If you have to go to the emergency room

You should know that patience will get you nowhere. Smart Money reports:

As nurses and doctors struggle to look after everyone, sometimes "somebody who doesn't know they're having a heart attack, who thinks they're just having shoulder pain, might not get noticed," says Dr. William Mileski, director of the emergency department at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

In fact, sitting quietly and respectfully could kill you, doctors say. In 2007, 200 emergency physicians nationwide said they knew of patients who died while waiting in the ER for hospital beds, according to the latest figures from the American College of Emergency Physicians. The moral: Speak up if you think the nurse or doctor has misunderstood your symptoms and don't be afraid to ask them to repeat what you said back to you to make sure your message is clear, says Dr. Mileski.

Giving your doctor a heads up before you get to the ER, especially if he or she has privileges at the hospital, might get you through the door quicker. Your doctor might also suggest another hospital that is better equipped to treat you, says May. Or he may make an exception to see you after hours.

Speak up! More advice in the article, and more here.