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I do understand why some people show up in the ER rather than at doc's office. In my area, there are really no quick care type facilities. Our doctors' offices are very hard to schedule into. For instance, at my local hospital, just blocks from my house, nearly every practice is owned by that hospital's healthcare system. The "system" has decided that they lose money when people make a "sick" appointment for the next day. In their opinion, if you make an appointment to see the doc tomorrow because you feel unwell today... you may feel better tomorrow and not show up. Now they lose money because that slot is open. (Oh, and they do charge $50 if you don't show up.)
What this means is, if I've been sick all day and I feel really awful and know I want to see the doc tomorrow, I can't call the office today and schedule for the next opening. I MUST schedule my sick appointment on the day I'm sick. OK, so now I wait until the second the practice opens the next day. They have maybe 10 slots available for sick appointments, and anyone who is sick is calling like crazy to get one of those slots. It's like trying to get really hot concert tickets. If there are no sick slots left on the schedule, the office says, "Sorry, we can't schedule you for tomorrow, you'll have to call back."
A lot of people in our area are completely frustrated with this nonsense. They end up going to the ER instead, because they'll be seen. We recently had to do this with my mother-in-law who had been running a fever between 100 and 101 for four days and tried three times to get an appointment with her doctor. She felt absolutely awful during all of that time. Turns out she had a sinus infection. All she needed were antibiotics, but she had to go to the ER in order to be seen.
Where do I live? Just outside of Philadelphia, sometimes called the "Capital of Medicine". We have 6 med schools here, and umpteen hospitals, yet it's difficult to get appointments when you need them. On average, I wait 3 months for regular physical exams, and seeing specialists?? Forget it. You may wait even longer!
That's my rant for the day. |
I agree with this rule BUT - sm
