Lots of accidents happen on weekends. People are doing home repairs, outside events, sports activities etc. and things can sometimes go wrong.
Studies reveal that if you need to be admitted during a weekend, your chances for substandard care can be increased. A study was recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association which demonstrates that the rate of deaths go up during weekend admissions.
While hospitals APPEAR to be open 24/7, even on the weekends, many operate with the majority of staffing and optimum function during the week and on minimum staffing weekends, late night and holidays.
Many specialists are "on call" and need to be reached by telephone, and then if necessary, given time to come into the hospital. This can take much more time than a sick person is expecting. Specialized technicians who operate certain machines and/or interpret certain medical tests are also not generally working "off" hours. They can be consulted or contacted, but keep in mind that information gets emailed or texted to them and they are reveiwing copies of something through phones or computers as opposed to seeing information and/or the patient live and in person. This also creates for misinterpretation or misdiagnosis in the face of missing or inaccurate information.
Often people who are admitted over the weekend are simply watched and kept "on hold" until Monday when the regular staff and activites begin again.
Of course you can't always predict when you will wind up in the hospital due to an emergency, but if you end up there, keep this all in mind.
If you do have to have a procedure scheduled, it is best to do it in the beginning of the week. You will be discharged before the weekend and not left with a weekend skeleton crew.
If its not absolutely life threatening and you know you will be admitted simply to be watched, and charged a huge bill, until Monday when all drs. can come in to see you or administer tests, don't allow it. Go home and see your dr on Monday yourself. If you need admission then, at least it will be Monday and the process can get started right away.
Always go right to Emergency Room for any life threatening concern - stroke, heart attack, extreme blood loss, obvious broken and dislocated bones etc. regardless of day or time and seek emergent medical care. Certain things cannot be controlled or scheduled. However, for those non emergent things that can be, Monday - Friday is always best!
