Long Waits At RI Emergency Rooms: Seek Care In The Right Place

PROVIDENCE, RI — With flu season underway alongside a rise in coronavirus cases, Rhode Island health officials are urging residents to seek health care in the proper setting if they get sick. That means only going to an emergency room for actual emergency situations, the Department of Health said.

Hospitals continue to see large numbers of patients, the Department of Health said, which leads to long wait times.

"Emergency departments are perfect for emergency situations," said Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, the director of the department. "If someone is experiencing a serious health issue, they should absolutely call 911 or go to an emergency department right away. However, emergency departments treat patients with the most serious health issues first, which means that people with less severe conditions will experience long waits."

Certain illnesses are better addressed at a primary care provider or urgent care center, Alexander-Scott explained. This includes non-severe cases of the flu, back pain, minor cuts, sore throats, low-grade fevers and most cases of norovirus, more commonly known as the stomach flu.

"Keep the phone number for your primary care provider handy and know where your nearest urgent care facility is," Alexander-Scott continued. "An urgent care facility, or other type of express care facility is often a more convenient, less expensive option."

This doesn't mean Rhode Islanders should avoid the emergency room in serious situations. Seek emergency care for any of the following:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent chest pain or pressure
• New weakness in the arm, leg or face
• Sudden difficulty speaking or confusion
• Inability to wake up or stay conscious
• Pale, gray or blue-colored skin, lips or nail beds, depending on skin tone

The department recently launched a new webpage to help Rhode Islanders seek health care in the best setting for their illness or injury.

"It’s important for the public to understand that the pandemic-related health care crisis is not over for our emergency departments," said Dr. Jeremiah Shur, Lifespan's chief emergency medicine physician. "For patients coming into the emergency department, please understand that there are currently long wait times for non-urgent conditions. We know that this can be frustrating and we ask for patience as our care teams triage the most critical patient needs with limited staff. Our amazing staff are working tirelessly to provide the best care possible and ensure that all patients receive the treatment they need."