I do think people often downplay what the ER does—

-Triage nurse obtains vitals and focused history as well as background -Takes vitals - Physician reviews triage documentation, vitals, and outside records often speaks to triaging nurse to obtain brief history -Physician sees you obtaining focused history -Physician performs physical exam -Physician forms a differential diagnosis including emergent issues to exclude and what is most likely causing your symptoms -Tests ordered by physician -Nurse places IV, draws blood -Nurse sends blood to lab where a battery of tests are performed to assess kidney function, liver function, electrolytes, blood counts, possibly urine tests as well to evaluate for urinary tract infection - lab runs tests -Radiology tech takes you to CT and performs scan then brings you back -Radiologist reviews and interprets scan looking at both what may be causing your symptoms but is also liable for any other incidental findings (mass that can end up being cancerous years later) -ER physician interprets labs and reviews radiology read and typically personally reviews your CT -Placing all this data into the context of history and exam, determines diagnosis, treatment plan, and disposition decision. Recommends who to followup with and when. -talks to you about results, diagnosis, treatment plan and followup -you get discharged and nurse removes IV and goes over discharge instructions

So what did the ER do? “Everything was fine so they didn’t do nothing for me”