Lots of young people on disability?

Specialties Emergency

Published

Lately it seems all we do in our ER is see very young (like 19-30) unemployed, drug seekers who are "disabled" due to bi-polar or some chronic back/knee pain (that all xrays/CT show no evidence of). While there is no intention of working, these pts continue to have more and more children :mad:. I can't stand it! I actually get a rush if I triage a 20-something pt who DOESN'T have pinpoint pupils. Or falling asleep mid-sentence in my triage chair. Our docs have become tramadol Pez dispensers because they are so sick of it!

Specializes in Paediatrics.

Exactly! That's what I think too. It's those passing or allowing the fake disability that should be rectifying this mess.

I'm betting its something to do with funding. Like how crap welfare can be because they don't have the money for enough welfare workers to send them out. (No offense to Welfare, people are amazing, just the workload sheesh. I'd die)

Maybe a change in budget?

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Specializes in Hospice, ONC, Tele, Med Surg, Endo/Output.
I was ONLY referring to the ones who abuse the system. I did not mean for this to be a "oh this poor guy I know with bi-polar...you are so hard" thread. Like I said my own stepson has the disorder.

Why is it that in today's world no one has any coping mechanisms? Can't pay attention in math class? Oh you must have ADD and need meds! Can't hold a job and told off your boss? Oh, you're bipolar. Broke up with your boyfriend? You need xanax. I just think it's ridiculous!

Right on, well said. And besides, if these folks STAY ON THEIR BLANKING MEDS they can work just like the rest of us. Bipolar doesn't have to be high drama or an emergency on a daily basis; and is generally not disabling--but when the mania or depression become crippling emergent treatment is key for a few days; get them back on their *******' feet; and get them right back to work. I've lived with mental illness my whole life and no matter how painful it is i get the help i need when i need it and get right back to work. There is no shame in getting help for oneself. God helps those who help themselves. Sloth, however, is unacceptable and deplored by most hard-working folks.

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Specializes in Hospice, ONC, Tele, Med Surg, Endo/Output.
I was ONLY referring to the ones who abuse the system. I did not mean for this to be a "oh this poor guy I know with bi-polar...you are so hard" thread. Like I said my own stepson has the disorder.

Why is it that in today's world no one has any coping mechanisms? Can't pay attention in math class? Oh you must have ADD and need meds! Can't hold a job and told off your boss? Oh, you're bipolar. Broke up with your boyfriend? You need xanax. I just think it's ridiculous!

Exactly, if a pt vomits just once i don't rush to call the doctor saying pt vomited. I often tell patient's lets see if it happens again before we beg the doctor for yet another medicine for you. GOOD GRIEF!

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Well now I have to agree with you on some of that.

It seems as though many people's coping mechanisms got flushed down the toilet somewhere. If there is a problem, give it drugs, not a solution. That I have to agree with. I think that is a dangerous trend.

At my local hospital I am treated like some sort of freak from the moon when I do turn down pain meds (have only been in hospital for having babies).

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Why not go to MIT or Harvard? Why be proud of a simple check that in most cases won't even support you living in this economy? Is not that what makes them a little off? How do you know they are not delusional?

Still no answer where is the income on the Face Sheet. Anyone get a bank statement attached on it or anything? :lol2:

What do I know I might be just a simple jerk that gets labeled Bipolar. :lol2:

Actually there is informaion on the face sheet......it states MEDICAID or the states welfare like MASSHEALTH. I have to provide an interpreter so they "understand" their medical care......but they sure do know how to say "MASSHEALTH". It also indicates on the face sheet "employer" where it states "DISABILITY". Many times in triage when I ask "What brings you here" is followed by...."Well....I'm on disability and I need......." Many parents request prescription for tylenol and ibuprofen so "Medicaid will pay for it" while they text on their IPhones with $8.00 a pack of smokes in their pocket........after a while it does get under your skin......:twocents::twocents:

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
Why aren't you all as frustrated with whoever is GRANTING the frivolous disability claims? Someone is helping these freeloaders get disability...
Bingo.

As with much of the wasted in the medical industry, a substantial portion of the responsibility lies with the docs who have little or no disincentive to perform unnecessary tests or make gift diagnoses of disability. In fact, quite the opposite since they build up a lifelong patient base of people who continue to work the system.

The abusers of the system really irritate me and the docs who enable them, even more so.

I won't even start on the (profanity-laced list of negative adjectives here) disability and SSI lawyers who're screwing us all for their own gain.

The bad apples are destroying the system for the rest of us :madface:

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I used to be a smoker. I quit when I realized how much better I could be living if I just quit spending money on the smokes. What peeves me are parents that "can't afford" their child's asthma meds but are going out to smoke. Now I suppose, as someone previously said, someone else is giving them a gift of cigs, but perhaps mom and dad should ask this generous person to help buy the meds instead? Or just quit accepting the cigarette gift which would be the biggest help for their kid's asthma.

It's priorities. And too many people have them in the wrong order.

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Specializes in Paediatrics.

Congrats for being able to give it up.

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Specializes in LTC.
:uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3:
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Why aren't you all as frustrated with whoever is GRANTING the frivolous disability claims? Someone is helping these freeloaders (those who are in fact freeloaders) get disability, people don't just get it on their own. Maybe if there were more checks, balances, and punishments for those granting frivolous disability claims then ER nurses and others wouldn't be so frustrated. The fraud is happening with more than just the patients.

I'm with you. The workers allowing such ought to be publicly caned. The sad part is that the ghetto community around here used to hold sessions where they taught how to beat the system and get welfare, disability, and other benefits they don't need often facilitated by community members who managed to snag clerical jobs with such agencies.

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I used to be a smoker. I quit when I realized how much better I could be living if I just quit spending money on the smokes. What peeves me are parents that "can't afford" their child's asthma meds but are going out to smoke. Now I suppose, as someone previously said, someone else is giving them a gift of cigs, but perhaps mom and dad should ask this generous person to help buy the meds instead? Or just quit accepting the cigarette gift which would be the biggest help for their kid's asthma.

It's priorities. And too many people have them in the wrong order.

OMG if their child has asthma then parents shouldn't be smoking anyway, I don't care what kind of money they are making.:twocents:

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Specializes in They know this too!.
Actually there is informaion on the face sheet......it states MEDICAID or the states welfare like MASSHEALTH. I have to provide an interpreter so they "understand" their medical care......but they sure do know how to say "MASSHEALTH". It also indicates on the face sheet "employer" where it states "DISABILITY". Many times in triage when I ask "What brings you here" is followed by...."Well....I'm on disability and I need......." Many parents request prescription for tylenol and ibuprofen so "Medicaid will pay for it" while they text on their IPhones with $8.00 a pack of smokes in their pocket........after a while it does get under your skin......:twocents::twocents:

Masshealth you do not need to be on Welfare. So that is incorrect. :uhoh3: They also have CommonwealthCare which will also give the patient a MassHealth card. This card is for someone who makes too much money for MassHealth. Instead of getting it from their employer, you buy it from the state. You can put anything in the Employer box, they have the same job for me since I can't even remember. lmao! No one asks to change it.

I am so glad that I have been through it all and volunteer my time to help at centers. This is why I know this information. Educate yourself before you speak on it. I still don't know who pays for the IPhone or the cigarettes, because like I said I don't see their bank statement.

Here is a link and while you guys are at it report them to the Fraud Hotline, the number is right there, if they brag so much about being poor. http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eohhs2agencylanding&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Government&L2=Departments+and+Divisions&L3=MassHealth&sid=Eeohhs2 I am sure every state has one. Instead of sticking jokes about poor people in your office, stick the Fraud Helpline up there.

Not sure why being poor is getting under everyone's skin?

I wonder how many other nurses think MassHealth means welfare. Oh goodness grief.

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