Will surgeon really come to the ER just for me if he is not the one on-call??

My surgeon said this as well, however, the ER didn't comply with his plan and I ended up waiting 4 months to have a silly gallbladder removed that had 15 gallstones just a little bit smaller than golf balls...I was in MAJOR pain and he is not happy that I had to wait.  

I wish I knew how to get the ER doc's to listen to our surgeons! I hope it works out for you, it SHOULD have for me but we had a non-compliant ER doc :(

I worked for a Medical Exchange for years and depending on the doctor, they would either leave a message with the service that if "Patient X" called to send the calls to him/her directly instead of the on-call or, more likely, we'd have the patient talk to the on-call physician who would then contact the regular physician for the patient.  There were the rare instances where the off-call doctor would get PO'd if he/she was contacted when not on call, but by and large if anything had been discussed in the past with the physician the service does everything they can to get the patient connected to their physician.

I worked in the ER for 5 years. I have to say that the very few times it happened like that (a specific surgeon needed) for the most part our ER docs called the surgeon on call and then after discussing the case with that surgeon, they usually ended up calling the requested doc. They contacted the one on call because it was pretty common for folks to demand to see a certain doc and it had to be verified with the oncall doc.

I'm assuming that once I call him before we head for the ER, he will call the ER himself and give them a heads up...  so the ER folks would know that I wasn't just being demanding... but what my PCP said just made me wonder.

Lora

True ... in that case I can't imagine him not honoring what he has told you.

Have the surgeon give you his private number.  As long as he's "in town", I would think he will come and do as he said he would.

My recent plastic surgery (with a complication) - surgeon gave me his cell phone number.  I was impressed.

Even when I waited and called his office during business hours, the surgeon called me back personally.

Hope  you never have to find out!

The plastic surgeon that did my arms, tummy, and mons gave me his cell number, too.  It was a good thing, too, because the pain meds he gave me were not helping the day after surgery (and it was a Saturday) and I needed him to call in some of the Liquid Lortab.  The one who did my panniculectomy did not give me a cell number.

Assuming that I don't have to go in this weekend (pain is still holding steady... at least for now), i think I will call the office on Monday and ask for some assurance and ask if there is a way for him to add some kind of notation to my online record with the hospital.

Lora

Ideally the surgeon should meet you in the ER or consult w/the ER doc by phone in regard to your plan of care.  It is incredibly insulting to the ER doc not to mention  sometimes completely off base and dangerous for a physician to practice "remote control" medicine and order things over the phone w/o seeing you or having the ER physician do an exam.  Ultimately and legally the ER physician is responsible for you unless your doctor is there.  Do not wait.  Let the ER doc examine you, begin the standard and "cookbook" tests.  With belly pain maybe a cbc,urine,chemistries, preg test,liver functions,amylase,lipase depending on your symptoms and exam.  They will start the workup, call the doc you ask them to.  Many times that doc will punt you back to primary care or the on call doc. Hopefully he said he would come and care for you and he will.  If he doesn't it is important to get your labs/treatments started.  There are standards of care and standard tests done, don't delay your care.  Get things started and trust the ER to contact the providers.  I have worked ER for many yrs, this is how it typically works.  You will have to trust your pvt doc will come, if the surgeon no shows have them call your PCP for a referral for another surgeon.  Sounds like your PCP is in tune w/the process and is always the best person to coordinate specialty services. 

I re-read your last post and I will admit pain control in the ER is a tricky thing.  ER docs do not know you and there are many people w/chronic pain or abusers who come to the ER seeking pain med.  Pain is also very subjective person to person which is why you are asked to scale your pain 1-1o.  My 3 may be your 7.  ER docs are notoriously conservative.  If just pain is the issue it is more efficient for your surgeon or primary care to handle that, call the answering svc for the doc on call.  Now if infection may be causing more pain......let them start your workup.  I hope your doctor does what he said he would for you and ideally that you don't need any further emergency treatment.  be well.

I went to the ER a few months after my RNY (I went to the hospital I new he had privileges at).  I had gall stones in my bile duct which were causing pancreatitis attacks.  I told them to call my bariatric surgeon, they did and he came.