From Dr. Brenner, via Symtym (Twitter):
I have seen a lot of criticism of ERs lately. The new House Bill for healthcare reform introduces ways to reduce crowding and boarding in the ERs, and better prepare them for disasters like pandemics and Katrina-type travesties. But they also put the focus on reducing ER use, as if overuse of ERs is responsible for the exhorbitant waste and cost of Healthcare.
There is waste in healthcare, and some of the patients who come to ERs are inappropriately abusing the system. But those statistics state that 10% of patients are responsible for 90% of the visits. So the waste in the ERs is largely out of control of those who run them.
This site debunks some of the myths surrounding the ER and healthcare.
I go a step further, and challenge the criticisms that the ERs are unnecessarily over testing patients:
Filed under: Uncategorized
Dr. Brenner:
SOME of the patients who come to ER”s are abusing the system? Change that to MANY! As an ER nurse for thirteen years I still love my job, but not what the job is becoming. This is not a hotel, I am not your family’s waitress, and I will not stand for being screamed at, bitten, kicked or hit! I am a trained professional. I want to do the best possible job I can and take the best possible care of my patients. Please do not tell the doctor what tests to order, what narcotics you would like, or that you refuse to leave. We are continually bogged down by children with a runny nose for a day, girls wanting to know if they are pregnant (the dollar store sells the tests), “I couldn’t wait to go to my doctor’s appt. in 2 hours”, “I need a note for work”, “my back has hurt for 2 years and I can’t stand it any longer”. We have lost the definition of “emergency”.