Three separate article have made me think about some of the potential pitfalls of going to the hospital with PD. PD does not frequently hospitalize people. However, people with PD need to visit the hospital on occasion like most other people. Hospitals do a few things very well. They stabilize emergencies, perform surgeries, manage infections, and keep people breathing, among other things. However, I often hear of PWPs having unsatisfactory experiences there, especially if they go to the hospital to treat a PD symptom.
The first item that I saw was the story: Parkinson's 'worsens in hospital'. This story comes from the UK, and may not be reflective of patients’ experiences in other countries. Nevertheless, it point out a serious flaw that occurs in many hospitals multiple times per day – medications are not delivered on time.
In the Caregiver’s Digest I read about a situation where the stress of a colonoscopy caused a PWP to have an extended hospital stay. According to the author/poster, the hospital did not handle its patient with Parkinson’s very well. A retired nurse responded to the post admitting her knowledge of PD was minimal, in comparison to what she knows now as a caregiver.
Finally, in the May 3rd post below, I referenced a document from the APDA, Why Parkinson’s Disease Patients Should Not Go to The Emergency Room. (You may need to sign in before downloading the document.) Dr. Friedman, the author, clearly states that there are times when PD patients should go to the emergency room. However, he warns patients that the emergency room isn't always the best place to find relief from their symptoms.
ER doctors do not know much about PD. The better ones will tell you this and advise you to call your PD doctor the next day. Sometimes patients are admitted to their local hospital where their PD specialists may not be able to see them. Then someone who meets them once for 20-30 minutes alters everything that it took you three years to get into place.Now I don’t mean to imply that you should never go the the ER, but I do mean that you should never go because your PD is worse without talking to your PD doctor first.
You may have a different opinion, or some insight I have overlooked. Please email me at mnilsen@myparkinsonsinfo.com, with your comments. Thanks!
