Doctors Confess: 10 Ways Patients Screw Up in the ER

You’re not clear why it’s an emergency

Doctors want you to be able to clearly articulate why you need urgent care. “If somebody hasn’t called their primary care doctor or regular specialist, I wonder, why are they here to see me?” says Leana Wen, MD, an emergency physician at George Washington University and coauthor of When Doctors Don’t Listen: How to Avoid Misdiagnoses and Unnecessary Tests. “Maybe they called their doctor, but can’t get in for a week. Maybe they’re concerned they have a heart problem. Either way, tell me what you’re really worried about.” These mistakes can lead to a misdiagnosis in the ER.

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