 3) have each been to the emergency room at least 8 times. These kids don't have chronic health issues or underlying conditions. They just think that a fever that lasts more than a day or two or a cough that persists more than a week deserves an emergency room visit. To me, that's a "call the nurse hotline, or worst case go to urgent care" situation. Usually we contact the nurse hotline through our pediatrician and get some good advice for treatment plus reassurance about what actually requires an ER visit, and it's fine.

My feeling is that the ER should be for: unexplained lethargy, trouble breathing (always), sudden injury (anything that makes you worry about a concussion or broken bone), or the weird kid incidents like an item lodged in an ear or nose, assuming you can't get into a pediatrician which these days you can't.

We don't go to the ER for cold symptoms, even bad ones, and we don't even go for flu/RSV type illness unless something escalates (like breathing issues). Most of the time, I think kids are best served by staying home, resting, and being cared for by a family member, not sitting in a hospital all night.

Same. My mom's group is notorious for this. "Oh no- I think my 4 year old might have RSV- time to head to ER!" It is such a waste of ER resources. I just don't get what people think the ER is going to do for their child *unless the child has breathing problems or it's life threatening*. I wish the ER could triage people like this to an urgent care instead.

PP here and thank you for validating. I was actually feeling really judgmental about my comment because I am judging my friends for how often they go. But yes, this is why it bothers me -- they are using up resources that really should be reserved for actual life threatening emergencies just because they are overzealous about health issues with their kids. To me it feels entitled, like "Well of course MY child should be seen immediately and receive ER care for whatever we want." I feel like some of this when you are a first time parent and are unsure where the line is makes some sense, but when experienced parents with multiple kids are heading to the ER "just in case" I get annoyed. ERs are constantly overcrowded and this is why. It's time to learn some basics about what symptoms require emergency care, and also to do some research on alternative options like urgent care or nurse hotlines.

Well, just so you know, 95% of people in the ER aren’t having a medical emergency. It is mostly filled with homeless/displaced people using it as a pseudo shelter or people seeking opioids.

Based on my visit a few months ago (with a kid we thought might have a broken bone), no.

DP, but you know there’s actual data on ED/healthcare utilization, right? Your single visit anecdote is fine but it’s just that, an anecdote. Interestingly, ED trends vary by geographic location, rurality, insurance status of patients, and a host of other factors: https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_legacy_files/199046/ED-report-to-Congress.pdf#page5

That report is overly long, but at least it gives a sense of how complicated this issue is. So, sure, people shouldn’t rush to the ED at the drop of a hat, but it’s also not great to judge other parents for doing so and blame them for our systemic healthcare failures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:5:0
7:1

My observation is that some people go to the emergency room for everything. We have some friends whose kids (ages 5 and 3) have each been to the emergency room at least 8 times. These kids don't have chronic health issues or underlying conditions. They just think that a fever that lasts more than a day or two or a cough that persists more than a week deserves an emergency room visit. To me, that's a "call the nurse hotline, or worst case go to urgent care" situation. Usually we contact the nurse hotline through our pediatrician and get some good advice for treatment plus reassurance about what actually requires an ER visit, and it's fine.

My feeling is that the ER should be for: unexplained lethargy, trouble breathing (always), sudden injury (anything that makes you worry about a concussion or broken bone), or the weird kid incidents like an item lodged in an ear or nose, assuming you can't get into a pediatrician which these days you can't.

We don't go to the ER for cold symptoms, even bad ones, and we don't even go for flu/RSV type illness unless something escalates (like breathing issues). Most of the time, I think kids are best served by staying home, resting, and being cared for by a family member, not sitting in a hospital all night.

Same. My mom's group is notorious for this. "Oh no- I think my 4 year old might have RSV- time to head to ER!" It is such a waste of ER resources. I just don't get what people think the ER is going to do for their child *unless the child has breathing problems or it's life threatening*. I wish the ER could triage people like this to an urgent care instead.

PP here and thank you for validating. I was actually feeling really judgmental about my comment because I am judging my friends for how often they go. But yes, this is why it bothers me -- they are using up resources that really should be reserved for actual life threatening emergencies just because they are overzealous about health issues with their kids. To me it feels entitled, like "Well of course MY child should be seen immediately and receive ER care for whatever we want." I feel like some of this when you are a first time parent and are unsure where the line is makes some sense, but when experienced parents with multiple kids are heading to the ER "just in case" I get annoyed. ERs are constantly overcrowded and this is why. It's time to learn some basics about what symptoms require emergency care, and also to do some research on alternative options like urgent care or nurse hotlines.

Well, just so you know, 95% of people in the ER aren’t having a medical emergency. It is mostly filled with homeless/displaced people using it as a pseudo shelter or people seeking opioids.

Based on my visit a few months ago (with a kid we thought might have a broken bone), no.

DP, but you know there’s actual data on ED/healthcare utilization, right? Your single visit anecdote is fine but it’s just that, an anecdote. Interestingly, ED trends vary by geographic location, rurality, insurance status of patients, and a host of other factors: https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_legacy_files/199046/ED-report-to-Congress.pdf#page5

That report is overly long, but at least it gives a sense of how complicated this issue is. So, sure, people shouldn’t rush to the ED at the drop of a hat, but it’s also not great to judge other parents for doing so and blame them for our systemic healthcare failures.

Of course. But that's why PPs overly-broad statement is dumb:

Well, just so you know, 95% of people in the ER aren’t having a medical emergency. It is mostly filled with homeless/displaced people using it as a pseudo shelter or people seeking opioids.

[Anonymous]

21 year old: 0
17 year old: 2 (displaced elbow at age 2; dehydration while sick and traveling at age 6)

[Anonymous]

14 year old: 1 (though didn’t initially go but urgent care sent her there to set her broken arm)

12 year old: 0 (this one shocks me as he has severe food allergies but thank goodness no visits so far)

[Anonymous]

DD: 14 twice - one time for retina injury (that they misdiagnosed) and one time as an infant for virus that required i.v. fluids
DD: 11 once - pneumonia as an infant

[Anonymous]

3 year old - none
3 month old - 1 for RSV

[Anonymous]

6 year old - 15ish, all for croup. 3 of those were ambulance rides for severe croup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:5:0
7:1

My observation is that some people go to the emergency room for everything. We have some friends whose kids (ages 5 and 3) have each been to the emergency room at least 8 times. These kids don't have chronic health issues or underlying conditions. They just think that a fever that lasts more than a day or two or a cough that persists more than a week deserves an emergency room visit. To me, that's a "call the nurse hotline, or worst case go to urgent care" situation. Usually we contact the nurse hotline through our pediatrician and get some good advice for treatment plus reassurance about what actually requires an ER visit, and it's fine.

My feeling is that the ER should be for: unexplained lethargy, trouble breathing (always), sudden injury (anything that makes you worry about a concussion or broken bone), or the weird kid incidents like an item lodged in an ear or nose, assuming you can't get into a pediatrician which these days you can't.

We don't go to the ER for cold symptoms, even bad ones, and we don't even go for flu/RSV type illness unless something escalates (like breathing issues). Most of the time, I think kids are best served by staying home, resting, and being cared for by a family member, not sitting in a hospital all night.

We went to the ER at the advice of our pediatrician's nurses line for cold symptoms, so it seems like your rules aren't actually that clear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:5:0
7:1

My observation is that some people go to the emergency room for everything. We have some friends whose kids (ages 5 and 3) have each been to the emergency room at least 8 times. These kids don't have chronic health issues or underlying conditions. They just think that a fever that lasts more than a day or two or a cough that persists more than a week deserves an emergency room visit. To me, that's a "call the nurse hotline, or worst case go to urgent care" situation. Usually we contact the nurse hotline through our pediatrician and get some good advice for treatment plus reassurance about what actually requires an ER visit, and it's fine.

My feeling is that the ER should be for: unexplained lethargy, trouble breathing (always), sudden injury (anything that makes you worry about a concussion or broken bone), or the weird kid incidents like an item lodged in an ear or nose, assuming you can't get into a pediatrician which these days you can't.

We don't go to the ER for cold symptoms, even bad ones, and we don't even go for flu/RSV type illness unless something escalates (like breathing issues). Most of the time, I think kids are best served by staying home, resting, and being cared for by a family member, not sitting in a hospital all night.

We went to the ER at the advice of our pediatrician's nurses line for cold symptoms, so it seems like your rules aren't actually that clear.

This is true. Our ped always told us to go to the ER when DS was a baby, even though it seemed silly to us. Plus, it costs a fortune. But the one time I didn't go and took him to a clinic instead, the clinic insisted I go straight to the ER or call an ambulance (breathing issues), and I felt like the worst mom. Of course, when we got to the ER they said he was fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:5:0
7:1

My observation is that some people go to the emergency room for everything. We have some friends whose kids (ages 5 and 3) have each been to the emergency room at least 8 times. These kids don't have chronic health issues or underlying conditions. They just think that a fever that lasts more than a day or two or a cough that persists more than a week deserves an emergency room visit. To me, that's a "call the nurse hotline, or worst case go to urgent care" situation. Usually we contact the nurse hotline through our pediatrician and get some good advice for treatment plus reassurance about what actually requires an ER visit, and it's fine.

My feeling is that the ER should be for: unexplained lethargy, trouble breathing (always), sudden injury (anything that makes you worry about a concussion or broken bone), or the weird kid incidents like an item lodged in an ear or nose, assuming you can't get into a pediatrician which these days you can't.

We don't go to the ER for cold symptoms, even bad ones, and we don't even go for flu/RSV type illness unless something escalates (like breathing issues). Most of the time, I think kids are best served by staying home, resting, and being cared for by a family member, not sitting in a hospital all night.

Same. My mom's group is notorious for this. "Oh no- I think my 4 year old might have RSV- time to head to ER!" It is such a waste of ER resources. I just don't get what people think the ER is going to do for their child *unless the child has breathing problems or it's life threatening*. I wish the ER could triage people like this to an urgent care instead.

PP here and thank you for validating. I was actually feeling really judgmental about my comment because I am judging my friends for how often they go. But yes, this is why it bothers me -- they are using up resources that really should be reserved for actual life threatening emergencies just because they are overzealous about health issues with their kids. To me it feels entitled, like "Well of course MY child should be seen immediately and receive ER care for whatever we want." I feel like some of this when you are a first time parent and are unsure where the line is makes some sense, but when experienced parents with multiple kids are heading to the ER "just in case" I get annoyed. ERs are constantly overcrowded and this is why. It's time to learn some basics about what symptoms require emergency care, and also to do some research on alternative options like urgent care or nurse hotlines.

Well, just so you know, 95% of people in the ER aren’t having a medical emergency. It is mostly filled with homeless/displaced people using it as a pseudo shelter or people seeking opioids.

Based on my visit a few months ago (with a kid we thought might have a broken bone), no.

DP, but you know there’s actual data on ED/healthcare utilization, right? Your single visit anecdote is fine but it’s just that, an anecdote. Interestingly, ED trends vary by geographic location, rurality, insurance status of patients, and a host of other factors: https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_legacy_files/199046/ED-report-to-Congress.pdf#page5

That report is overly long, but at least it gives a sense of how complicated this issue is. So, sure, people shouldn’t rush to the ED at the drop of a hat, but it’s also not great to judge other parents for doing so and blame them for our systemic healthcare failures.

Of course. But that's why PPs overly-broad statement is dumb:

Well, just so you know, 95% of people in the ER aren’t having a medical emergency. It is mostly filled with homeless/displaced people using it as a pseudo shelter or people seeking opioids.

No, it's mostly people who just don't have insurance and can't go anywhere until it really is an emergency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:5:0
7:1

My observation is that some people go to the emergency room for everything. We have some friends whose kids (ages 5 and 3) have each been to the emergency room at least 8 times. These kids don't have chronic health issues or underlying conditions. They just think that a fever that lasts more than a day or two or a cough that persists more than a week deserves an emergency room visit. To me, that's a "call the nurse hotline, or worst case go to urgent care" situation. Usually we contact the nurse hotline through our pediatrician and get some good advice for treatment plus reassurance about what actually requires an ER visit, and it's fine.

My feeling is that the ER should be for: unexplained lethargy, trouble breathing (always), sudden injury (anything that makes you worry about a concussion or broken bone), or the weird kid incidents like an item lodged in an ear or nose, assuming you can't get into a pediatrician which these days you can't.

We don't go to the ER for cold symptoms, even bad ones, and we don't even go for flu/RSV type illness unless something escalates (like breathing issues). Most of the time, I think kids are best served by staying home, resting, and being cared for by a family member, not sitting in a hospital all night.

Same. My mom's group is notorious for this. "Oh no- I think my 4 year old might have RSV- time to head to ER!" It is such a waste of ER resources. I just don't get what people think the ER is going to do for their child *unless the child has breathing problems or it's life threatening*. I wish the ER could triage people like this to an urgent care instead.

PP here and thank you for validating. I was actually feeling really judgmental about my comment because I am judging my friends for how often they go. But yes, this is why it bothers me -- they are using up resources that really should be reserved for actual life threatening emergencies just because they are overzealous about health issues with their kids. To me it feels entitled, like "Well of course MY child should be seen immediately and receive ER care for whatever we want." I feel like some of this when you are a first time parent and are unsure where the line is makes some sense, but when experienced parents with multiple kids are heading to the ER "just in case" I get annoyed. ERs are constantly overcrowded and this is why. It's time to learn some basics about what symptoms require emergency care, and also to do some research on alternative options like urgent care or nurse hotlines.

Well, just so you know, 95% of people in the ER aren’t having a medical emergency. It is mostly filled with homeless/displaced people using it as a pseudo shelter or people seeking opioids.

Based on my visit a few months ago (with a kid we thought might have a broken bone), no.

DP, but you know there’s actual data on ED/healthcare utilization, right? Your single visit anecdote is fine but it’s just that, an anecdote. Interestingly, ED trends vary by geographic location, rurality, insurance status of patients, and a host of other factors: https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_legacy_files/199046/ED-report-to-Congress.pdf#page5

That report is overly long, but at least it gives a sense of how complicated this issue is. So, sure, people shouldn’t rush to the ED at the drop of a hat, but it’s also not great to judge other parents for doing so and blame them for our systemic healthcare failures.

Of course. But that's why PPs overly-broad statement is dumb:

Well, just so you know, 95% of people in the ER aren’t having a medical emergency. It is mostly filled with homeless/displaced people using it as a pseudo shelter or people seeking opioids.

Sure - and other PPs’ statements blaming overanxious parents are equally dumb.