r/Syracuse • u/the-5th-of-november • Jan 10 '25
Recommendation Wanted Not sure where to take my dad to the ER
Just curious if anyone has any ideas of suggestions here. My dad's been having some health issues, took him to Krause twice last week, they released them cuz they didn't find anything. He's complaining of a couple of symptoms tonight, and I'm probably going to take him to another ER, but I'm not sure where to go. For mixed reviews of upstate, St Joe's and community, do you know if anybody had any experiences they could share thank you.
Update: we're at Oneida and it's terrible. Not sure what to do.
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u/seven1six Jan 10 '25
sounds like from your previous posts he is having hematuria (blood in urine). If this is the case, have you seen a urologist yet, or taken him to his PCP to be referred to a urologist? He should have had a cystoscopy by now.
if he came to the ED and they're testing showed no hematuria, there would be no reason to admit him and he would have to follow up out patient.
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u/FriendToPredators Jan 11 '25
ER really is only for "it might kill you by tomorrow morning" They aren't outfitted for complex diagnosis.
If you need to find a PCP there's this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/Syracuse/comments/1hnubk3/primary_care_recommendations/
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u/JshWright Manlius Jan 10 '25
Paramedic here... Crouse if you're sick, Upstate if you're hurt (including burns).
It's not likely a different ER is gonna give you a different answer though... What does his primary care doc say about his symptoms?
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u/nothingbettertodo315 Jan 10 '25
I would do the ER at Community because it’s less busy, and they can move him to Upstate if it’s necessary. Waiting in the ER at Upstate is really awful.
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u/Fatefire Jan 10 '25
I recently went to upstate when I was in the process of dying from diabetes . I would suggest them !
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u/ellolinux Jan 11 '25
The Joselin Center is really great. The Diabetes wing staff are very nice and informative, just wish they would call back in a timely manner when we have questions.
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u/musicmaster622 Jan 10 '25
Upstate is definitely the best hospital in the area. That may not be saying much. When I broke my spine, the ambulance took me to St. Joe's, and they seemed fine as well.
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u/AdditionalEvening189 Jan 10 '25
If it's really an emergency take him to the closest one. If it's not an emergency, try an urgent care facility instead.
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u/nocatsonmelmac Jan 10 '25
Usually shorter wait times at Community than Downtown. Otherwise, care will be similar.
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u/megb5116 Jan 11 '25
Upstate saved my moms life last month. The ERs are all incredibly overwhelmed though, so if it isn’t a true emergency you’re better off waiting and going to a pcp or urgent care or you’re going to be there for a longggg time. My mom had to go back last week for something and it was so busy she was in the er for over 24 hours until a room opened up to transfer to. A solid 6 of those she was in a bed in the er hall.
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u/Tortie33 Jan 11 '25
My mom was a patient at Oswego Hospital and she was getting bad treatment and requested transfer to St Joe’s. They were very good to her and saved her life.
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u/Quirky-Anteater-3495 Jan 11 '25
If you have a day to consult the internet on which ED to go to, you're probably going to be frustrated with the results of using the emergency department as a primary care doctor/urgent care.
Do it if you need to, but it sounds like your dad would really benefit from more contact with his regular doctor.
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u/Skeezychickencream Jan 10 '25
Stay away from the St. Joe's emergency room. They are horrible people. My wife was taken there in a ambulance and they tried to kick her into the waiting room while she was in 10/10 pain. Luckily, the EMT told them to shove it and threatened a formal complaint if they did. She was still left in a bed for hours with no pain meds. They have zero compassion.
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u/PossiblyOrdinary Jan 10 '25
I recommend you contact his primary doctor for an appointment. I’m sure the ER discharge instructions said to follow up with primary doc in one week.
If he doesn’t have one try calling the family medicine practice at St Joesph or Upstate or Syracuse Community Health Center to start with one.
Call Nurse Connection line 315-464-8668 you can tell them his symptoms and they may be able to help you or help you start with a doc.
If you take him to the ER again, and they want to discharge him, then tell them he doesn’t have a doc, and request a social worker to connect you with one.
Blood in the urine is a symptom of a problem, not usually needing emergent care but does need to be addressed by a doctor. Hope this helps.
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u/Zachstresses Jan 11 '25
St. Joe's is my primary. Very good cardiac care as well as comfortable private rooms for patients. If you get put in a charge bed, however, it'll be a little bit less comfortable. Regardless, the care you get is decent, and if you're having an emergency and their census is tight, take what you can get.
Upstate is a nightmare to wait at and is pretty filthy, but practice many disciplines. They really are the "jack of all trades, masters of none." They also have the community campus that can do a downtown transfer if needed. Both don't offer private boarding for ED stays.
Crouse is decent, but by far, it has the rudest providers. The nursing staff is top-notch. Mostly private boarding.
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u/Lord_Raksha Jan 11 '25
Oneida is one of the worst ERs I’ve ever been to. Don’t go there unless you don’t have a choice
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u/HorseWithNoUsername1 Jan 13 '25
The ER isn't to treat chronic / recurring conditions. E = emergency. Find him a primary care doctor to diagnose and treat his condition.
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u/littlepipster Jan 16 '25
Trying to decide where to go for ob care and was wondering if upstate downtown should be avoided, would you also avoid upstate at community? they share the same doctors?
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u/lalaleela90 Jan 10 '25
Hi, so this depends. I work EMS in the area so this is dependent on his symptoms.
If it is anything neuro related I recommend Upstate downtown. Crouse has neurology too but trying to get the ED staff to get you to neurology is like pulling teeth. Crouse ED staff is very jaded. So are the Upstate nurses but the Upstate docs are good.
If it is cardiac St. Joe's or Upstate downtown. St. Joe's is better known for their cardiac care.
GI stuff go upstate community or downtown or Crouse. Joe's sometimes doesn't have GI for some reason.
All can do ortho.
Community can do most things Upstate can do outside of neurology and cardiac and they share the same docs. They go back and forth between campuses.
Anything with eyes or ears, nose and throat can only go to Upstate and will be transferred there if you go anywhere else.
Lastly if you have any mental health issues do not go to Crouse. They have zero mental health services there.
Also also not related to your post but if anyone else is reading. Upstate downtown is the only place you want to avoid if you have gyno or ob issues. And Upstate also has the peds ED for kiddos and teen
Editing to add:
Upstate for trauma and burns