General Medical issues thread

[andye]

Our cranial nerve pneumonic was much flithier than that

Mine was very classical "On old Olympus towering top, a faun and goat ventured a hop". However my own Krebs cycle mnemonic was bluer than the facial nerve and even the carpal bones classics

 

[MARTINE]

Mine was very classical "On old Olympus towering top, a faun and goat ventured a hop". However my own Krebs cycle mnemonic was bluer than the facial nerve and even the carpal bones classics

Have not heard that version of the cranials — intrigued by the carpals…

Post automatically merged: Aug 8, 2022

Oh, oh, oh to touch and feel Virgin (it's an airline so it's okay?) girls *cough* and *cough*?

Thats the one

 

[VPS]

Mine was very classical "On old Olympus towering top, a faun and goat ventured a hop". However my own Krebs cycle mnemonic was bluer than the facial nerve and even the carpal bones classics

OMG I'd forgotten about the Krebs cycle - I had that on my desk trying to memorise it

 

[MARTINE]

OMG I'd forgotten about the Krebs cycle - I had that on my desk trying to memorise it

Mine was on toilet door

 

[Quickstatus]

I wish this was available when I had to do Krebs.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Apologies if this has been discussed upthread but I’m currently in Sydney, was thinking I might need to go to ER yesterday (severe back pain). Unlike Melbourne, it seems Sydney doesn’t have private ERs anymore? I called St George Private and they said they don’t have one, nor does anyone else… they *said* you go to the general ER and if you have to get admitted, say you want private. But of course that could mean a wait of hours.

Melbourne on the other hand has ERs attached to some of its biggest private hospitals… with a charge, but you are seen instantly in most cases.

Is that sort of arrangement unique to Victoria?

 

[andye]

Apologies if this has been discussed upthread but I’m currently in Sydney, was thinking I might need to go to ER yesterday (severe back pain). Unlike Melbourne, it seems Sydney doesn’t have private ERs anymore? I called St George Private and they said they don’t have one, nor does anyone else… they *said* you go to the general ER and if you have to get admitted, say you want private. But of course that could mean a wait of hours.

Melbourne on the other hand has ERs attached to some of its biggest private hospitals… with a charge, but you are seen instantly in most cases.

Is that sort of arrangement unique to Victoria?

Norwest and Sydney Adventist do. May be others

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Norwest and Sydney Adventist do. May be others

Thanks! Handy to know, although quite far out (I’m near Mascot). Where do the folks in the big houses on the harbour go??

 

[RooFlyer]

Melbourne on the other hand has ERs attached to some of its biggest private hospitals… with a charge, but you are seen instantly in most cases.

Is that sort of arrangement unique to Victoria?

Years ago the Tasmanian government built a large extension to the Royal Hobart Hospital. Not long after that, it was privatised and became to Hobart Private hospital. So yes, in Hobart at least there is also a private hospital very much attached to the public one.

 

[MARTINE]

Years ago the Tasmanian government built a large extension to the Royal Hobart Hospital. Not long after that, it was privatised and became to Hobart Private hospital. So yes, in Hobart at least there is also a private hospital very much attached to the public one.

They are great - have availed myself many times for family/friends
We also have regional equivalents

 

[coriander]

Melbourne on the other hand has ERs attached to some of its biggest private hospitals… with a charge, but you are seen instantly in most cases.

Epworth was our go-to ER when we lived in East Melbourne. They'd triage you fairly quickly but then there'd often be a 2+ hour wait for detailed attention if they figured you could wait (personal experience from both a brain haemorrhage and cellulitis - not concurrently though).

 

[coriander]

I should edit to say "Epworth IS still our go to ER" even though we moved to Port. All my surgery and medicine "activities" have been conducted there.

 

[andye]

Thanks! Handy to know, although quite far out (I’m near Mascot). Where do the folks in the big houses on the harbour go??

Not sure. This looks like a decent list nationwide. Northern Beaches is on the list but functions as a public ED due to its hybrid model

Private Emergency Department | HCF

Going to an emergency department from our health care network can help you avoid extra costs. Find your nearest participating emergency department.

www.hcf.com.au

 

[prozac]

Apologies if this has been discussed upthread but I’m currently in Sydney, was thinking I might need to go to ER yesterday (severe back pain). Unlike Melbourne, it seems Sydney doesn’t have private ERs anymore? I called St George Private and they said they don’t have one, nor does anyone else… they *said* you go to the general ER and if you have to get admitted, say you want private. But of course that could mean a wait of hours.

Melbourne on the other hand has ERs attached to some of its biggest private hospitals… with a charge, but you are seen instantly in most cases.

Is that sort of arrangement unique to Victoria?

Friday night 2 weeks ago I slashed my middle finger open breaking a eucalypt branch for the fire. I wrapped it for a while whilst I finished doing what I was doing then when I had a look wasn't sure if it needed a stitch or just plaster as it had a long flap. I also have tendon pain down through my palm. I drive to the local hospital ER (that new one again @andye) and saw the triage nurse who tut, tuts and says are the any splinters in it. Hell I don't know, that's why I came here. Tell me, do I need stitches or just plaster? Oh I can't tell you that you'll have to see a doctor but I can tell you the wait is maybe 5hrs! Tell me again, where do we live? Surely someone could have given me a 60 second opinion. I got up and left.

@MEL_Traveller, I think your paid ER is a great idea. Hope your pain settled, nothing worse.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Friday night 2 weeks ago I slashed my middle finger open breaking a eucalypt branch for the fire. I wrapped it for a while whilst I finished doing what I was doing then when I had a look wasn't sure if it needed a stitch or just plaster as it had a long flap. I also have tendon pain down through my palm. I drive to the local hospital ER (that new one again @andye) and saw the triage nurse who tut, tuts and says are the any splinters in it. Hell I don't know, that's why I came here. Tell me, do I need stitches or just plaster? Oh I can't tell you that you'll have to see a doctor but I can tell you the wait is maybe 5hrs! Tell me again, where do we live? Surely someone could have given me a 60 second opinion. I got up and left.

@MEL_Traveller, I think your paid ER is a great idea. Hope your pain settled, nothing worse.

Andre’s list shows private ERs are much more common in queensland and Victoria. Maybe rich people harbour people in Sydney have gardeners and handy people to do all the dangerous work

Paid ERs aren’t cheap in Victoria, standard fee is around $500… but it’s like a 30 minute total wait+treatment compared to many hours at a public one. But… if it is something more serious and you get admitted, the $500 fee is refunded by private health.

So the back pain thing… couldn’t for the life of me get into a physio/chiropractor/remedial place at short notice… in desperation rang a local massage place… managed to explain what i needed but the line was bad. A minute later a text message came through saying ‘don’t worry darling I will look after you’.

Arrived at the massage place, complete with multicoloured flashing lights and big ‘no sex’ signs. On the stand beside the massage table was talcum powder, baby oil, two boxes of tissues and two boxes of Ansell disposable gloves

I think mine was the first genuine massage the place has done. Kind of difficult in high heels (the therapist… not me!)

But anyway, the ‘mistress of the house’ took care of me, using tiger balm and some elbow grease. She only fell off the table once! Ending up straddling me with one high-heeled leg and foot over my back and the rest of her body crumpled up at an odd angle between the wall and floor.

But my goodness… the pain is manageable today. I can at least walk.

Proper place booked in for later today!

 

[andye]

Have not heard that version of the cranials — intrigued by the carpals…

Let's just say trapezium=too scaphoid=she, triquetral=tiny trapezoid=tight

 

[MARTINE]

Let's just say trapezium=too scaphoid=she, triquetral=tiny trapezoid=tight

 

[Quickstatus]

Where do the folks in the big houses on the harbour go??

St Vincents ER/Sydney Hospital ER.
Both public
Money doesn’t make a difference
However, the R&F (those that don’t need to DYKWIA) possibly have their Drs on speed dial and their admission can be expedited.

Here is the scenario - who do you think gets admitted first?
Dr X to the R&F
“I have a patient who has Y and needs a bed at the private ASAP”
Vs
@MEL_Traveller
“I have back pain”

The reality is that most of the time they just mingle in the ER ZOO until their turn - if they are willing to wait.

Surely someone could have given me a 60 second opinion

They did- they basically said
1) the patient is no imminent danger of dying
2) because of 1) don’t need a Dr immediately
3) because of 2, the wait is 5hrs

But back pain in the absence of other signs/symptoms is likely going to be a wait in the same queue as the busted finger.

The triage nurses are stricter than any lounge dragon. The experienced ones know all the tricks.

 

[prozac]

St Vincents ER/Sydney Hospital ER.
Both public
Money doesn’t make a difference
However, the R&F (those that don’t need to DYKWIA) possibly have their Drs on speed dial and their admission can be expedited.

Here is the scenario - who do you think gets admitted first?
Dr X to the R&F
“I have a patient who has Y and needs a bed at the private ASAP”
Vs
@MEL_Traveller
“I have back pain”

The reality is that most of the time they just mingle in the ER ZOO until their turn - if they are willing to wait.



They did- they basically said
1) the patient is no imminent danger of dying
2) because of 1) don’t need a Dr immediately
3) because of 2, the wait is 5hrs

But back pain in the absence of other signs/symptoms is likely going to be a wait in the same queue as the busted finger.

The triage nurses are stricter than any lounge dragon. The experienced ones know all the tricks.

My point is we are not a 3rd world nation, yet. I think our health system is groaning at the seams.

2) because of 1) don’t need a Dr immediately

Which is why I remained polite with the triage nurse, chose to leave, took my medication at home.

 

[andye]

My point is we are not a 3rd world nation, yet. I think our health system is groaning at the seams.

Which is why I remained polite with the triage nurse, chose to leave, took my medication at home.

Pre-covid that hospital had one of the state's best ED performance metrics (you can argue the quality of the field).
Whole health system is struggling with demand, staffing and a need to catch up with postponed surgeries.
Unfortunately the lower triage categories are the most likely to be inconvenienced-sorry @prozac