I took my elderly mom to the ER last night because two of her doctors were afraid that she had a blood clot and they needed the ER to use their equipment to check it out. She doesn't have a clot, thank God, but oh-my-gosh, what a nightmare being in the ER waiting room for 4 1/2 hours watching all the really sick or injured people, and then seeing other people come in with a mild rash or splinter and yelling at the receptionist because they had to wait so long. The trouble-makers brought their friends, neighbors, neighbors kids, buckets of chicken and bags of other fast food, laughed and partied like it was all a big joke. Why is healthcare so expensive in this country? The people who use medical cards go to the ER for non-emergencies, and then the dr gets paid about 1/10th of what the bill actually is, leaving the rest of us to make up the difference.
2007-07-14 10:51:34 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
Mypassion, where do you think the money comes from for the medical cards??? Taxpayers...hellooooo.
2007-07-14 10:57:56 · update #1
Mez, why are you living in USA, may I ask? How many people are on welfare benefits in Canada?
2007-07-14 11:00:05 · update #2
We'll my mother works in an ER down here in Houston, and the reason why it is so expensive, is that illegals or people with no insurance don't have to pay for their medical care; thus casing a huge bill for a hospital to pay. Where are they going to get the money? So, their forced to bill the maxium for any patient.
I know alot of people disagree with the health care system, but if you don't work in a hospital, you won't really appreciate all they do. We're so lucky to have the health care we do, some countries don't have that privilege. So if people that are illegal, and not to be racious, but mainly illegal Hispanics in this state, would get insurance and become legal; it might not be so expensive. But its my opinion, and it probably isn't all the reason why its so expensive. Oh, and i so agree with you with people coming in with splinters, demanding service. While someone comes in with cardiac arrest, needing urgent care. Its crazy!
2007-07-14 16:36:01 · answer #1 · answered by Momo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I work in the ER, and the biggest complaint we get is how long the wait/treatment is. And one of the biggest reasons is exactly what you said--people coming in with non-emergencies. We get sore throats, coughs, dental pain, ingrown toenails, vomiting x 1, back pain for 10 years, stupid little silly complaints that they never go see their doctor for, and somehow it becomes an emergency right then and now, and they need a 'script for hydrocodone to make it through the night without dying, if you please.
And I can guarantee that 80% of the ones that come in with those problems have either government-provided insurance, or none at all, with no intention of paying the bill.
It's highly frustrating, and nothing seems to change. I've tried to help these people by giving them resources--places for free dental, walk-in clinics, free clinics, pain clinics... no, they always come back to take up time and space in the ER. When you can call them back to a room using their first name only and saying "go on to room 3, John, they'll be there in a little bit," and John proceeds to update you on how the wife and kids are, and how much worse the pain is tonight versus last night, it's a problem.
I don't know. Maybe I'm just burnt-out. Anyone would be if they had to work behind the scenes and see what it's really like in the emergency room.
2007-07-14 12:20:30 · answer #2 · answered by Morning Glory 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Yes I have.
The problem is -- aside from the emergency room, there is generally no other way to get minor treatment.
It takes days or weeks to go through all the normal non-emergency procedures, and that may not even be an option on some days and times.
So, if the alternatives are go to the emergency room, or not see a doctor at all, the choice is obvious.
The system is broken in so many ways. That's just one of them.
2007-07-14 11:19:19 · answer #3 · answered by coragryph 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When my mom was very sick, she has since passed away. I took her to the emergency room in Abingdon Virginia and she waited for 6 hours before we could see a doctor. During that time, she asked for water and was not given it because they did not know her problems. I filed a complaint but it went unheeded. Sometimes emergency rooms are a nightmare. They are grossly understaffed. The best one I have ever been to is in Salem, Massachusetts. They are great.
2007-07-14 10:59:43 · answer #4 · answered by kolacat17 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've got a friend that had some issues with a recent surgery he had... the doctor told him to go to the emergency room if certain symptoms came up....
well the symptoms came up on a Sunday and he went to the best one in the city... he waited for 8 hours, gave up went home and just went to his doctor the next day... thank goodness it wasn't that serious...
remember that lady who died in the ER like a month ago in LA? our medical system is vastly over-rated by many....
2007-07-14 11:13:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hi I'm brad, i know how you feel and i been through the same experience before. My grandmother had passed away about 3 weeks ago. I had to Wait about 3 and a half hours because the doctors wouldn't let me in. I felt so bad that i couldn't be there. Anyways i know how expensive health care is, I personally think its way to much.
2007-07-14 10:58:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, on two occasions. First my brother was vomiting non-stop, we were scared he was getting dehydrated so we went to the emergency room, we waited about 4 hours, he never saw a nurse or dr., eventually he stopped vomiting on his own and we went home. The people you described above sounds like the people at our hospital. The second time my boyfriend had been cut with glass on his hand, we waited about 2 hours, they gave him one stitch, they didn't even clean the blood off, or checked for broken glass in his hand. It costs us about $1000.
2007-07-14 11:02:07 · answer #7 · answered by Jesse's Girl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Emergency rooms are not meant to be used as a doctors office. If only true emergencies were treated there, it would be fine. And medical cards are paid for by taxpayers!
2007-07-14 12:21:46 · answer #8 · answered by Ms.L.A. 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
To mypassions,
If they are using a health card issued by state welfare then yes,We the American taxpayer are paying the bill. There is no such thing as free health care,Somebody who works and pays taxes are and will pay for it~
2007-07-14 11:02:09 · answer #9 · answered by Classic96 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Brilliant lmao 10/10 x
2016-05-17 21:53:57 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋