I Was Thinking... Stranger Friends

While going to an emergency room is not something any one of us want to do, it is nice to know that they are there when we need them. But the dynamics of an emergency room is not like other parts of society.
First come, first serve is an operating principle for many businesses, however that is not the case in an ER. It is one of the few places where it turns out the worse off you are the better off you are. If you have a severe ear infection, a badly sprained ankle, or even a broken finger, be prepared to wait. However, if you have chest pains, you usually are on the express lane for attention.
The ER at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester is the trauma center for much of southeast Minnesota. Therefore, it is not unusual for the waiting room to be a very crowded facility.
The fullness of the waiting room has necessitated a visual screen which can tell patients how long they have been waiting. Once someone registers, the first three letters of their last name are included into the “you’ve been waiting” video screen. It doesn’t say when you will be seen, just how long you’ve been waiting. Unless you have one of those immediate life-threatening conditions, you will wait. Maybe it will be an hour but more likely it will be two, four, or six hours.
I am not trying to criticize the ER or their staff, in fact, I am in awe of how well they handle the situation they encounter day in and day out. Everyone arriving, in their mind, has an emergency, otherwise they wouldn’t be there. It is very personal and urgent. When I am faced with an emergency, I am seldom controlled or calm.
Now imagine a whole room full of people feeling the same way. I can’t fathom the mind set the ER personnel must have in order to work in that environment on a daily basis. Their ability to keep their cool transfers to the whole waiting room and people wait with a somewhat uneasy resolve. If the staff isn’t panicking, I shouldn’t either. But still you wait.
As time passes, a strange alliance often develops. Everyone shares one common thing, they are there because something is wrong. Since the room is usually crowded, most people are in close proximity to someone else hoping they will be the next one called back.
Since all you can do is wait or play with your phone, eventually people strike up a conversation by asking, “how long have you been waiting?” This then progresses to why you are there. While many people are reluctant to share personal medical problems with even friends or family, it is amazing how easy they seem to open up to a complete stranger. After all, what are the chances you will ever see that person again. There is also the hope that whatever you are there for, it isn’t as bad as what the other person has.
After the initial exchange of medical problems, the conversation moves on to where you are from and if they aren’t from the immediate area, how long they’ve been in Rochester. Of course, if they are somewhat local, it is probable you soon find out you know someone who they know. They may work in the same place, go to the same school, or attend the same church. If you don’t have a common acquaintance, you probably bond over a favorite restaurant, a local attraction, or a vacation destination you both visited. Strangely enough, one of the things you may not exchange is your actual name.
The encounter usually concludes when one of you gets called back to see a doctor. Both express joy that one of you can finally be seen and the brief exchange ends with each wishing the other good luck in their treatment. Maybe being put in precarious situations creates a special bond when you realize the person next to you is in the same situation. But it is nice to know we aren’t alone and even strangers can be short term friends.
Did You Ever Wonder? — What age should a person be considered old enough to die of old age?