Now you can schedule APPOINTMENTS in the ER...????

[mwboswell]

Okay, first we had waiting times posted on the internet, then we had that you could send a SMS/Text message and get the waiting time in the ER....now we have....wait for it - "Scheduling Appointment Times" for the ER....can you believe it?

What do you think?

Read for yourself...http://www.ghs.org/inquicker

Mark Boswell

FNP-BC, MSN, CEN, CFRN, CTRN, CPEN, NREMT-P

"Support CEN Certification and your ENA"

[mwboswell]

I also think there is a margin of liability with this ... the laceration with controlled bleeding that does need suturing but because it's not convenient, does not actually present until the window since the time of injury has elapsed. The sprain vs. fracture that turns out to have vascular involvement. The middle aged female who is convinced she "slept wrong" on her left shoulder/left arm. In other words, the presentations that look different to a medical professional who actually eyeballs the patient than they do to a layperson.

Good point - especially the liability thing. We'll need to keep watching this to learn more.

-Mark Boswell

MSN FNP-BC CEN CFRN CTRN CPEN NREMT-P

"Support CEN certification and your local ENA"

[mwboswell]

I recently read somewhere the following:

"Do you know why people will wait soooo long to be seen in the ER?"

"Because it's still quicker than waiting for a regular office appointment"!

-Mark Boswell

MSN FNP-BC CEN CFRN CTRN CPEN NREMT-P

"Support CEN Certification and Your Local ENA"

[stelon]

You're not alone. https://sach.inquicker.com/

[littlewingrn]

Only 24.99 for this premium service.....All about money, not the patients or the caregivers. I still am in disbelief........

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

I thought I had read something in an article about all the wait time billboards, etc., that there might be future reimbursement issues because this could be seen as ERs soliciting patients to be primary care ... however, I'm not yet caffeinated/functional enough to find that article. Has anyone else run across that information? This whole thing sounds like it might fall into the same category...

[mwboswell]

I thought I had read something in an article about all the wait time billboards, etc., that there might be future reimbursement issues because this could be seen as ERs soliciting patients to be primary care ... however, I'm not yet caffeinated/functional enough to find that article. Has anyone else run across that information? This whole thing sounds like it might fall into the same category...

Wow! That's interesting - would like to see how that pans out.

-Mark Boswell

MSN FNP-BC CEN CFRN CTRN CPEN NREMT-P

"Support CEN certification and your local ENA"

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Aha ... here it is, and page 2 discusses Medicaid cutting reimbursement ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/hospitals-seek-more-er-patients-even-as-medicaid-tries-to-lessen-demand/2011/07/01/gIQADoB7WJ_story.html

I am now awake and functional, at 0230. LOL

[mwboswell]

Aha ... here it is, and page 2 discusses Medicaid cutting reimbursement ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/hospitals-seek-more-er-patients-even-as-medicaid-tries-to-lessen-demand/2011/07/01/gIQADoB7WJ_story.html

I am now awake and functional, at 0230. LOL

Lunah,

Thanks very much for that article! I find this very interesting and it will be more interesting to see how the state Medicaid regulators continue to look at this and consider the efficiency of this type of ER use.

Thanks again!