Nasty but interesting read on the problem:
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/...ackdown-700816
Nasty but interesting read on the problem:
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/...ackdown-700816
My observation is that many uninsured persons use ER's for all medical visits regardless of urgency. Hence a large number of lower socio-economic patients make up a significant number of ER cases. Among this group are over-represented subgroups of the addicted, under-educated, under-employed, and the population of ex--offenders. And then, then there are the gangbangers drawn from all three. Hence, waiting rooms and parking lots are not safe either.
Last edited by willie; 07-07-2018 at 03:36 PM.
Had a surgeon friend stabbed in the back by a patient, seen gunfights break out between rival gang members in the ED, observed lots of vile threats and behavior towards staff. However, since the use of metal detectors at the ED entrance and dramatically increased presence of security personnel in the ED, things have not been so violent here.....although I understand it is worse elsewhere as a result of differing patient demographics and regional income disparity levels.
Facts matter...Feelings Can Lie
Many E.R patient do not understand the triage concept of treating least serious cases last. They become angry when others who arrived after they did are treated before them. In a former job one of my duties was escorting derelicts to medical appointments and to the E.R. Not related to this thread is another observation that I made: lack of hand washing--a universal occurrence. Of course, each cubicle had signs saying that employees must wash hands before treating patients, none would unless I pointed it out. On one occasion the exam room's faucets had no water. On another occasion, I saw an RN pick up bloody bandages with bare hands. There are other examples.
Spending a night in the ER of Bellevue hospital with a shotgun in my hands, (when I wasn't assisting the ER doc), was a fun look into the darkness of the human soul.
There's nothing civil about this war.
What on earth even is the solution to this?Originally Posted by willie
It's not European-style healthcare. This might work in individual countries, wealthy ones, but establishing a gigantic overarching healthcare bureaucracy for 300+ million people is just going to be a disaster. If European healthcare was run by the EU it would be a disaster too.
Clearly these kinds of 'clients' are never going to be covered by insurance. What can be done?
I’ve been in some of the best fist fights of my life in ED’s, as an employee, or visiting in an official capacity, as a firefighter, EMT, peace officer, intern, resident and dentist. No shortage of drama when Dr. House is on the floor, unfortunately.
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Last edited by Sherman A. House DDS; 07-07-2018 at 06:28 PM.
Unfortunately, nothing can be done for several reasons. One is that denying service is illegal. A second is that these individuals see nothing wrong with this practice. The rest of us even must be careful when criticizing it. Doing so makes certain others uncomfortable. Complain vociferously and risk career damage. Another reason is that the number of persons in this broad category is increasing. Teen pregnancy fuels the engine driving this boat, and there's no solution for that either. Most of these folks vote Democrat so get ready for the ride. The fun ain't even started yet.
I spent 5 years as a cop in the housing authority. I was in the Level II ER for about two years when I got assaulted bad enough to have to go to one of those meetings with safety. During the meeting it occurred to me that I had been assaulted more times in the ER than I had been working the projects.
*RS Regulate Affiliate*
Even after removing guarding inmates & suspects needing clearence or treatment from the equation, the patrol team I supervise spends a "fair" amount of time at the ER of local county hospital which is out in our jurisdiction. Assaults on staff, the mentally ill, very suspicious people, the mentally ill, body dumps, almost body dumps, and the mentally ill.
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