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~10 years ago I was visiting the Bay Area (I live in EU), and developed knee pain (rather strong). I went to the emergency room in a city hospital, and long sto

by jagrsw 6y ago

~10 years ago I was visiting the Bay Area (I live in EU), and developed knee pain (rather strong). I went to the emergency room in a city hospital, and long story short, I was given a prescription for paracetamol or ibuprofen and something called Norco, which is apparently some kind of opioid. In the pharmacy (CVS i think), the pharmacist was calling somewhere to confirm the prescription and my identity and was trying to understand hard my foreign-issued driving license. After an hour of this identity verification circus, I left the pharmacy with this opioid drug and a pack of Paracetamol/Ibuprofen. Back in the hotel I read about it, and seeing something about opioids I threw it away (I guess, for no reason except that it sounded like it sounded like it's related to drugs) and treated myself with paracetamol (which worked). The experience in the hospital: 6h waiting and check-up straight in the reception room with 20 people watching, plus a doctor whose biggest concern was that I remember that his name is Lim and not Lime, plus being treated like a potential drug abuser in the pharmacy was a bit surreal. After getting back to EU, the hospital and my international insurer started negotiating price for this 6h waiting and 10 min check-up and an xray. It started with 2000 USD, in the end they settled on 1000 USD or so. Fortunately, I didn't pay anything cause international insurance. After a few years, when playing football in Switzerland, I stomped badly and sprained my ankle. I went to the local orthopedic clinic, where I was treated at once in doctor's office. Cost: 250 CHF (~250USD), xray included.

com2kid 6y ago
ERs are expensive. An urgent care clinic would have gotten you quicker results at a lower cost. Typically I've waited under 30 minutes, and now days some have online wait time estimators, and at larger facilities x-rays are right down the hall.
- swasheck 6y ago
  That we have to know and navigate the intricacies of healthcare and the nuances between urgent and emergent care is ridiculous in my opinion. Then you have to worry about whether the dr on shift is in network even though you’ve verified the facility is
refurb 6y ago
You went to the ER for knee pain? Urgent clinic would have been easier and cheaper.
- jagrsw 6y ago
  Could be, though it was ~2010 - so internet information wasn't that good and it was a late hour, 9pm or so - I was looking for an open at that hour orthopedician IIRC, and I barely walked and thinked. Relevant anecdote - my friend here in Switzerland developed a kidney stone (resulting in an "interesting level of pain" according to him) and went to ER b/c also a late hour. He was actually given some opioid, but he had to take it directly in the hospital (strictly controlled substance I guess), and the doctor told him jokingly that he should be happy, because the amount of people who are prescribed heroin-derivative drugs in Switzerland are very very small.

by jagrsw 6y ago

com2kid 6y ago

ERs are expensive. An urgent care clinic would have gotten you quicker results at a lower cost. Typically I've waited under 30 minutes, and now days some have online wait time estimators, and at larger facilities x-rays are right down the hall.

swasheck 6y ago
That we have to know and navigate the intricacies of healthcare and the nuances between urgent and emergent care is ridiculous in my opinion. Then you have to worry about whether the dr on shift is in network even though you’ve verified the facility is

refurb 6y ago

You went to the ER for knee pain? Urgent clinic would have been easier and cheaper.

jagrsw 6y ago
Could be, though it was ~2010 - so internet information wasn't that good and it was a late hour, 9pm or so - I was looking for an open at that hour orthopedician IIRC, and I barely walked and thinked. Relevant anecdote - my friend here in Switzerland developed a kidney stone (resulting in an "interesting level of pain" according to him) and went to ER b/c also a late hour. He was actually given some opioid, but he had to take it directly in the hospital (strictly controlled substance I guess), and the doctor told him jokingly that he should be happy, because the amount of people who are prescribed heroin-derivative drugs in Switzerland are very very small.