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Dying man robbed in Philadelphia ER waiting room
hosted ^ | Dec 1 | MARYCLAIRE DALE

Posted on 12/01/2009 3:01:28 PM PST by JoeProBono

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- A school counselor suffering an apparent heart attack died in a Philadelphia emergency room after waiting nearly 80 minutes for help - and a trio of homeless drug addicts nearby stole his watch instead of seeking aid, police said.

Joaquin Rivera, 63, died before seeing a triage nurse at Atria Health's Frankford Campus over the weekend, police said.

(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Society
KEYWORDS: emergencyroom; er; heartattack; hospital; jpb; triage

In a 2003 photo, Joaquin Rivera plays a guitar during a Good Friday processional. Rivera was robbed last weekend as he was dying in the waiting room of an Philadelphia emergency room


1 posted on 12/01/2009 3:01:29 PM PST by JoeProBono
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To: JoeProBono

Whether we pay or not, we’re on our own, healthcarewise, bone up on nutrition info, etc. , your gonna need it.


2 posted on 12/01/2009 3:05:27 PM PST by norraad ("What light!">Blues Brothers)
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To: JoeProBono
Rivera had walked to the Northeast Philadelphia hospital late Saturday from his home a few blocks away after pain started shooting down his right side.

He probably felt safer living near the hospital.

It is sad that he was robbed after his death, but the real tragedy seems to be that he was forced to wait for so long unsupervised. He had classic heart attack symptoms.

3 posted on 12/01/2009 3:07:48 PM PST by iowamark
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To: iowamark
"the real tragedy seems to be that he was forced to wait for so long unsupervised. He had classic heart attack symptoms."
4 posted on 12/01/2009 3:11:00 PM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: JoeProBono
Where I live, chest pain patients are seen immediately, no matter how many folks are ahead of them.
5 posted on 12/01/2009 3:13:24 PM PST by rightly_dividing
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To: JoeProBono

“The homeless are just like us”.

- A liberal


6 posted on 12/01/2009 3:27:02 PM PST by Darteaus94025
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To: rightly_dividing
I’m afraid that policy and practice are two different things.
7 posted on 12/01/2009 3:34:38 PM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: JoeProBono

Not in THIS country. Chest pain puts you at the head of an ER line.......however he drove himself and may not have seen the triage nurse to state what his symptoms are. IF you are having chest pain, call an ambulance.....it speeds things up and may save your life. And for the uneducated chest pain is chest pain, chest pressure, chest discomfort....and many times back pain, jaw pain and left arm pain are not recognized at symptoms of a heart attack. If you have any of these get help fast.


8 posted on 12/01/2009 3:39:33 PM PST by tioga
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To: tioga
“Not in THIS country. Chest pain puts you at the head of an ER line”

As one who has worked in ER’s, I assure you that ain't necessarily so.

Calling an ambulance instead of walking in, however, is excellent advice. Treatment can start without waiting for triage.

9 posted on 12/01/2009 3:49:33 PM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: rightly_dividing

I took my husband to the er when I suspected it was his heart. They took him ahead of everyone, and worked with him right away, even when they weren’t sure what his problem was. He did have a heart attack, but thanks to prompt treatment, he was ok.


10 posted on 12/01/2009 4:10:50 PM PST by Jaidyn
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To: AdmSmith; Berosus; bigheadfred; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; ...
A school counselor suffering an apparent heart attack died in a Philadelphia emergency room after waiting nearly 80 minutes for help -- and a trio of homeless drug addicts nearby stole his watch... Joaquin Rivera, 63, died before seeing a triage nurse at Atria Health's Frankford Campus
Thanks JoeProBono.
11 posted on 12/01/2009 6:04:51 PM PST by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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