The Importance of Being Honest With Your ER Doctor
One of the most important factors in the physician / patient relationship is honesty, especially when entering an emergency room. Doctors expect their patients to be truthful so they can provide appropriate care. Some patients are not honest with their ER doctor, whether due to shock, anxiety, embarrassment, or fear.
But a 2018 study has revealed that as many as 80% of all patients lie or withhold information from their providers. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), identified many reasons for patients not fully disclosing information to their doctors.
Unfortunately, that understanding is not always clear. But why is this the case? Keep reading to learn why being honest with your ER doctor can be vital and even save your life.
Obtaining Immediate Medical Care
The fact is that emergency rooms are extremely busy, especially on the weekends when more than health-related emergencies enter the clinic. This is why emergency room staff will work with a doctor to see who is at immediate risk and thus needs to be taken care of first.
Because people don't want to feel like a burden, the natural action of a person is to diminish the severity of their symptoms. This can lead the ER doctor to make the decision to place other people ahead of you. Although it is never a good idea to play off your symptoms to seem worse than they are, you need to be honest about the level of pain you are in.
Potentially Paying More
There's no doubt about it; going to a regular doctor's visit can be expensive, let alone visiting an emergency room. Because a high number of people are uninsured, this often leads to people not being honest with their ER doctor about their need for care. The reality is that an ER is going to provide you with medical assistance, whether you have insurance or not. You will then be liable for the bill after you leave the hospital.
Handling Medical Bills
For many already struggling financially, this can be highly devastating. This is why patients may downplay their pain and medical history to attempt to lower that bill. However, not being straightforward with what you need often leads to further ER visits that increase medical bills. In addition, most people don't know that there are programs that can help a person without insurance pay for their medical bills.
Hiding Your Condition Out of Fear
No matter how embarrassing your injury or health condition seems to you, we can bet that a doctor has dealt with it hundreds of times before. In some cases, a person may have taken an illegal substance which their body is now not accepting, and thus issues such as extreme pain and vomiting may occur.
Fearing that they are going to be sent to jail or that the doctor is going to tell their family, they may not be forthcoming with the type of drug they have taken. This can be extremely dangerous as ER doctors and medical staff need to know what they are working with to provide the best possible solution.
Staying On Top of Your Preventative Care Routine
Despite the spike in COVID-19 cases across Texas, it's important to remember routine checkups and health screenings are an essential part of your health. Cancer, diabetes, and other chronic diseases require regular visits to a health facility, depending on your condition's nature.
Additionally, some patients make an annual visit to their doctor as a preventative measure. Keeping up with your physical health can help prevent a medical emergency.
Freestanding Emergency Room in Dallas
Day or night, the staff at ER of Texas is standing by to provide the highest quality emergency medical care. We have the same services found in hospital emergency rooms and meet or exceed all emergency room requirements.
Contact us today if you are experiencing a medical emergency. Frequently Asked Questions about emergency room visits, health insurance, difference between ER & urgent care.
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