3 ms·

When is the last time you went to an ER? We went recently in southern california, and it was saturated by people stopping in for sniffles, flu, and other things

When is the last time you went to an ER? We went recently in southern california, and it was saturated by people stopping in for sniffles, flu, and other things that should have been handled in a regular doctor visit. The nurse said as much when we asked if we should go somewhere else for (what turned out to be) an actual emergency. We got right in, thanks to triage. Is this related to the article? Probably not. But I never get enough chances to point out the myriad abuses and misuses of the health care system.

ceejayoz 5y ago
> We went recently in southern california, and it was saturated by people stopping in for sniffles, flu, and other things that should have been handled in a regular doctor visit. This is likely due to an inability to access "regular doctor" care. Either for lack of insurance (which they can't afford), or a giant deductible (which they also can't afford). The doctor's office can turn them away for an unpaid bill; the ER cannot.
musicale 5y ago
As I understand it, it's not primarily an abuse of the system by greedy and wicked freeloaders, but a very predictable result of the lack of safety net coverage in the US. Specifically, people without insurance end up at the ER because the ER can't legally turn them away for not having insurance or not being able to pay. Another predictable consequence is patient dumping, where patients who cannot pay at one hospital are sent to the ER at another.
toss1 5y ago
And I've been to plenty of ER visits in many parts of the country and seen nothing like this (although there have been waits), and seen effective triage, including a patient I was with walking in (looking fine) and being admitted in like three minutes flat based on an initial cardiac test. And you got treated quickly also. Perhaps you are in a local minima of bad conditions. Even if what you saw is widespread, it is still no excuse for this kind of stupid response from insurers. It is not even close to justified.
maxerickson 5y ago
At my local hospital, the ER and walk-in clinic have doors next to each other. The idea that the ER can't triage non-emergency care is some sort of bureaucratic construction designed to facilitate making money.

ceejayoz 5y ago

> We went recently in southern california, and it was saturated by people stopping in for sniffles, flu, and other things that should have been handled in a regular doctor visit. This is likely due to an inability to access "regular doctor" care. Either for lack of insurance (which they can't afford), or a giant deductible (which they also can't afford). The doctor's office can turn them away for an unpaid bill; the ER cannot.

musicale 5y ago

As I understand it, it's not primarily an abuse of the system by greedy and wicked freeloaders, but a very predictable result of the lack of safety net coverage in the US. Specifically, people without insurance end up at the ER because the ER can't legally turn them away for not having insurance or not being able to pay. Another predictable consequence is patient dumping, where patients who cannot pay at one hospital are sent to the ER at another.

toss1 5y ago

And I've been to plenty of ER visits in many parts of the country and seen nothing like this (although there have been waits), and seen effective triage, including a patient I was with walking in (looking fine) and being admitted in like three minutes flat based on an initial cardiac test. And you got treated quickly also. Perhaps you are in a local minima of bad conditions. Even if what you saw is widespread, it is still no excuse for this kind of stupid response from insurers. It is not even close to justified.

maxerickson 5y ago

At my local hospital, the ER and walk-in clinic have doors next to each other. The idea that the ER can't triage non-emergency care is some sort of bureaucratic construction designed to facilitate making money.