Lanie St. Claire, the pre-hospital liaison for Children’s, offers an explanation for why my friend might have waited so long–and why Children’s is still the place to bring your sick kiddo:
As the pre- hospital Liaison/ and ER R.N in CMC. I am always concerned when a parent feels we did not care for their child as expected. The best part of my position is I truly believe there is no better place for a child in critical condition to be. I could work in any facility close to home, but I choose to make the 20 mile drive in traffic every work day so that I can work in a place where I know, if a child is going to survive a Near- drowning, fatal MVC, gun shot wound, fall etc… or have a fatal rapid moving mennigococcemia detected and treated faster than any other facility they need to come to CMC.
In light of this, please forgive our imperfection. I am sure there are days when we are attempting to do our best and our best is not enough. It is not because we are not aware of a child who has waited an extremely long time to be seen after being triaged. It is not because the tired, exhausted, parents waiting in an emergency room to learn what their child diagnosis or plan of care is, have gone unnoticed. The reason is simple, we cannot control the population or the circumstances. No hospital can, however some hospitals have less of a wait because they do not receive 600 EMS in a month, or unexpected traumas which require our best surgeons, ER physicians and ER Nurses, along with a complete staff from all over the hospital.
I would never suggest they be taken anywhere else though, because their BEST chance in this state is Children’s. Thank you.
