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I went in last summer with trauma from about 16 dog bites. My insurance was taken at the front window before I was admitted into the ER proper. I was bleeding, in pain and my arm was obviously mauled, already showing bruising and of limited use.

Of all the staff (MD, RN, LPN, Nursing Assistant), only the little old assistant even touched my arm or got within 3 feet of my wounds. RN and LPN came in and looked at the monitors. RN offered tetanus and morphine, of course in the opposite arm. Assistant soaked towels in an antiseptic specifically listed on the label as inappropriate for puncture wounds, then placed an ointment similarly labeled on gauze squares and placed them over the wounds and then bound the arm in gauze. No one checked her work at closer than a 3-foot glance after it was wrapped. MD prescribed a form of penicillin I have had experience with. It tears up my gut and I don’t tolerate it. I told him this. He substituted Doxycycline and was not happy when I refused his vending machine doxcy in favor of Walmart. MD did do nerve tests (finger resistance) and determined I had no permanent damage. He prescribed codeine+Tylenol for pain.

I went home, cleansed the wounds by immersion in water w/Epsom salts, irrigated w/saline, applied silver sulfadiazine (with some help), called my physician who nixed the doxcy and prescribed something stronger that works on deep wounds. My take home instructions made no mention of soaking or gentle irrigation. I was there one hour.

Charges were $1k. Medicare paid minimally and my supplement paid about $275. I suppose they ate the rest, as I received no bill. About 6 months later, I heard through the grapevine (no employees would comment) the MD was escorted out by uniformed officers one day, never to return. This is the 2nd ER doc to be fired that I know of in the past year. I have lived here over 40 years, know clinicians and am aware of only two firings, both for high morbidity, in that time. Small regional hospital, under the auspices of giant regional medical center, 4-6 bay ER with adjoining exam rooms, 3-4 clinics, full availability of imaging, labs, pharmacy,specialties, 6 beds, maybe a total of 20 MDs, one a world-famous orthopod known for the invention of an elbow operation.

I received better, more appropriate treatment 17 years ago when I went in with a cracked metatarsal. I have heard similar and worse anecdotal reports from others, all of whom, along with me, have had complete faith and trust in this hospital, the clinics and the clinicians in the past.

I guess it depends on what the definition of stabilization is.