Increasing ER visits because of no insurance!

GM2RN · May 15, 2011

it is a social issue, nothing to do with health care needs.

How do you figure it's entirely a social issue?

brownbook · May 15, 2011

It is our society in general that decides if, who, how, sick people are cared for.

If a patient is in front of me I take a blood pressure, start an IV, assess their needs.

If I want to change our health care medical insurance mess I go to town meetings, talk to elected officials, write letters, etc.

DogWmn · May 15, 2011

Guilty, I'm a currently long term unemployed person, no insurance, no money, not elegible for medicaid or anything else. Last weekend I woke up with what I thought might be a serious eye problem...I fretted for hours, wondering how in the world would I pay to go to urgent care...they require $$$ up front and right now I have less than $30. to my name. As my eye got worse and more painful, I bit the bullet and went to the ED at small hospital, I was embarrassed and humiliated that I had to use the ED for this, but it was my only option. I was fortunate that the RN on duty was very empathetic to my plight and I was treated with respect by the understanding staff, on the other hand the Doc was an *******, due to the stress of going in my BP was through the roof and they wouldn't let me go until it went down, I tried to explain to him that I can no longer afford my BP meds and he just didn't get it, I again tried to explain that I don't qualify for anything...sigh. They left me in a darkened room with the lights down low and all that did was add to my stress, when the nurse came in to take my BP I asked him to use the regular cuff as the machine was pumping up so high it hurt and added to my stress and I also asked if someone would just stay with me and talk for awhile because if I was left to my own devices in the darkened room I'd continue to stress over all my problems...he did and guess what the BP went down and I could go home. I will be for ever greatful for that nurse who LISTENED to me...after all I'm now 60 years old and have lived in this body for a long time and know what works and doesn't.

With the economy so bad and millions of people just like me I'm sure the ED is packed with non-emergent patients. I know it is my only option right now and I hate it.

Now I'm trying to fill out all the forms that go with being an indigent patient...more stress.

Until our health care system changes there will be more of the same.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 15, 2011

I know it is my only option right now and I hate it.

(((((hugs))))) I am so sorry for your current plight.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · May 17, 2011

I volunteered in a Boston ER for 2 years. I was there mornings and afternoons during the week, during what are usually considered office hours. A lot of non-emergent patients came to the ER because their PCP sent them there (we got a lot of referrals for X-rays, CTs, and MRIs). Others couldn't wait 3 weeks to be seen. Others had no PCP, and in a city with no urgent care centers, the ER was the only option. When I was between PCPs, I almost had to go to the ER for a strep test.

Fribblet · May 17, 2011

I have found, generally, that it's people WITH insurance, who abuse the ERs most. And, maybe it's just a function of me working at hospitals who provide indigent care, but our worst offenders all have state-funded care.

How do I know? They tell us. I only look at a face sheet if it's relevant for care (i.e. - "Call the medicaid bus for me.")

Certainly there are some without who take advantage and have no intention of even attempting to pay the bill.

caregiver1977 · May 17, 2011

Some people don't know what a real emergency is and go to the ER thinking they have an emergency and don't. It is not that they are trying to scam anyone (yes, there are plenty who do).

People who can't afford care need to check out their local sliding scale clinics. I don't know how to get people to do that. I know those clinics are not for emergencies, but health conditions could be treated at such clinics before they become an emergency.

DogWmn · May 17, 2011

Some people don't know what a real emergency is and go to the ER thinking they have an emergency and don't. It is not that they are trying to scam anyone (yes, there are plenty who do).
People who can't afford care need to check out their local sliding scale clinics. I don't know how to get people to do that. I know those clinics are not for emergencies, but health conditions could be treated at such clinics before they become an emergency.

Ummm we don't have a "sliding scale clinic" anywhere near me in my area. and even if they did, I'm still without any funds at the moment and would have still had to use the ED.

I think what many don't realize that health care in one area is not the same in another, some things available in one state are not there in another. I live rural and we have very few resources within a commutable distance. My bro lives in SoCal and I'm totally amazed how much better his healthcare is.

caregiver1977 · May 17, 2011

I am not saying sliding scale clinics (where available) would fix all problems or yours, but I do think they would help in some situations. I think many of the people who are indeed wasting the ER's time (and I don't think you are, DogWmn) need to start seeing a NP or physician at a low cost clinic. I hope your situation gets better fast.

I go to a sliding scale clinic and because they can only do so much I will probably end up having to go to a physician which will cost about 4 times as much as what I would pay at the low cost clinic. The only reason my husband and I can afford the physician, if needed, is because he got some good work because of the floods (I live near the Mississippi River).

Josh Brewer · May 19, 2011

I feel like more and more people are following into this trap that you just described. This is a classic case that I see in the ER I work at all the time. Its sad people just have no where to turn too and the doctors for some reason cant get that. Not all but some of the doctors have made so much money they just dont understand people in your situation good luck with everything.