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ERs in the US primarily act as triage and stabilization centers for emergencies. Treatment for chronic illness or preventative care can't reliably be found in a

by 49531 7y ago

ERs in the US primarily act as triage and stabilization centers for emergencies. Treatment for chronic illness or preventative care can't reliably be found in an ER. An anecdote, the last time I had to go to an ER in the US was when I cut the flexor tendon in my pinky, I knew it was severed but since it wasn't life threatening they stopped the bleeding, put some liquid stitches in the cut, wrapped and braced it and sent me on my way. I had to wait until the weekend was over to see my primary care doctor which I have access to because I have insurance / money.

gruez 7y ago
> ERs in the US primarily act as triage and stabilization centers for emergencies. Treatment for chronic illness or preventative care can't reliably be found in an ER. I get that, but how is that relevant when it comes to the coronavirus? It's not like it's a chronic condition. If you had it and were experiencing pneumonia, I doubt you'd be turned away for being undocumented.
- jvagner 7y ago
  the uncertainty principle applies here.. undocumented workers won't seek medical assistance if they're unsure of what will happen when they show up at a medical facility.
- MikeTheGreat 7y ago
  This is my understanding, but I'd love to hear what others have to say: My understanding is that the coronavirus is viral, not microbial, so we don't have any medicine to cure it directly (antibiotics don't work on it). In addition, the risk is from having a respiratory problem, either from this or from something else (like pneumonia). So if you get coronavirus then the basic treatment is to put you in a hospital to help your body live through the respiratory problem until your body can fight off the virus on it's own. That's why there's so much emphasis on slowing the growth and flattening the curve. If (when) all the hospital beds fill up then whoever doesn't get in will have a much tougher time surviving, and there's no treatment other than having people lay in a hospital bed for a couple weeks. tl;dr: It's not a chronic condition, but you'll need several weeks of intensive care to survive. ERs themselves just diagnose, treat what they can in the moment, and then send people home or on to the hospital.

by 49531 7y ago

gruez 7y ago

> ERs in the US primarily act as triage and stabilization centers for emergencies. Treatment for chronic illness or preventative care can't reliably be found in an ER. I get that, but how is that relevant when it comes to the coronavirus? It's not like it's a chronic condition. If you had it and were experiencing pneumonia, I doubt you'd be turned away for being undocumented.

jvagner 7y ago
the uncertainty principle applies here.. undocumented workers won't seek medical assistance if they're unsure of what will happen when they show up at a medical facility.
MikeTheGreat 7y ago
This is my understanding, but I'd love to hear what others have to say: My understanding is that the coronavirus is viral, not microbial, so we don't have any medicine to cure it directly (antibiotics don't work on it). In addition, the risk is from having a respiratory problem, either from this or from something else (like pneumonia). So if you get coronavirus then the basic treatment is to put you in a hospital to help your body live through the respiratory problem until your body can fight off the virus on it's own. That's why there's so much emphasis on slowing the growth and flattening the curve. If (when) all the hospital beds fill up then whoever doesn't get in will have a much tougher time surviving, and there's no treatment other than having people lay in a hospital bed for a couple weeks. tl;dr: It's not a chronic condition, but you'll need several weeks of intensive care to survive. ERs themselves just diagnose, treat what they can in the moment, and then send people home or on to the hospital.