Patients who steal from the ER

traumaerRN · Jul 24, 2005

I caught someone going thru the cabinets in our ER one night and just asked them "is there something I can help you find?" Of course they said oh no i was looking for a tissue or something stupid. People are amazing--all this plus most of them don't pay a cent for services!!

dkaykaymom · Jul 24, 2005

And how is people coming in and getting free health care a problem for you. And why is it a problem for you. This is a great country and everyone is entitled to health care regardless of their ability to pay for it. I cant see why this poses a problem for you.

And WHERE does it say that "everyone is entitled to health care regardless of their ability to pay"?

z's playa · Jul 24, 2005

Isn't that what the county hospitals are for? People who can't pay?

I don't know. I'm Canadian. Here it really does say everyone gets healthcare regardless of ability to pay. And actually gets it,. :chuckle

Z

Forcemaster · Jul 26, 2005

And WHERE does it say that "everyone is entitled to health care regardless of their ability to pay"?

Uhm... how about the United Nations charter for Human Rights?

Article 25.

dkaykaymom · Jul 27, 2005

Uhm... how about the United Nations charter for Human Rights?
Article 25.

Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services

HMMMM. . . .interesting response. I wonder why the majority of American citizens have never heard of this United Nations Article. Our government sure hasn't made it a top priority for improving health care here in the states.

Chad_KY_SRNA · Jul 27, 2005

People usually don't steal much from us, usually lunches from the breakroom but my sister who is a CNA at the same facility that I work at had $10 taken from her purse that was at the nurses station. We can't keep bandage scissors at all.

Cute_CNA, CNA · Jul 27, 2005

And how is people coming in and getting free health care a problem for you. And why is it a problem for you. This is a great country and everyone is entitled to health care regardless of their ability to pay for it. I cant see why this poses a problem for you.

Because people who have money or could use other means abuse this privilage. Like to get free housing. And it's MY TAX DOLLARS!

Chad_KY_SRNA · Jul 27, 2005

This is off the original topic but since it came up, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) of 1986 requires hospitals and ambulances to treat and transport the sick and injured regardless of their ability to pay, their nationality, legal status or citizenship. I am more than happy to pay for the healthcare system abusers to get care because at the same time, good decent people who don't have health insurance for whatever reason will have access to healthcare in an emergency. Life changes fast, We all have demons in our past that shape who we are now. I learned a long time ago that you cannot judge a book by its cover because whats inside may be much better than you thought.

mont · Jul 28, 2005

the state of ny said that you can not be denied health care just because you can not pay (patients' rights). i agree with ChadKYSRNA.

mont · Jul 28, 2005

Because people who have money or could use other means abuse this privilage. Like to get free housing. And it's MY TAX DOLLARS!

i feel sorry for you, you seem very close minded.

BabyRN2Be · Jul 28, 2005

We have so much stolen at our hospital. And since there aren't lockers for the volunteers (and we do a LOT of heavy work, the doulas have the most physically demanding of all the volunteer jobs) - we don't have the "luxury" of being able to sit and watch our stuff the way that other volunteers might be able to do (I prefer to be kept busy anyhow), if I don't need it, I don't bring it into the hospital with me. My purse goes into my car trunk and I get meals from the cafeteria. I take my keys inside because that's all I need (they come in handy when I want to go home ).

I do bring one book with me and that's Spanish for Medical Personnel, and I have to watch that like a hawk because on more than one occasion it came close to growing feet and walking off on me. :)

cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 28, 2005

Wow that really stinks about people stealing. I remember when I was little and went into the ER I saw a nurses stethascope in the back of this closet. I wanted it so badly (Ever since I was a kid I wanted to play Dr.) but I realized my parents had always told me not to take what wasn't mine and so I didn't take it. One of the nurses let me take home a pair of gloves and little kid patient gown when I told her how much I like playing "hospital". That stuff lasted me quite a while. I still remember making my little brother dress up like a patient while I poked him with a popsicle stick saying I was a doctor and gonna make him not sick anymore. Those were the good old days.