Just to vent about Emergency Rooms

My dear husband had to go to the emergency room tonight- not what we would consider and emergency, but his doctor told him to go straight there. Although "there" was two hours away in another city. With his kidney transplant, he has a doctor here, but the transplant hospital is in Tampa. He may have an infection in his lungs, his medicine has been making him feel funny, and he has lost some weight since they changed his meds. All signs of concern, but this has been going on for two weeks or so, he has been going to work, and is functioning. So of course he has to go because the doctor said so. SO here it is 1:23 am, 8 hours after the doctor told him to go, and he has STILL NOT SEEN THE DOCTOR! First, he had to drive (and stop to get something to eat thank goodness!), then he had to be admitted and seen by triage, then he had to wait. Since he was not critical (and could have waited until tomorrow when the doctors were working!) he was pushed back from getting an ER room. Finally at 11:30 pm he got a room. He had to give some blood, get the second x-ray of the day, and wait. I just called and he still has not seen a doctor. How is it possible that this was an emergency!!!!!! I am going to try to go to sleep now and wait for his call to tell me if they are keeping him or releasing him or if anything is even wrong. He will not drive back tonight, but do you think anyone there is offering him a place to stay! No hotel rooms at the hospital. Fortunately my parents have a home 30-45 minutes from there, but still- what time will it be when he has to drive?????

Okay now, I am done venting. I will update later this morning on his condition... if I am not over there.