I've had to go to the ER a couple of times in the past years. The one time my wife was with me and just like you said there were drunk people coming in and since they said their chest hurt they got taken to the front of the line. They clearly know the game and they play it well. The other time was during Covid and my wife couldn't come with me. Nothing as serious as yours, but it was still scary and lonely.
They are there so often, and don't want to waste their drinking time.
When there is already high uncertainty and stress caused by the condition, then an unfamiliar environment and people, it is good to have someone there with a known face - even if they can't do anything.
Hopefully those days are past us now. Unless this bird flu thing goes south on us!