MUSKEGON, Mich. — A Muskegon County man is frustrated after he says he waited for hours in the Trinity Health Muskegon emergency room before choosing to leave without being seen.
Derek Latimer is no stranger to the hospital.
"High blood pressure, diabetic. Yeah, I got the works," says Latimer.
On Tuesday, Latimer had an appointment with his cardiologist. There, he found out he was swelling and his doctor told him to go to Trinity Health's emergency room for care.
Latimer arrived at 1 p.m. Five hours later, he still hadn't been seen.
"They've got a little sign that just says be patient," says Latimer. "Yeah, I am a patient. I'm supposed to be an inpatient."
Latimer ended up choosing to leave without being treated. He says he did so because after that five hour wait, staff told him there were still six patients ahead of him.
In a statement to 13 ON YOUR SIDE, Trinity Health Muskegon says in part, "Like most health systems across the state and country, we are challenged with a high volume of patients requiring longer stays in the hospital, coupled with staff shortages that are impacting timely access."
"I don't know if they're just being underpaid or whatever, you know, but no one should have to sit in an ER, an emergency room, for that long of a period of time," says Latimer.
Trinity also says, "Making a visit to the Emergency Department should be for severe symptoms or life-threatening conditions. For those experiencing minor medical needs, we ask that they first contact their primary care physician or a nearby urgent care."
Latimer is especially frustrated because it was his own doctor that advised him to go to the ER.
"Nobody likes to hang out in no hospital, especially over there," says Latimer.
He worries the longer waits become, people's health may be in danger.
"You don't want no one to pass away out there in a waiting room," he says.
You can read Trinity Health Muskegon's full statement here:
The doctors, nurses and all staff of Trinity Health Muskegon are working hard to ensure the best possible patient experience for everyone who comes to us for care. Like most health systems across the state and country, we are challenged with a high volume of patients requiring longer stays in the hospital, coupled with staff shortages that are impacting timely access. We continue to work through these realities to maintain safe and high-quality care and ensure the best possible patient experience for those who come to us for care. We are also aggressively recruiting nurses and clinicians to join our team. Job openings are posted on www.trinityhealthmichigan.org/careers/west-michigan.
Patients presenting to our Emergency Department for care are triaged and the sickest patients are rapidly evaluated. When volumes peak, patients with lower level complaints may experience a wait. We have implemented multiple items to rapidly assess patients such as having a provider in triage.
Making a visit to the Emergency Department should be for severe symptoms or life-threatening conditions. For those experiencing minor medical needs, we ask that they first contact their primary care physician or a nearby urgent care.
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