Tag Page SystemOverload

My Mom Was in the ER, but All the Translators Were Busy

My mother is 78. She had chest pains yesterday and ended up in the ER. She should’ve been evaluated immediately. But the waiting room was full—mostly with people who had just arrived in the U.S., most needing translators or additional screenings. My mother waited three hours because every interpreter and intake nurse was occupied. I’m not angry at the individuals. I’m furious at the system. Are American seniors—who paid taxes for decades—supposed to wait behind people who arrived last week? The nurse told me, “We can’t turn anyone away.” But apparently we can leave elderly Americans unattended. It’s uncomfortable to say out loud, but it’s reality: The system is overwhelmed, and American seniors are the first ones sacrificed. #Healthcare #EmergencyRoom #SystemOverload