Comments on: Expect Emergency Room Visits to Soar

By: hotels cheap deals

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By: DV

DV — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 03:15:52 +0000

No Surprise. I have worked at hospitals in several states. Some private some public. In general the “unfunded” ED visits constitute ~15% of the traffic. But the other 85% of ED visits are not all “emergent” –at least to a physician. That means that many who have some form of funded health plan (medicare, medicaid etc.)still feel the need to go to an ED.
So giving that 15% crummy insurance that many physicians won’t take will do nothing! Indeed, when more people get transitioned to a government option the flood gates will fly open.

By: Chris Ewin, MD

Chris Ewin, MD — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:44:59 +0000

Excellent article…
My ER friends are overwhelmed as it is…
The US trains about ~ 3,500 family physician residents/year.
With the new influx of those getting insurance,they need to take care of 9,000 patients each…
You make the case for patients paying PCP’s directly..

By: Virginia

Virginia — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:30:13 +0000

Ditto Catherine! I took a nasty spill last month when I was at my mom’s house and had to limp inside and google “urgent care” to figure out where to go for an x-ray.

In my industry, the biggest challenge to marketing is educating the consumer. It seems like the US is doing a poor job of teaching people where to seek care.

By: Linda Gorman

Linda Gorman — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:10:32 +0000

Will ED visit fees be charged and collected? In a lot of state Medicaid plans you might pay $5.00 for an ED visit, same as for a regular appointment. The ED is open after work and you don’t have to make an appointment. It is a much better deal.

There is evidence that even moderate fees, on the order of $25 and waived if one is admitted to the hospital, do quite a bit to help curb excess utilization.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:49:42 +0000

Too many people drop and run to the emergency room for health issues and injuries that could be treated for a lot less time and money at either retail clinics or stand-alone emergency care centers. I am amazed at the number of people I know who never heard of these options. They think they can only choose between their doctor’s office and the ER. Around the country, many of the major drug store chains have in-store clinics open days, nights and weekends that can treat flu, sinus infections, bladder infections and the like. Stand-alone, emergency care centers can do stitches, X-rays and higher level care, and many are open 24-7. I’ve used both with my family and saved several grueling ER waits and a lot of dollars. It’s only a piece of the solution but it’s an important one. Get on-line or look in the yellow pages and locate where these places are near your house so you know before you slice open your hand cutting onions and need the help.

By: Vicki

Vicki — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:00:51 +0000

I think this is going to be about 10 times worse than what has happened in Massachusetts.

By: Larry C.

Larry C. — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:59:26 +0000

I think the problem is going to be even worse than what you are predicting. You haven’t even considered the “free” preventive care everyone is going to get. That will make the doctor shortage even worse.

By: Joe S.

Joe S. — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:51:28 +0000

Nice report. And unfortunately, probably very true.

By: Bart Ingles

Bart Ingles — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:07:51 +0000

“One of the most oft-repeated arguments for health reform is that uninsured patients make costly and delayed trips to the ER…”

I’ve always thought that this was more of a supplemental argument used by people attempting to gloss over cost issues. I can’t believe anyone is honestly in favor of reform on the basis of this claim.