If you are in Washington, DC, I would drive as fast as possible to the hospital you want and call them to let them know you are coming. The wait for an ambulance can be too long.

You will be seen faster if arriving by ambulance.

I'm not sure everyone understands how an ambulance actually works or the benefits of their service instead of trying to drive to the hospital. An ambulance and its drivers are Equipped to save lives the minute they make contact. These first responders alert the hospital so they are ready with necessary equipment and services to treat someone. Driving yourselves when you are dangerously sick or injured is a bad choice all around.

Triage is triage. It doesn't matter what vehicle you come in. There is a share of the population who call 911 to get a ride to the ED for things that should be routine PCP care (cold, flu). Of course, they have no car and no ability to pay for a PCP's care, so they they call 911. Believe me, these people will not be put ahead of someone with a life-threatening emergency.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Related question: if you live roughly equidistant from more than one hospital, do you know which one you'd choose in an emergency? Would it differ based on the nature of the emergency?

if you are coming by yourself this is actually important, it is worth knowing what services are offered at which of your hospitals.
If you come via EMS they should know which hospital to choose if they differ from one another..

But they don't.

From What Happens When You Call 911 in Washington...

"According to Robert Bass, a former EMS medical director in DC who now is executive director of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, which oversees Maryland’s emergency medical services, a key measure is “getting the right patient to the right hospital in the right time with the right care.”

On these critical factors, DC’s EMS is not performing well, according to a working paper published by the Rand Corporation in January 2008.

One example involves the handling of stroke victims. Washington Hospital Center is a designated stroke center with a rapid-response stroke team, yet it received just 26 percent of all EMS transports categorized as stroke. GW hospital, also a stroke center, received 15 percent of stroke calls. Providence Hospital is not a stroke center, but it received 20 percent of stroke patients.

Another example is heart attack. Washington Hospital Center, which has an emergency-catheterization laboratory and the city’s biggest heart-surgery program, received 22 percent of acute cardiac and chest-pain transports. GW hospital also has a cardiac program and received 17 percent of these patients. Yet United Medical Center, which has no cardiac-catheterization service, received nearly 16 percent of acute cardiac patients. The Rand report noted that, in general, District residents have a relatively poor rate of cardiac survival."

This is a 2009 article from the Washingtonian, regarding the EMS.

What Happens When You Call 911 in Washington?
http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/what-happens-when-you-call-911-in-washington-dc/index.php

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I could get to the ER faster than it would take for the ambulance to get to our house. SO I'd pretty much always drive.

One question, though, is once you arrive at the ER--will you be triaged faster and treated faster having arrived on a stretcher by ambulance. usually, yes.

Not only that, but in some cases, it's more important to give first aid immediately, and it's worth waiting for EMT. If the other person is bleeding, chocking, or in cardiac arrest, they could die in a 3- minute ride to the ER; but could be saved if you follow 911's directions, stay put and give first aid until EMT arrive.

I'd call 911. Even with a broken bone, if it was my daughter, I don't think I'd be able to drive safely with her wailing. And strap her into her car seat? Fuggedaboudit.

Anonymous wrote:Anecdotally, I was told of a case where people were successfully sued for driving someone to the ER when they should have called an ambulance. The Ambulance workers, theoretically, could have administered life saving care more quickly.

If it's truly an emergency, always call 911.

Now why were the people who offered help and a ride supposed to know better than the patient or the people with the patient I wonder?
It must have been a minor without parents where other adults made a wrong judgement I would assume?

Anonymous wrote:Related question: if you live roughly equidistant from more than one hospital, do you know which one you'd choose in an emergency? Would it differ based on the nature of the emergency?

if you are coming by yourself this is actually important, it is worth knowing what services are offered at which of your hospitals.
If you come via EMS they should know which hospital to choose if they differ from one another..

Don't call 911 simply to skip the line, it will not work, there are truly people who come in an ambulance with the complaint of a broken toe, and the staff has no problems sending them straight to the waiting room.

However, never hesitate to call 911 when it is appropriate; the person appears sick, chest pain, breathing problems, allergic reactions, change in consciousness, etc. A dehydrated feverish infant also falls into this category. If you are worried, or in doubt, call 911.

Also -you have to consider that your insurance may not cover the EMT/911 call and ambulance ride. So you might be on the hook for a hefty bill vs. driving to the ER.

Related question: if you live roughly equidistant from more than one hospital, do you know which one you'd choose in an emergency? Would it differ based on the nature of the emergency?

Anonymous wrote:911 most definitly. You get to skip the line when you come in an ambulance. If you are near a busy hospital like Fairfax, you can sit in the waiting room for 8 hours with a broken leg.

See, I wouldn't call 911 for a broken leg. Unless I had no way of getting to treatment on my own (no one to give me a ride) -- I'd expect to get to have to get myself or my family member to the hospital with broken bones.

Suspected broken neck or back -- I'd call 911.

Gunshot wound? I keep thinking of that Beltway Sniper victim -- the kid who was shot outside of his school. I think it was his aunt with him, and she picked him up and drove him ASAP to the hospital and that very likely saved his life versus waiting for the ambulance to get there. (But they were close)

Anonymous wrote:911 most definitly. You get to skip the line when you come in an ambulance. If you are near a busy hospital like Fairfax, you can sit in the waiting room for 8 hours with a broken leg.

I saw one woman who came in by ambulance who didn't need it (just to skip the line) and who was made to wait in the ER. Absolutely true story. She may have been a repeat offender though, I don't know.

I sure wouldn't use an ambulance if it wasn't for a real reason. Someone else might actually need it. But if I thought there was a question, I would definitely call. Better safe than sorry.