Follow-up Care

The other day a former-ER patient called and asked for Ed. I told him that there is no one named Ed who works in the ER.

He seemed confused and flustered. He also sounded intoxicated.

Often, patients call to follow up on discharge instructions, or to ask questions about what they are supposed to do next to take care of themselves.

So, I asked the patient the nature of his call and the nature of his original complaint, and I attempted to verify whether or not he was taking his prescribed medications properly, one of which was a narcotic pain reliever.

After speaking with him for about five minutes, I realized that he was taking about twice as much pain medication as he should have been. He admitted to drinking alcohol as well, something I immediately advised him not to do while taking narcotics. Then I reiterated that he should not drive or operate machinery, given the potentially dangerous combination of intoxicants he was taking.

Eventually, I had addressed as many of his issues as I could over the phone and I told him if he felt he needed to be re-seen by an ER physician we would be glad to see him again.

He replied, "Thanks. Are you sure Ed isn't there?"

"Sir, I've already told you there is no Ed in our department. Who told you to ask for Ed?"

"It's on my discharge instructions...If problems persist, call Ed."

Silence.

"E-D, sir. As in, Emergency Department."