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 ...
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
Whether we pay or not, we’re on our own, healthcarewise, bone up on nutrition info, etc. , your gonna need it.
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.
“The homeless are just like us”.
- A liberal
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.
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.
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.
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 CampusThanks JoeProBono.
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