Food in the ER

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I know maslow's, and that food is on the bottom.

I'm laughing because there were family members that cursed at me every time I walked by because I wouldn't make them sandwiches and sent them to the cafeteria.

How often are food requests at your place, and how often do you run into disgruntled family members because you don't feed them?

Specializes in Emergency.

I am from BC, Canada, [snip] I was also under the impression that patients were turned away from the ER if they didn't have insurance AND they weren't "expected to die" within 24 hours. Obviously I have a lot to learn!!

in the US, we have a federal law, EMTALA, which requires a medical screening for all patients and that care is provided for life threatening emergencies. This is regardless of insurance. EMTALA also allows for the screening provider (md, do, pa, not sure about np) to tell the pt to take a hike after the screening. This however is a very rare occurence in my er. So bottom line is insurance coverage is essentially irrelevant when presenting to the er. Nobody is turned away from a US er because they lack insurance.

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I am from BC, Canada, where as far as I can remember- healthcare is a service rather than a business. I'm in Texas now and it's been an eye opener! Especially when I brought my son to the ER and ended up paying $900 out of pocket ($500 to the Dr /$400 to the hospital) in addition to our monthly $880 insurance deductions. We were there for 15 mins max and walked out with a prescription for cough syrup. (Wont be doing that ever again!!) I was also under the impression that patients were turned away from the ER if they didn't have insurance AND they weren't "expected to die" within 24 hours. Obviously I have a lot to learn!!

We have laws that state, and hang over the walls in the entrance to our ER, that you can't be turned away based on lack of insurance or inability to pay.

Did you break a toe nail and want to have it looked at? Come on down. How about that headache you had two weeks ago, that went away after an hour with no treatment? Come in and get evaluated, just incase it might have been something serious. Call 911 for the ride in and expect a free bus or taxi voucher on the way out.

My understanding in Canada is everyone pays higher, so everyone has health coverage. We don't have that here.. Except this Obama care stuff coming down the pipes.

Many don't work, don't pay taxes, get tax refunds because they have kids, are signed up for every government program that is offered.. And don't care about the cost of an ER visit because they will never pay a bill for it. So they come in, like we're a 24 hour friend with a telephone and cable tv.. Then throw the food in the equation.

Our workload goes way up and acuity goes way down, not surprisingly when the food stamps run out.

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Specializes in ER / Critical Care.

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/stories/2012/february/19/hospitals-demand-payment-upfront-from-er-patients.aspx

I knew I wasn't crazy.... I remember hearing about this and probably why I assumed that everyone pays.

(I know I'm off topic from the thread, just wanted to clarify that I wasn't a nut lol)

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Specializes in Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.
http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/stories/2012/february/19/hospitals-demand-payment-upfront-from-er-patients.aspx

I knew I wasn't crazy.... I remember hearing about this and probably why I assumed that everyone pays.

(I know I'm off topic from the thread, just wanted to clarify that I wasn't a nut lol)

We will do this to STD checks and toothaches triaged a level 5. Due to EMTALA, they do have to get a medical screening exam before we demand the payment. We do not have to treat them unless they pay. Most elope without paying. We pretty much see everyone else.

It's all about money. If we did demand a payment after an MSE for, lets say, a UTI, that person would probably elope. They would not see a GP because they do not have insurance and the UTI would progress to something worse and they come right back to us. Now would the hospital rather eat the fast-track minor UTI visit or the UTI-turned-sepsis ICU stay? Probably the former.

But since they are probably not getting reimbursed for this patient and a lot of other patients like this, the hospital would rather not feed them on top of the basically hospital-sponsored "free" care they are already getting.

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Nope, not being ironic. And I have a grasp on healthcare and economics, thanks :)

Patients pay for the ER services (which are EXPENSIVE) one way or another and I don't think a $5 meal is denting the pockets of the Hospital.

Hounding the nurse for food while other patients are crashing is NOT ok, totally agree on that!

^^^bahahaha.... Pt's pay for their ER services... Now THAT'S funny!

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We only have turkey sandwiches and juice. Other then that they can walk their butts to

The in house McDonalds we have. Some r grateful for the sandwich others r ****** off cuz we don't have tomato or lettuce. U get what u get. This ain't no COUNTRY CLUB LOSERS!!!

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Specializes in ED, PACU, PreOp, Cardiac.

My first eye opening experience with abuse of the system was a patient that called medic to bring him to the ED at 0200 because his hangnail which had been bothering him for 2 weeks just had to be taken care of right that minute! When he was assessed, no horrible swelling of his whole toe or foot, no discharge, no red line going up his leg, no fever, so he was asked to move to the waiting room where others had been waiting for hours for their visit with a doc for a sore throat or some other minor ailment and he put up such a fuss. Gee, sorry but the asthmatic that is coming in needs this stretcher more than you do! It is shocking how ED are utilized for primary care. I have volunteered in free clinics and see the working poor, who are not on programs trying to limp along with subpar healthcare and then I would go to work and see Medicaid patients coming in for a pregnancy test or a sore throat that they had a day and didn't want to wait to see their doctor which would have been covered for them! Really? Something is wrong with this picture.

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I can't figure out the food crunch.. Maybe peep spent all their stamps hosting a Labor Day party cuz it's hitting early this month.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.

LOL!!

I about peed my pants...thought this turned to comedy hour. Funniest thing ever...patients paying for ER services.

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I am from BC, Canada, where as far as I can remember- healthcare is a service rather than a business. I'm in Texas now and it's been an eye opener! Especially when I brought my son to the ER and ended up paying $900 out of pocket ($500 to the Dr /$400 to the hospital) in addition to our monthly $880 insurance deductions. We were there for 15 mins max and walked out with a prescription for cough syrup. (Wont be doing that ever again!!) I was also under the impression that patients were turned away from the ER if they didn't have insurance AND they weren't "expected to die" within 24 hours. Obviously I have a lot to learn!!

Working in BC, Canada, and I can tell you, there is a lot of business behind the "service" of health care.

In our ER, We have limited snacks for patients only, and not unless they are allowed to eat and are expected to be holding in ER for a while or have been admitted but don't yet have a bed. Admitted or "holding" patients who are allowed to eat get kitchen trays at meal times. Family members, as a rule, do not get food. We don't have an endless supply of juice and sandwiches and even patients don't have unlimited access to the supply.

We have a cafeteria where families and friends are welcome to purchase food and a coffee stand just outside for caffeine/goodies.

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